bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of impaired hepato‐renal function assessed by the MELD‐XI score in patients undergoing percutaneous mitral valve repair
Authors: Spieker Maximilian , Hellhammer Katharina , Wiora Julian , Klose Simon , Zeus Tobias , Jung Christian , Saeed Diyar , Horn Patrick , Kelm Malte , Westenfeld Ralf 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectivesThe objective of this study was to assess the prognostic value of the Model for End‐stage Liver Disease (MELD)‐XI score in patients undergoing PMVR with the MitraClip system.BackgroundMELD‐XI score, which was originally developed for prognostic assessment in patients with advanced liver disease, has been reported as a predictor of outcome in heart failure patients.MethodsA total of 192 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) were included into final analysis. MELD‐XI score was calculated on the day of the procedure and patients were categorized into three groups based on MELD‐XI score and compared with regards to clinical characteristics and outcomes following PMVR.ResultsMELD‐XI > 12 was associated with male gender, higher logistic EuroSCORE, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, enlarged right ventricular end‐diastolic diameter, degree of mitral regurgitation, increased NT‐proBNP serum levels and elevated right atrial pressures. Youden‐Index revealed a cutoff of 16 in the MELD‐XI score as best predictor of one‐year all‐cause mortality. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log‐rank test confirmed increased one‐year mortality in patients with critically high score above 16 (mortality MELD‐XI score > 16 vs 16–12 vs <12:39% vs 9%. vs 15%; P = 0.005). Compared to patients with lower MELD‐XI score, these patients exhibited a more than 3‐fold increased one‐year mortality after PMVR.ConclusionGiven the high mortality in patients with a MELD‐XI score > 16, these patients require a high‐risk preoperative assessment and should undergo a careful discussion within the heart team for the best treatment option given the considerable one‐year mortality following PMVR.
Survival outcomes of patients with primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) treated with novel agents
Authors: Mina Roberto , Joseph Nisha S. , Kaufman Jonathan L. , Gupta Vikas A. , Heffner Leonard T. , Hofmeister Craig C. , Boise Lawrence H. , Dhodapkar Madhav V. , Gleason Charise , Nooka Ajay K. , Lonial Sagar 
Published: October 2018

BackgroundPrimary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) is an aggressive plasma cell disorder characterized by circulating plasma cells and a poor prognosis. Although patients who have pPCL benefit from the use of stem cell transplantation (SCT) and novel agents, their prognosis remains inferior to that of patients who have myeloma.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of 38 consecutive patients with pPCL who were diagnosed between October 2005 and July 2016 and were registered in the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University database. Baseline characteristics as well as data about treatment and survival outcomes were collected.ResultsThe median patient age at diagnosis was 58 years. All patients received a bortezomib‐based induction regimen, and 92% received both bortezomib and an immunomodulatory drug (thalidomide or lenalidomide); in addition, 74% of patients underwent autologous SCT (ASCT), and 61% received maintenance therapy. The best response to first‐line therapy was a partial response or better in 87% of patients, and 45% had a complete response (CR). The achievement of ≥CR was a predictor for prolonged progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The median PFS was 20 months, and the median OS was 33 months. PFS was prolonged in patients who underwent ASCT compared with those who did not undergo ASCT (25 vs 6 months; P = .004), and patients who received maintenance therapy after ASCT had prolonged median PFS (27 vs 11 months; P = .03) and a trend toward prolonged OS (median, 38 vs 22 months; P = .06) compared with those who did not receive maintenance therapy.ConclusionsThe current data support the use of regimens combining novel agents in the upfront treatment of patients with pPCL as well as the role of ASCT and maintenance therapy for long‐term disease control.
