bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epitope-Based Peptide Vaccine Against Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase of Madurella mycetomatis Using Immunoinformatics Approaches
Authors: Mohammed Arwa A , ALnaby Ayman MH , Sabeel Solima M , AbdElmarouf Fagr M , Dirar Amina I , Ali Mostafa M , Khandgawi Mustafa A , Yousif Abdelhameed M , Abdulgadir Eman M , Sabahalkhair Magdi A , Abbas Ayman E , Hassan Mohammed A 
Published: November 2018

Background: Mycetoma is a distinct body tissue destructive and neglected tropical disease. It is endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries. Mycetoma is caused by bacterial infections ( actinomycetoma) such as Streptomyces somaliensis and Nocardiae or true fungi ( eumycetoma) such as Madurella mycetomatis. To date, treatments fail to cure the infection and the available marketed drugs are expensive and toxic upon prolonged usage. Moreover, no vaccine was prepared yet against mycetoma. Aim: The aim of this study is to predict effective epitope-based vaccine against fructose-bisphosphate aldolase enzymes of M. mycetomatis using immunoinformatics approaches. Methods and materials: Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase of M. mycetomatis sequence was retrieved from NCBI. Different prediction tools were used to analyze the nominee’s epitopes in Immune Epitope Database for B-cell, T-cell MHC class II and class I. Then the proposed peptides were docked using Autodock 4.0 software program. Results and conclusions: The proposed and promising peptides KYLQ show a potent binding affinity to B-cell, FEYARKHAF with a very strong binding affinity to MHC I alleles and FFKEHGVPL that shows a very strong binding affinity to MHC II and MHC I alleles. This indicates a strong potential to formulate a new vaccine, especially with the peptide FFKEHGVPL which is likely to be the first proposed epitope-based vaccine against fructose-bisphosphate aldolase of M. mycetomatis. This study recommends an in vivo assessment for the most promising peptides especially FFKEHGVPL.
The Temporal Relationship Between Medicaid Payment Acceptance and the Implementation of Medication-Assisted Drug Treatment
Authors: Guerrero Erick G , Garner Bryan R , Cook Benjamin , Kong Yinfei , Vega William A 
Published: November 2018

Objective: To examine the temporal relationship of Medicaid funding on the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Methods: We examined data from 61 publicly funded SUD treatment programs in 2011 and 2013 using crossed-lagged regressions. We tested the impact of Medicaid payment acceptance on 2 measures of EBP implementation—contingency management treatment (CMT) and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Results: Medicaid payment acceptance at wave 1 was not associated with implementation of CMT at wave 2 (standardized estimate = 0.170, SE = 0.208, P > .05). However, Medicaid payment acceptance at wave 1 was associated with implementation of MAT at wave 2 (standardized estimate = 0.880, SE = 0.047, P < .001). Conclusions: Medicaid payment acceptance has a temporal relationship with the implementation of MAT in SUD treatment programs serving one of the largest racial/ethnic minority communities in the United States.
Statistical analysis plan for pooled individual patient data from two landmark randomized trials (INTERACT2 and ATACH-II) of intensive blood pressure lowering treatment in acute intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Moullaali Tom J , Wang Xia , Martin Renee' H , Shipes Virginia B , Qureshi Adnan I , Anderson Craig S , Palesch Yuko Y 
Published: November 2018

