bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The long non‐coding RNA SPRY4‐IT1: An emerging player in tumorigenesis and osteosarcoma
Authors: Li Zheng , Shen Jianxiong , Chan Matthew T. V. , Wu William Ka Kei 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAccumulating evidence from genome‐wide analysis and functional studies has begun to unveil the important role of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer development. The lncRNA SPRY4‐IT1 is derived from an intron of SPRY4 gene and was originally reported to be upregulated in melanoma in which it functioned as an oncogene. Since this discovery, an increasing number of studies have investigated the expression and function of SPRY4‐IT1 in human cancers. Aberrant expression of SPRY4‐IT1 has now been documented in different cancer types, including osteosarcoma, breast, renal, oesophageal and prostate cancers. However, its deregulation and function in lung and gastric cancers remain controversial. Pertinent to clinical practice, SPRY4‐IT1 expression has been shown to predict survival of cancer patients. In this review, we summarize recent evidence concerning SPRY4‐IT1 deregulation and the associated mechanisms in human cancers. We also discuss the potential clinical utilization of this lncRNA as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for cancer patients.
The BRAF activated non‐coding RNA: A pivotal long non‐coding RNA in human malignancies
Authors: Liu Xiu‐Fen , Hao Ji‐Long , Xie Tian , Pant Om Prakash , Lu Cheng‐Bo , Lu Cheng‐Wei , Zhou Dan‐Dan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractLong non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the complex network of cancer and play an important role in tumourigenesis and progression. BRAF activated non‐coding RNA (BANCR), a 4‐exon transcript of 693‐bp, was first discovered as an oncogenic long non‐coding RNA in BRAFV600E melanomas cells in 2012 and was related to melanoma cell migration. Besides melanoma, increasing evidence has explored the potential role of BANCR in the development and progression of multiple other human malignancies, such as retinoblastoma, lung cancer, gastric cancer etc. since its discovery. The expression pattern of BANCR varies in different types of cancers, either as a tumour suppressor or as an accelerator. Functional BANCR may serve as a promising biomarker for cancer diagnosis as well as prognosis evaluation. BANCR‐targeted intervention may also become a valuable novel therapeutic tool against human malignancies. This review summarized the advanced research progresses concerning the expression and role of BANCR in different human malignancies.
Coroglaucigenin induces senescence and autophagy in colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Huang Yong‐Hao , Lei Jing , Yi Guo‐Hui , Huang Feng‐Ying , Li Yue‐Nan , Wang Cai‐Chun , Sun Yan , Dai Hao‐Fu , Tan Guang‐Hong 
Published: February 2018

AbstractObjectivesCoroglaucigenin (CGN), a natural product isolated from Calotropis gigantean by our research group, has been identified as a potential anti‐cancer agent. However, the molecular mechanisms involved remain poorly understood.Materials and methodsCell viability and cell proliferation were detected by MTT and BrdU assays. Flow cytometry, SA‐β‐gal assay, western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to determine CGN‐induced apoptosis, senescence and autophagy. Western blotting, siRNA transfection and coimmunoprecipitation were carried out to investigate the mechanisms of CGN‐induced senescence and autophagy. The anti‐tumour activities of combination therapy with CGN and chloroquine were observed in mice tumour models.ResultsWe demonstrated that CGN inhibits the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. We showed that the inhibition of cell proliferation by CGN is independent of apoptosis, but is associated with cell‐cycle arrest and senescence in colorectal cancer cells. Notably, CGN induces protective autophagy that attenuates CGN‐mediated cell proliferation. Functional studies revealed that CGN disrupts the association of Hsp90 with both CDK4 and Akt, leading to CDK4 degradation and Akt dephosphorylation, eventually resulting in senescence and autophagy, respectively. Combination therapy with CGN and chloroquine resulted in enhanced anti‐tumour effects in vivo.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that CGN induces senescence and autophagy in colorectal cancer cells and indicate that combining it with an autophagy inhibitor may be a novel strategy suitable for CGN‐mediated anti‐cancer therapy.