Developmental expression of Neuregulin‐3 in the rat central nervous system
Authors: Rahman Afrida , Weber Janet , Labin Edward , Lai Cary , Prieto Anne L 
Published: October 2018

AbstractNeuregulin‐3 (Nrg3) is a member of the Nrg family of growth factors identified as risk factors for schizophrenia. There are three Nrgs expressed in the nervous system (Nrg1‐3) and of these Nrg1 has been the best characterized. To set the groundwork for elucidating neural roles for Nrg3, we studied its expression in the rat brain at both the RNA and protein levels. Using an antibody developed against Nrg3, we observed a developmental increase of Nrg3 protein expression from embryonic stages to adulthood and determined that it carries O‐linked carbohydrates. In cortical neuronal cultures, transfected Neuro2a cells, and brain tissue sections Nrg3 protein was localized to the soma, neurites, and to the Golgi apparatus, where it is prominently expressed. Nrg3 was detected in excitatory, GABAergic and parvalbumin‐expressing inhibitory neurons while expression in glia was limited. Nrg3 mRNA and protein were widely expressed during both embryonic and postnatal ages. At E17, Nrg3 was detected within the cortical plate and ventricular zone suggesting possible roles in cell proliferation or migration. At postnatal ages, Nrg3 was abundantly expressed throughout the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Multiple thalamic nuclei expressed Nrg3, while detection in the striatum was limited. In the cerebellum, Nrg3 was found in both Purkinje cells and granule neurons. In the rodent brain, Nrg3 is the most abundantly expressed of the Nrgs and its patterns of expression differ both temporally and spatially from that of Nrg1 and Nrg2. These findings suggest that Nrg3 plays roles that are distinct from the other Nrg family members.
Regulating Phase Conversion from Ni3Se2 into NiSe in a Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Overall Water‐Splitting Enhancement
Authors: Zhong Yueyao , Chang Bin , Shao Yongliang , Xu Chengwei , Wu Yongzhong , Hao Xiaopeng 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPhase engineering has been demonstrated as an efficient method for the enhancement of catalytic activity. This study concerns the phase and morphology modulation of Ni3Se2/NiSe nanorod arrays through a hydrothermal process. Partial phase conversion can effectively enhance the electrical conductivity and yield more active sites through atom rearrangement during phase transformation. Quite low optimal overpotentials of 166 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 370 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are obtained in a sample containing 32.4 % of NiSe phase and 67.6 % of Ni3Se2 phase. The performance is superior to the samples with only one phase. Furthermore, a water electrolyzer was assembled by using two symmetrical NiSe/Ni foam electrodes as the anode and cathode, which can deliver 10 mA cm−2 at a low voltage of 1.61 V. More significantly, the water electrolyzer can be operated at 10 mA cm−2 over 10 h without noticeable degradation, showing extraordinary operational stability. This phase conversion control strategy provides a new way to improve the catalytic activity of NiSe and may have potential use in the design of other selenide electrocatalysts.
Flow Cytometric Analysis of Erythrocytes Osmotic Fragility in Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Case‐Controlled Study Evaluating the Best Anticoagulant, Sample Pre‐Treatment and NaCl Concentration for Reliable Screening of this Red Blood Cell Membrane Disorder
Authors: Nobre Camila Santos , Silva Jeovania Almeida , Jácomo Rafael Henriques , Nery Lídia Freire Abdalla , Barra Gustavo Barcelos 
Published: October 2018

BackgroundThe cytometric flow osmotic fragility test (FC‐OFT) was recently introduced. However, the test is still under development and some variables have not yet been fully tested.MethodsThe osmotic fragility of hereditary spherocytosis (HS) cases and healthy controls were evaluated by FC‐OFT using a series of tubes containing decreasing concentrations of NaCl. The analyses were executed in fresh and incubated (37°C for 24 h) blood samples anticoagulated with EDTA and heparin. The percentages of residual red blood cells were used to plot the osmotic fragility curves. The OF curves of each tested condition were compared using the median corpuscular fragility (MCF). ROC curve analyses identified the most accurate NaCl concentrations for differentiation between HS cases and healthy controls.ResultsFC‐OFT curves assumed a sigmoidal dose–response shape and the MCF of cases and controls were different in all instances. MCF comparisons revealed that incubation and anticoagulant have major and minor effects on the FC‐OFT, respectively. One hundred percent of sensitivity and specificity was obtained from 5.5 to 6.0 g/L of NaCl in EDTA‐treated fresh blood, from 6.0 to 8.0 g/L of NaCl in EDTA‐treated incubated blood, and in none of the tested NaCl concentration in heparinized blood.ConclusionsEDTA is the anticoagulant of choice for the assay. Incubation at 37°C for 24 h increased its diagnostic capability. The most reliable NaCl concentration for the discrimination of HS case from controls was 6.0 g/L of NaCL in fresh EDTA‐treated blood, and was 7.5 g/L of NaCl in incubated EDTA‐treated blood. © 2018 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Naïve/memory T‐cell phenotypes in leukemic cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma: Putative cell of origin overlaps disease classification