Background There is persistent uncertainty over the benefits of early intensive systolic blood pressure lowering in acute intracerebral hemorrhage. In particular, over the timing, target, and intensity of systolic blood pressure control for optimum balance of potential benefits (i.e. functional recovery) and risks (e.g. cerebral ischemia). Aims To determine associations of early systolic blood pressure lowering parameters and outcomes in patients with a hypertensive response in acute intracerebral hemorrhage. Secondary aims are to identify the modifying effects of patient characteristics and an optimal systolic blood pressure lowering profile. Methods Individual participant data pooled analyses of two large, multicenter, randomized controlled trials specifically undertaken to assess the effects of early intensive systolic blood pressure reduction on clinical outcomes in acute intracerebral hemorrhage: the Intensive Blood Pressure in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT2) and the Antihypertensive Treatment of Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage (ATACH-II) trial. Combined data will include baseline characteristics; systolic blood pressure in the first 24 h; process of care measures; and key efficacy and safety outcomes. Outcomes The primary outcome is functional recovery, defined by an ordinal distribution of scores on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days post-randomization. Secondary outcomes include various standard binary cut-points for disability-free survival on the modified Rankin scale, and health-related quality of life at 90 days. Safety outcomes include symptomatic hypotension requiring corrective therapy and early neurologic deterioration within 24 h, and deaths, any serious adverse event, and cardiac and renal serious adverse events, within 90 days. Discussion A pre-determined protocol was developed to facilitate successful collaboration and reduce analysis bias arising from prior knowledge of the findings. Clinical trial registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifiers for INTERACT2 (NCT00716079) and ATACH-II (NCT01176565).
Improving patient safety in developing countries – moving towards an integrated approach
Authors: Elmontsri Mustafa , Banarsee Ricky , Majeed Azeem 
Published: November 2018

Summary Patient safety is a major public health issue. It has also been recognised as an area for improvement. The purpose of this article is to discuss the need for developing an integrated approach to patient safety improvement in developing countries. Relevant literature to identify the common themes and patterns associated with patient safety improvement was conducted through a search of the online databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED and Google Scholar) for the years 2000 to 2017. Lessons and interventions from developed countries have been taken into consideration to identify the themes needed for patient safety improvement in developing countries. This review provides an integrated approach based on best practice which can be used to guide the development of a national strategy for improving patient safety. Policy makers need to focus on developing a holistic and comprehensive approach to patient safety improvement that takes into account the themes discussed in this article.
Outcomes of expedited rotator cuff surgery in injured workers: Impact of pathology on readiness for return to work
Authors: Singh Gargi , Mann Helen , Razmjou Helen 
Published: November 2018

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to (1) examine the overall recovery and satisfaction following an expedited rotator cuff (RC) decompression or repair at 3–6 months and (2) explore group differences (repair vs. decompression) in demographics, clinical, disability, and psychosocial factors. Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study of injured workers whose surgery was expedited. The outcome measures were Quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand ( QuickDASH), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the readiness for return to work (RRTW) scale, and satisfaction with surgery and overall recovery. Results: Of 118 patients participated in the study, 106 patients, age: 51 (9), 71 males (67%) completed the study. Sixty-four (60%) patients underwent a RC repair and 42 (40%) had RC decompression. Patients improved on average in QuickDASH ( p = 0.004), anxiety ( p = 0.003), and depression scores ( p = 0.004). The majority of patients (75%) were satisfied with surgery. In the decompression group, the pre-contemplation (PC) stage of the RRTW which documents the absence of desire or planning for return to work in the non-working sample ( r = 0.81, p = 0.008) and the uncertain maintenance (UM) stage of the RRTW which explores the worker’s struggle to stay at work in the working sample correlated with physical disability as measured by the QuickDASH scores ( r = 0.62, p = 0.0001). In the repair group, the above domains correlated with the depression HADS scores (PC: r = 0.64, p = 0.001 and UM: r = 0.57, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Expedited RC surgery improved physical disability and mental well-being and was associated with a relatively high satisfaction at a maximum of 6 months. The poorer report of readiness for return to work was associated with higher physical disability in the decompression group and higher report of depression in the repair group. These differential associations may emphasize the importance of physical versus psychological management in patients with different levels of pathology.
The Cliff Sign: A New Radiographic Sign of Hip Instability
Authors: Packer Jonathan D. , Cowan James B. , Rebolledo Brian J. , Shibata Kotaro R. , Riley Geoffrey M. , Finlay Andrea K. , Safran Marc R. 
Published: November 2018