Trends in liver transplantation for hepatitis C in a country with reduced access to direct‐acting antiviral agents
Authors: Dirchwolf Melisa , Marciano Sebastián , Giunta Diego H. , Posadas‐Martínez Maria L. , Biggins Scott W. , Ruf Andrés E. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV)‐related cirrhosis is a leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) worldwide. Access to effective HCV treatment is inequitable globally. We aimed to analyze whether the introduction of effective HCV treatment caused an impact in LT trends in a middle‐income country.MethodsCross‐sectional analysis of all adult patients who were listed/received a LT in Argentina for HCV, alcohol‐related liver disease (ALD), or autoimmune hepatitis/primary biliary cirrhosis (AIH/PBC) from 2007 to 2017. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to identify changes in the cumulative incidence rates in waiting list (WL) registration, WL mortality, and LT.ResultsLiver transplantation WL for HCV increased significantly between 2007 and 2014, with an annual percentage change (APC) +7.8%, P = .01, followed by a downward slope from 2014 to 2017 with an APC −9.8%, P = .1. There were no significant changes in WL mortality. LT trends remained stable. LT for HCV without MELD exception points for HCC decreased (APC −6.6%, P = .01), whereas LT for HCV with HCC exception points increased (APC +11.1, P = .01) during the study period.ConclusionWaiting list and LT for HCV without HCC decreased, whereas LT for HCV and HCC increased; this may be related to selective antiviral treatment access for patients with advanced fibrosis.
Temporal and external validation of a prediction model for adverse outcomes among inpatients with diabetes
Authors: Adderley N. J. , Mallett S. , Marshall T. , Ghosh S. , Rayman G. , Bellary S. , Coleman J. , Akiboye F. , Toulis K. A. , Nirantharakumar K. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAimTo temporally and externally validate our previously developed prediction model, which used data from University Hospitals Birmingham to identify inpatients with diabetes at high risk of adverse outcome (mortality or excessive length of stay), in order to demonstrate its applicability to other hospital populations within the UK.MethodsTemporal validation was performed using data from University Hospitals Birmingham and external validation was performed using data from both the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and Ipswich Hospital. All adult inpatients with diabetes were included. Variables included in the model were age, gender, ethnicity, admission type, intensive therapy unit admission, insulin therapy, albumin, sodium, potassium, haemoglobin, C‐reactive protein, estimated GFR and neutrophil count. Adverse outcome was defined as excessive length of stay or death.ResultsModel discrimination in the temporal and external validation datasets was good. In temporal validation using data from University Hospitals Birmingham, the area under the curve was 0.797 (95% CI 0.785–0.810), sensitivity was 70% (95% CI 67–72) and specificity was 75% (95% CI 74–76). In external validation using data from Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, the area under the curve was 0.758 (95% CI 0.747–0.768), sensitivity was 73% (95% CI 71‐74) and specificity was 66% (95% CI 65–67). In external validation using data from Ipswich, the area under the curve was 0.736 (95% CI 0.711–0.761), sensitivity was 63% (95% CI 59–68) and specificity was 69% (95% CI 67–72). These results were similar to those for the internally validated model derived from University Hospitals Birmingham.ConclusionsThe prediction model to identify patients with diabetes at high risk of developing an adverse event while in hospital performed well in temporal and external validation. The externally validated prediction model is a novel tool that can be used to improve care pathways for inpatients with diabetes. Further research to assess clinical utility is needed.