Authors: Horna Pedro , Moscinski Lynn C. , Sokol Lubomir , Shao Haipeng 
Published: October 2018

BackgroundMycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary Syndrome (SS) are clinically distinct cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas with strikingly similar morphologic and phenotypic features. Prior studies have suggested phenotypic differences based on markers of antigen experience, suggesting a different cell of origin.MethodsSeventy‐nine involved peripheral blood or bone marrow samples from 33 patients with SS and 19 patients with MF were studied by 10‐color flow cytometry, including CD62L, CD45RA, CCR4, and PD‐1. Gated tumor events were classified as naïve (TN), central memory (TCM), effector memory (TEM), or effector memory with reacquired CD45RA (TEMRA); based on CD62L+/CD45RA+, CD62L+/CD45RA−, CD62L−/CD45RA−, or CD62L−/CD45RA+ phenotype, respectively. Sequential specimens were compared to assess for phenotypic stability.ResultsThe naïve/memory phenotype of the neoplastic T‐cells was markedly heterogeneous, with a dominant TN, TCM, TEM, or TEMRA subset on 11 (14%), 32 (41%), 30 (38%), and 6 (8%) cases, respectively. There was no correlation between the diagnosis of MF or SS and putative cell of origin (P = 0.4). Overexpression of CCR4 and PD1 was observed in most cases, with higher intensity in SS compared to MF. The naïve/memory phenotype remained the same for 10 patients up to 273 days after the initial analysis; while on six patients, the naïve/memory phenotype was different from the original phenotype.ConclusionsBoth SS and MF can have phenotypic features of any of the major naïve/memory T‐cell subsets, which questions the current principle of “cell‐of‐origin” distinction between SS and MF. Phenotypic shifts within these subsets are common, suggesting a functional state rather than a cell‐of‐origin surrogate. © 2018 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Transcriptomic responses to predator kairomones in embryos of the aquatic snail Radix balthica
Authors: Tills Oliver , Truebano Manuela , Feldmeyer Barbara , Pfenninger Markus , Morgenroth Holly , Schell Tilman , Rundle Simon D. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe ability of organisms to respond to predation threat by exhibiting induced defenses is well documented, but studies on the potential mechanistic basis for such responses are scarce. Here, we examine the transcriptomic response to predator kairomones of two functionally distinct developmental stages in embryos of the aquatic snail Radix balthica: E8—the stage at which a range‐finding trial indicated that kairomone‐induced accelerated growth and development first occurred; and E9—the stage at which embryos switched from ciliary‐ to crawling‐driven locomotion. We tested whether expression profiles were influenced by kairomones and whether this influence varied between stages. We also identified potential candidate genes for investigating mechanisms underpinning induced responses. There were 6,741 differentially expressed transcripts between developmental stages, compared to just five in response to predator kairomones. However, on examination of functional enrichment in the transcripts responding to predator kairomones and adopting a less stringent significance threshold, 206 transcripts were identified relating to muscle function, growth, and development, with this response being greater at the later E9 stage. Furthermore, these transcripts included putative annotations for genes identified as responding to predator kairomones in other taxa, including C1q, lectin, and actin domains. Globally, transcript expression appeared reduced in response to predator kairomones and we hypothesize that this might be a result of metabolic suppression, as has been reported in other taxa in response to predation threat.
Maternal and paternal nutrition in a mosquito influences offspring life histories but not infection with an arbovirus
Authors: Zirbel Kylie E. , Alto Barry W. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe nutritional ecology of an organism can influence the phenotypes of its offspring, generating maternal effects (when derived from mothers) and paternal effects (when derived from fathers). Given the importance of larval nutrition in influencing adult life histories and vector competence inAedes aegypti, we considered how maternal and paternal nutrition influences offspring. Parental generation females and males were reared on either high or low larval food and mated in four sex‐by‐parental diet crosses. Offspring traits measured included development time, survivorship, female size, susceptibility to infection with dengue virus, viral titer, and viral dissemination. We found evidence for both maternal and paternal effects on life history traits (with female development time contributing most to this effect), but not viral traits. These results were only evident when mothers mated with high larval food fathers and when fathers mated with high larval food mothers. Offspring from dissimilar nutrient condition parents developed more quickly than offspring from other parental crosses. Overall, results suggest that parental effects inAe. aegyptiare conditionally derived from both the maternal and paternal environment.