Background: The preoperative diagnosis of hip microinstability is challenging. Although physical examination maneuvers and magnetic resonance imaging findings associated with microinstability have been described, there are limited reports of radiographic features. In patients with microinstability, we observed a high incidence of a steep drop-off on the lateral edge of the femoral head, which we have named the “cliff sign.” Purpose: (1) To determine the relationship of the cliff sign and associated measurements with intraoperative microinstability and (2) to determine the interobserver reliability of these measurements. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 115 consecutive patients who underwent hip arthroscopy were identified. Patients with prior hip surgery, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, fractures, pigmented villonodular synovitis, or synovial chondromatosis were excluded, resulting in the inclusion of 96 patients in the study. A perfect circle around the femoral head was created on anteroposterior pelvis radiographs. If the lateral femoral head did not completely fill the perfect circle, it was considered a positive cliff sign. Five additional measurements relating to the cliff sign were calculated. The diagnosis of microinstability was made intraoperatively by the (1) amount of traction required to distract the hip, (2) lack of hip reduction after initial traction release following joint venting, or (3) intraoperative findings consistent with hip microinstability. Continuous variables were analyzed through use of unpaired t tests and discrete variables with Fisher exact tests. Interobserver reliability (n = 3) was determined for each measurement. Results: Overall, 89% (39/44) of patients with microinstability had a cliff sign, compared with 27% of patients (14/52) without instability ( P < .0001). Conversely, 74% of patients with a cliff sign had microinstability, while only 12% of patients without a cliff sign had instability ( P < .0001). In women younger than 32 years with a cliff sign, 100% (20/20) were diagnosed with instability. No differences were found in any of the 5 additional measurements. Excellent interobserver reliability was found for the presence of a cliff sign and the cliff angle measurement. Conclusion: We have identified a radiographic finding, the cliff sign, that is associated with the intraoperative diagnosis of hip microinstability and has excellent interobserver reliability. Results showed that 100% of young women with a cliff sign had intraoperative microinstability. The cliff sign may be useful in the preoperative diagnosis of hip microinstability.
The Prevalence of Comorbidities in Children and Young Adults With Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Edens Cuoghi , Antonelli Maria 
Published: November 2018

Background: Adult-onset psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have been associated with diabetes, hypertension (HTN), and obesity in addition to other diagnoses. The relationship of these comorbidities in children and young adults with PsO and PsA is not well known. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic comorbidities and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in those ≤19 years of age with PsO and PsA. Method: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients ≤19 years of age from the United States with PsO and PsA using a pooled deidentified health-care system database. Comorbidities of interest included diabetes mellitus (DM), HTN, IBD, and obesity. The χ2 test and odds ratio (OR) were calculated. Results: A total of 6470 patients ≤19 years of age with PsO and 520 with PsA were identified. Both cohorts were largely Caucasian; PsA had a female predominance. Almost half of those with PsO and PsA were obese. There was a statistical difference between PsA and PsO and the general population in regard to DM, HTN, and IBD ( P < 0.01). Childhood and adolescent PsA was associated with DM, HTN, and obesity compared to PsO (OR: 2.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-4.12, OR: 5.60, 95% CI: 3.61-8.67, OR: 1.31 95% CI: 0.95-1.35, OR: 2.91, 95% CI: 2.04-4.15), respectively. Conclusions: Metabolic comorbidities and IBD are pervasive in children and young adults with PsA and PsO. Diabetes mellitus and HTN were more prevalent in PsA than PsO, the converse found with IBD. Children and young adults diagnosed with psoriatic diseases are more likely to be obese than the general population.
Low plasma stem cell factor combined with high transforming growth factor-α identifies high-risk patients in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Bouzina Habib , Rådegran Göran 
Published: November 2018