Effects of resveratrol supplementation on liver fat content in overweight and insulin‐resistant subjects: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Kantartzis Konstantinos , Fritsche Louise , Bombrich Maria , Machann Jürgen , Schick Fritz , Staiger Harald , Kunz Iris , Schoop Rotraut , Lehn‐Stefan Angela , Heni Martin , Peter Andreas , Fritsche Andreas , Häring Hans‐Ulrich , Stefan Norbert 
Published: February 2018

We performed the largest randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial to date (N = 112, 12‐week intervention) to investigate the effects and safety of resveratrol supplementation on liver fat content and cardiometabolic risk parameters in overweight and obese and insulin‐resistant subjects. At baseline the variability in liver fat content was very large, ranging from 0.09% to 37.55% (median, 7.12%; interquartile range, 3.85%‐12.94%). Mean (SD) liver fat content was 9.22 (6.85) % in the placebo group and 9.91 (7.76) % in the resveratrol group. During the study liver fat content decreased in the placebo group (−0.7%) but not in the resveratrol group (−0.03%) (differences between groups: P = .018 for the intention‐to‐treat [ITT] population; N = 54, resveratrol, N = 54, placebo and P = .0077 for the per protocol [PP] population). No effects of resveratrol supplementation on cardiometabolic risk parameters were observed. Resveratrol supplementation was well tolerated and safe.In conclusion, these data suggest that resveratrol supplementation is safe and that it does not considerably impact liver fat content or cardiometabolic risk parameters in humans.
Screening test for direct oral anticoagulants with the dilute Russell viper venom time
Authors: Pratt Jackie , Crispin Philip 
Published: February 2018

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the dilute Russell viper venom time (DRVVT) for the detection of direct‐acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and to investigate the effect of DOACS on coagulation assays.MethodsPatients with DOACs and controls had plasma levels determined by an anti‐Xa assay and dilute thrombin clotting time (TCT). Levels were correlated with the DRVVT as well as TCT, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen, protein C, protein S and antithrombin levels. The utility of the DRVVT for detecting clinically significant levels of DOACs was evaluated.ResultsThere were 44 samples from patients taking dabigatran, 83 with rivaroxaban, 18 with apixaban and 55 controls. The PT and APTT failed to detect clinically significant doses of anticoagulants adequately. The TCT was increased in patients taking dabigatran and normal in controls and patients on FXa inhibitors. There was a linear correlation with all DOAC levels and the DRVVT, with moderate precision, but it showed high sensitivity (95%) and specificity (90%) for clinically significant DOAC levels.ConclusionThe DRVVT detects clinically significant levels of DOACs and, in conjunction with the TCT, may be used as a screen for the presence and type of DOAC.
Sense and the identity conception of truth
Authors: Methven Steven J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe identity conception of truth holds that a thinkable is true just in case it is a fact. As such, it sets itself against correspondence theories of truth, while respecting the substantive role played by truth in respect of enquiry. In this article, I motivate and develop that view, and, in so doing, promote a particular conception of sense. This allows me to defend the view from two substantial criticisms. First, that the identity conception of truth is incoherent in respect of its treatment of objects in the realm of reference, and, second, that it is committed to a view of the world in which ordinary objects have no place.
Intra‐operative evaluation of prophylactic hysterectomy and salpingo‐oophorectomy specimens in hereditary gynaecological cancer syndromes
Authors: Wong Serena , Ratner Elena , Buza Natalia 
Published: February 2018

AimsProphylactic total hysterectomy (TH) and bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy (BSO) have become routine procedures in women at genetic risk for gynaecological malignancies. Intra‐operative pathology diagnosis of an occult malignancy provides the opportunity for immediate surgical staging and helps to avoid a second surgery. However, no standard guidelines exist for optimal intra‐operative evaluation (IOE) of these specimens. We performed a retrospective analysis of prophylactic TH and BSO cases to assess the presence of gross findings, frozen and permanent section sampling practices, frozen section diagnoses and diagnostic discrepancies.Methods and resultsAll prophylactic TH and BSO cases between 1990 and 2017 were retrieved from our departmental archives. A total of 413 cases were included in the study: 27 with Lynch syndrome (LS), 222 with germline BRCA 1 or 2 mutations and 164 cases with strong family or personal history (non‐Lynch/non‐BRCA). Only fewer than half of all cases (159 of 413; 38.5%) were sent for IOE, 15 of 27 (56%) LS cases, 93 of 222 (42%) BRCA cases and 51 of 164 (31%) non‐Lynch/non‐BRCA cases. A total of 19 patients (4.6% of patients combining all three groups) had a final diagnosis of malignancy or premalignancy on permanent sections. Of these 19 cases, eight had a corresponding gross lesion (42%) and could have been diagnosed on frozen section; however, only one of them underwent IOE.ConclusionsOur results highlight the potential benefits and challenges of IOE in this setting and may provide a basis for future practice recommendations.