Occurrence, dietary exposure, and health risk estimation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in grilled and fried meats in Shandong of China
Authors: Jiang Dafeng , Wang Guoling , Li Linlin , Wang Xiaolin , Li Wei , Li Xia , Shao Lijun , Li Fenghua 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThere is a lack of information regarding the quantitative determination and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in grilled and fried meat products in Shandong Province of China. The aim of this work was firstly to detect the contamination levels of 15 PAHs in 52 grilled and fried meats consumed by the population of Shandong Province, China. In brief, concentrations of the sum of 15 PAHs in individual samples were ranged from 8.23 to 341 μg/kg with a mean contamination level of 63.3 μg/kg. Moreover, the factors for the formation of PAHs in these samples have been identified and analyzed. One grilled meat sample exceeded the maximum limits of 2 and 12 μg/kg set for BaP and PAH4 by the European Union. For a further step, the mean dietary exposures for total PAHs from grilled and fried meat products were estimated to be 120 and 74.8 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. Finally, the health risk estimation was performed using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) approach. The obtained values of four groups were all lower than 10‐4, indicating a slight potential carcinogenic risk of consumer health. This study was the first attempt to provide baseline information of potential health risk of dietary exposure of PAH‐containing grilled and fried meats, which could be useful for health management of the local consumers.
Post‐combustion CO2 capture with chemical absorption and hybrid system: current status and challenges
Authors: Asif Muhammad , Suleman Muhammad , Haq Ihtishamul , Jamal Syed Asad 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPost‐combustion CO2 capture from the power and industrial sectors has gained widespread attention due to its ability to retrofit easily with newly installed and existing plants. This state‐of‐the‐art, updated review provides an overview of technical issues in post‐combustion CO2 capture related to process performance, energy requirements for CO2 capture, and inconsistencies in the prediction of CO2 capture cost. Recent updates are presented regarding chemical absorption‐desorption systems, and particularly CO2 absorption and solubility enhancement studies, absorber operation at elevated pressure, recent developments in absorber configuration, and methods for reducing the heat duty of strippers. Furthermore, recently developed post‐combustion hybrid techniques such as the membrane‐absorbent hybrid process, the membrane‐cryogenic hybrid process, the membrane‐adsorption hybrid process, the absorption‐electrolysis hybrid process, and the solar thermal electrochemical process (STEP) are discussed. Finally, we suggest areas for improvement and indicate that there are significant future prospects for post‐combustion CO2 capture. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
First documentation of the Polygnathoides siluricus conodont Zone (Ludfordian) in South America (Argentina) and the stratigraphic significance of the younger species of Kockelella (Conodonta)
Authors: Gómez María José , Mestre Ana , Garcías Yanina , Corradini Carlo 
Published: October 2018

The coquinoid beds from the middle part of the Los Espejos Formation at the Poblete creek section (Talacasto Creek) yielded abundant conodonts. The genus Kockelella (Walliser) represents the most relevant biostratigraphical genus in this conodont fauna. The co‐occurrence of Kockelella maenniki Serpagli and Corradini, Kockelella variabilis ichnusae Serpagli and Corradini, K. variabilis Walliser, Kockelella ortus sardoa (Serpagli & Corradini), and Kockelella ortus absidata (Barrick & Klapper) allow us to record for the first time the Polygnathoides siluricus Zone in South America, which suggests the Ludfordian Stage (late Ludlow). We also propose an accurate correlation of the Los Espejos Formation with the lower Ludfordian deposits from the Carnic Alps, Sardinia, Morocco, Czech Republic, Gotland, and North America.