In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), severe vasoconstriction and remodelling of small pulmonary arteries result in high mortality. Receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands, such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, modulate proliferation in PAH. Although the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit has been shown to be overexpressed in PAH, the expression and role of its ligand stem cell factor (SCF) remain unknown. However, low plasma SCF levels are known to be linked to higher cardiovascular mortality risk.Using proximity extension assays, we measured SCF and TGF-α in venous plasma from treatment-naïve PAH patients and healthy controls. Patients were stratified into risk classes based on PAH guidelines.Plasma SCF was decreased (p=0.013) and TGF-α was increased (p<0.0001) in PAH patients compared to controls. SCF correlated to pulmonary vascular resistance (r=−0.66, p<0.0001), cardiac index (r=0.66, p<0.0001), venous oxygen saturation (r=0.47, p<0.0008), mean right atrial pressure (r=−0.44, p<0.002) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic protein (r=−0.39, p<0.006). SCF was lower in “high-risk” compared to “intermediate-risk” (p=0.0015) or “low-risk” (p=0.0009) PAH patients. SCF and TGF-α levels combined (SCF/TGF-α) resulted in 85.7% sensitivity and 81.5% specificity for detecting high-risk patients (p<0.0001). Finally, REVEAL (Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Disease Management) risk scores in PAH patients correlated to SCF/TGF-α levels (r=−0.50, p=0.0003).In conclusion, low plasma SCF combined with high TGF-α identifies high-risk PAH patients at baseline. Lower circulating SCF levels, which are associated with worse haemodynamics, may be related to the c-Kit accumulation previously observed in PAH.
Expiratory reactance abnormalities in patients with expiratory dynamic airway collapse: a new application of impulse oscillometry
Authors: Fielding David I. , Travers Justin , Nguyen Phan , Brown Michael G. , Hartel Gunter , Morrison Stephen 
Published: November 2018

Expiratory dynamic airways collapse (EDAC) is a condition that affects the central airways; it is not well characterised physiologically, with relatively few studies. We sought to characterise impulse oscillometry (IOS) features of EDAC in patients with normal spirometry. Expiratory data were hypothesised to be the most revealing. In addition, we compared IOS findings in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with and without EDAC.EDAC was identified at bronchoscopy as 75–100% expiratory closure at the carina or bilateral main bronchi. Four patient groups were compared: controls with no EDAC and normal lung function; lone EDAC with normal lung function; COPD-only patients; and COPD patients with EDAC.38 patients were studied. Mean IOS data z-scores for EDAC compared to controls showed significantly higher reactance (X) values includingXat 5 Hz, resonance frequency and area under the reactance curve (AX). EDAC showed significantly greater expiratory/inspiratory differences in all IOS data compared to controls. Stepwise logistic regression showed that resonant frequency best discriminated between EDAC and normal control, whereas classification and regression tree analysis found AX≥3.523 to be highly predictive for EDAC in cases with normal lung function (14 out of 15 cases, and none out of eight controls).These data show a new utility of IOS: detecting EDAC in patients with normal lung function.
TEAD4 overexpression promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and associates with aggressiveness and adverse prognosis in head neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Jin , Wu Yaping , Ge Han , Song Yue , Wang Dongmiao , Yuan Hua , Jiang Hongbing , Wang Yanling , Cheng Jie 
Published: November 2018

Abstract
Background
Deregulated Hippo signaling has been uncovered to be intricately involved in tumorigenesis. Transcriptional factor TEADs serve as key mediators of Hippo signaling and have been increasingly appreciated as putative oncogenes driving cancer initiation and progression. However, its expression pattern and oncogenic role of TEAD4 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain largely unexplored.

Methods
TEAD4 mRNA expression in HNSCC was determined by data mining and analyses from TCGA dataset and four independent cohorts with transcriptional profiling data publically available. The protein abundance of TEAD4 was measured by immunohistochemistry in 105 primary HNSCC samples and associations between its expression and clinicopathological parameters and patient survival were evaluated. The oncogenic roles of TEAD4 was further determined by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO)-induced animal model, both knockdown/overexpression assay and TGF-β1-induced epithelia-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro.

Results
Both mRNA and protein abundance of TEAD4 were significantly increased in HNSCC as compared to its non-tumor counterparts. Overexpression of TEAD4 significantly associated with high pathological grade, cervical node metastasis, advanced clinical stage and reduced overall and disease-free survival. In the 4NQO-induced HNSCC mouse model, increased TEAD4 immunostaining was found associated with disease progression. TEAD4 knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis in HNSCC cells, while its overexpression resulted in opposite effects and EMT. Moreover, TEAD4 was critically involved in TGF-β1-induced EMT in HNSCC cells.