Endodontic applications of 3D printing
Authors: Anderson J. , Wealleans J. , Ray J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractComputer‐aided design (CAD) and computer‐aided manufacturing (CAM) technologies can leverage cone beam computed tomography data for production of objects used in surgical and nonsurgical endodontics and in educational settings. The aim of this article was to review all current applications of 3D printing in endodontics and to speculate upon future directions for research and clinical use within the specialty. A literature search of PubMed, Ovid and Scopus was conducted using the following terms: stereolithography, 3D printing, computer aided rapid prototyping, surgical guide, guided endodontic surgery, guided endodontic access, additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, autotransplantation rapid prototyping, CAD, CAM. Inclusion criteria were articles in the English language documenting endodontic applications of 3D printing. Fifty‐one articles met inclusion criteria and were utilized. The endodontic literature on 3D printing is generally limited to case reports and pre‐clinical studies. Documented solutions to endodontic challenges include: guided access with pulp canal obliteration, applications in autotransplantation, pre‐surgical planning and educational modelling and accurate location of osteotomy perforation sites. Acquisition of technical expertise and equipment within endodontic practices present formidable obstacles to widespread deployment within the endodontic specialty. As knowledge advances, endodontic postgraduate programmes should consider implementing 3D printing into their curriculums. Future research directions should include clinical outcomes assessments of treatments employing 3D printed objects.
EXPERIMENTAL AND SELF‐REPORTED MEASURES OF RISK TAKING AND DIGIT RATIO (2D:4D): EVIDENCE FROM A LARGE, SYSTEMATIC STUDY
Authors: Brañas‐Garza Pablo , Galizzi Matteo M. , Nieboer Jeroen 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe systematically investigate the links between the digit ratio (2D:4D)—a biomarker for prenatal testosterone exposure—and two measures of individual risk taking: (i) risk preferences (RP) over lotteries with real monetary incentives and (ii) self‐reported risk attitude (RA). We find that both the right‐hand and the left‐hand digit ratio are significantly associated with RP: Subjects with lower digit ratios tend to choose riskier lotteries. Neither digit ratio, however, is associated with self‐reported RA.
BORDER EFFECTS WITHOUT BORDERS: WHAT DIVIDES JAPAN'S INTERNAL TRADE?
Authors: Wrona Jens 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThis article identifies a “border” effect in the absence of a border. The finding that trade between east and west Japan is 23.1% to 51.3% lower than trade within both country parts is established despite the absence of an obvious east–west division due to historical borders, cultural differences, or past civil wars. Postwar agglomeration processes, reflected by the contemporaneous structure of Japan's business and social networks, instead of cultural differences, induced by long‐lasting historical shocks, are identified as an explanation for the east–west bias in intra‐Japanese trade.