Electrokinetically modulated flow of couple stress magneto‐nanofluids in a microfluidic channel
Authors: Ramesh K. , Kumar Deepak , Devakar M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn the present article, the theoretical investigation is presented for the mixed electrokinetic and pressure‐driven transport of couple stress nanoliquids in a microchannel with the effect of magnetic field and porous medium. This topic has gained a remarkable scope in nanoscale electro‐osmotic devices. The formulation of the present mathematical problem is simplified using the Debye‐Hückel linearization assumption. The merging model has important features such as the thermal Grashof number, solutal Grashof number, Joule heating, Helmholtz‐Smoluchowski velocity. The analytical solutions are presented for the axial velocity, temperature, and solute concentration. The expressions for the heat transfer rate, solute mass transfer rate, and surface shear stress function at the walls are also presented. The results display that, the velocity of the couple stress nanofluid is less in the case of pure electro‐osmotic flow as compared to that of combined electro‐osmotic and pressure‐driven flow. When the Joule heating parameter vanishes, the temperature and solute concentration profiles are linear, otherwise nonlinear. The shear stress function is larger in the case of pure electro‐osmotic flow and it is smaller for the combined effects of electro‐osmotic and pressure gradient. The present analysis places a significant observation that the various zeta potential plays an influential role in heartening fluid velocity. The analysis is relevant to electrokinetic hemodynamics and microfluidics.
Infection burden and immunological responses are equivalent for polymeric and metallic implant materials in vitro and in a murine model of fracture‐related infection
Authors: Rochford Edward T. J. , Sabaté Brescó Marina , Poulsson Alexandra H. C. , Kluge Katharina , Zeiter Stephan , Ziegler Mario , O'Mahony Liam , Richards Robert Geoff , Moriarty Thomas Fintan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe development of an infection is a major complication for some patients with implanted biomaterials. Whether the material or surface composition of the used biomaterial influences infection has not been directly compared for key biomaterials currently in use in human patients. We conducted a thorough in vitro and in vivo investigation using titanium (Ti) and polyether–ether–ketone (PEEK) as both commercially available and as modified equivalents (surface polished Ti, and oxygen plasma treated PEEK). Complement activation and cytokine secretion of cell of the immune system was assessed in vitro for all materials in the absence and presence of bacterial stimulants. In a follow‐up in vivo study, we monitored bacterial infection associated with clinically available and standard Ti and PEEK inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. Complement activation was affected by material choice in the absence of bacterial stimulation, although the material based differences were largely lost upon bacterial stimulation. In the in vivo study, the bacterial burden, histological response and cytokine secretion suggests that there is no significant difference between both PEEK and Ti.In conclusion, the underlying material has a certain impact in the absence of bacterial stimulation, however, in the presence of bacterial stimulation, bacteria seem to dictate the responses in a manner that overshadows the influence of material surface properties. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1095–1106, 2019.
Comparison of gastric cancer survival after R0 resection in the US and China
Authors: Li Ping , Huang Chang‐Ming , Zheng Chao‐Hui , Russo Ashley , Kasbekar Priyanka , Brennan Murray F. , Coit Daniel G. , Strong Vivian E. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesGastric cancer (GC) outcomes differ between Asian and Western countries, even when controlling for contributing factors, but whether this difference holds true for China remains inadequately studied. We sought to compare the presentation, treatment, and outcomes of patients with GC undergoing curative intent (R0) resection between the US and China, and to ascertain whether geography/ institution is an independent predictor of disease‐specific survival (DSS).MethodsData were analyzed from patients with GC undergoing R0 resection at high‐volume cancer centers in the US (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center [MSKCC], n = 1378) and China (Fujian Medical University Union Hospital [FMUUH], n = 4262) between 2000 and 2014. Factors associated with DSS were examined by multivariate analysis.ResultsThe 5‐year DSS (
P < 0.001) for all patients was better at MSKCC than at FMUUH, even among patients not receiving preoperative chemotherapy (
P < 0.001), but stratification by substage eliminated this difference (
P > 0.05). Factors independently associated with DSS included age, histology, tumor size, T category, N category, gastrectomy type, and preoperative chemotherapy, but not institution.ConclusionsAlthough the presentation of patients with GC between MSKCC and FMUUH differs, survival of patients with curatively resected GC, when matched for clinical stage, is comparable.