Use of oral immunosuppressive drugs in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in the Netherlands
Authors: Garritsen F.M. , van den Heuvel J.M. , Bruijnzeel‐Koomen C.A.F.M. , Maitland‐van der Zee A.H. , van den Broek M.P.H. , de Bruin‐Weller M.S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundAlthough atopic dermatitis (AD) is a very common skin disease, data on the percentage of patients with really difficult‐to‐treat AD are scarce. From socio‐economic perspective, it is important to have more insight into these numbers, as new very effective, but expensive, treatment options will be available in the near future for difficult‐to‐treat AD. Estimating the number of patients with AD using oral immunosuppressive drugs can give an impression of the percentage of difficult‐to‐treat patients in the total AD population.ObjectiveTo give an overview of the use of oral immunosuppressive drugs in patients with AD in the Netherlands.MethodsPrescription data of oral immunosuppressive drugs in the Netherlands were extracted from a pharmaceutical database (NControl) containing data of 557 million prescriptions and 7.2 million patients. An algorithm, based on the WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes, was used to identify patients with AD. The prescription of oral immunosuppressive drugs in patients with AD between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2017 was evaluated.ResultsBased on the algorithm, 65 943 patients with AD were selected. 943 patients with AD (1.4%) used cyclosporine A, methotrexate, azathioprine or mycophenolic acid. Methotrexate was most commonly used, followed by azathioprine and cyclosporine A. A switch in medication was rarely seen. In the evaluation period, a decrease in the prescription of cyclosporine A was seen, together with an increase in the prescription of methotrexate. In 31% of the patients who stopped treatment, the discontinuation took place within the first months of treatment.ConclusionIn this study population, 1.4% of the patients with AD used oral immunosuppressive drugs for their eczema in a 5‐year period. Methotrexate was the most commonly used systemic drug in the Netherlands for the treatment of AD.
Structure versus time in the evolutionary diversification of avian carotenoid metabolic networks
Authors: Morrison Erin S. , Badyaev Alexander V. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractHistorical associations of genes and proteins are thought to delineate pathways available to subsequent evolution; however, the effects of past functional involvements on contemporary evolution are rarely quantified. Here, we examined the extent to which the structure of a carotenoid enzymatic network persists in avian evolution. Specifically, we tested whether the evolution of carotenoid networks was most concordant with phylogenetically structured expansion from core reactions of common ancestors or with subsampling of biochemical pathway modules from an ancestral network. We compared structural and historical associations in 467 carotenoid networks of extant and ancestral species and uncovered the overwhelming effect of pre‐existing metabolic network structure on carotenoid diversification over the last 50 million years of avian evolution. Over evolutionary time, birds repeatedly subsampled and recombined conserved biochemical modules, which likely maintained the overall structure of the carotenoid metabolic network during avian evolution. These findings explain the recurrent convergence of evolutionary distant species in carotenoid metabolism and weak phylogenetic signal in avian carotenoid evolution. Remarkable retention of an ancient metabolic structure throughout extensive and prolonged ecological diversification in avian carotenoid metabolism illustrates a fundamental requirement of organismal evolution – historical continuity of a deterministic network that links past and present functional associations of its components.
Egg‐laying environment modulates offspring responses to predation risk in an amphibian
Authors: Tóth Zoltán , Hettyey Attila 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPredator‐induced plasticity has been in the focus of evolutionary ecological research in the last decades, but the consequences of temporal variation in the presence of cues predicting offspring environment have remained controversial. This is partly due to the fact that the role of early environmental effects has scarcely been scrutinized in this context while also controlling for potential maternal effects. In this study, we investigated how past environmental conditions, that is different combinations of risky or safe adult (prenatal) and oviposition (early post‐natal) environments, affected offspring's plastic responses in hatching time and locomotor activity to predation risk during development in the smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris). We found that females did not adjust their reproductive investment to the perceived level of risk in the adult environment, and this prenatal environment had generally negligible effect on offspring phenotype. However, when predator cues were absent during oviposition, larvae raised in the presence of predator cues delayed their hatching and exhibited a decreased activity compared to control larvae developing without predator cues, which responses are advantageous when predators pose a threat to hatched larvae. In the presence of predator cues during oviposition, the difference in hatching time persisted, but the difference in general locomotor activity disappeared between risk‐exposed and control larvae. Our findings provide clear experimental evidence that fine‐scale temporal variation in a predictive cue during and after egg‐laying interactively affects offspring phenotype, and highlight the importance of the early post‐natal environment, which may exert a substantial influence on progeny's phenotype also under natural conditions.