Conclusions
Our findings reveal that TEAD4 serves as a novel prognostic biomarker and putative oncogene for HNSCC by promoting cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and EMT.
Influence of FTO rs9939609 and Mediterranean diet on body composition and weight loss: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Di Renzo Laura , Cioccoloni Giorgia , Falco Simone , Abenavoli Ludovico , Moia Alessandra , Sinibaldi Salimei Paola , De Lorenzo Antonino 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe Mediterranean diet (MeD) plays a key role in the prevention of obesity. Among the genes involved in obesity, the Fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is one of the most known, but its interaction with MeD remained uncertain so far.MethodsWe carried out a study on a sample of 188 Italian subjects, analyzing their FTO rs9939609 alleles, and the difference in body composition between the baseline and a 4-weeks nutritional intervention. The sample was divided into two groups: the control group of 49 subjects, and the MeD group of 139 subjects.ResultsWe found significant relations between MeD and both variation of total body fat (ΔTBFat) (p = 0.00) and gynoid body fat (p = 0.04). ∆TBFat (kg) demonstrated to have a significant relation with the interaction diet-gene (p = 0.04), whereas FTO was associated with the variation of total body water (p = 0.02).ConclusionsMeD demonstrated to be a good nutritional treatment to reduce the body fat mass, whereas data about FTO remain uncertain. Confirming or rejecting the hypothesis of FTO and its influence on body tissues during nutritional treatments is fundamental to decide whether its effect has to be taken into consideration during both development of dietetic plans and patients monitoring.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Id: NCT01890070. Registered 01 July 2013,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01890070
Retinoic acid-induced CYP51 nuclear translocation promotes meiosis prophase I process and is correlated to the expression of REC8 and STAG3 in mice
Authors: Mu Xinyi , Wen Jia , Chen Qian , Wang Zhengpin , Wang Yijing , Guo Meng , Yang Yi , Xu JinRui , Wei Zhiqing , Xia Guoliang , Yang Mengye , Wang Chao 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACT
Lanosterol 14 α-demethylase (CYP51) plays a crucial role in cholesterol biosynthesis. In gamete development, CYP51 is involved in initiating meiosis resumption in oocytes through its product, meiosis activating sterol (MAS). In this study, CYP51 was observed to localize within the nucleus of germ cells undergoing meiotic prophase I. Following the addition of retinoic acid (RA) to induce meiosis or the RA receptor pan-antagonist AGN193109 to block meiosis in fetal ovaries, the translocation of CYP51 into the nucleus of oocytes was advanced or delayed, respectively. In addition, treatment with Cyp51-siRNA or RS21745, a specific CYP51 inhibitor, significantly delayed the meiotic progression of oocytes in the ovary, with most oocytes arresting at the zygotene stage, and likewise, significantly reduced perinatal primordial follicle formation. Furthermore, inhibition of CYP51 is correlated to significantly decreased expression of REC8 and STAG3, both of which are meiosis-specific cohesin subunits. To sum up, RA-induced CYP51 nuclear translocation is critical for oocytes meiotic progression, and consequently folliculogenesis, which might act through impacting the expression of meiosis-specific cohesins REC8 and STAG3.
The fallacy of thePcrit – are there more useful alternatives?
Authors: Wood Chris M. 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACTP crit – generally defined as the PO2 below which the animal can no longer maintain a stable rate of O2 consumption (ṀO2), such that ṀO2 becomes dependent upon PO2 – provides a single number into which a vast amount of experimental effort has been invested. Here, with specific reference to water-breathers, I argue that this focus on the Pcrit is not useful for six reasons: (1) calculation of Pcrit usually involves selective data editing; (2) the value of Pcrit depends greatly on the way it is determined; (3) there is no good theoretical justification for the concept; (4) Pcrit is not the transition point from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism, and it disguises what is really going on; (5) Pcrit is not a reliable index of hypoxia tolerance; and (6) Pcrit carries minimal information content. Preferable alternatives are loss of equilibrium (LOE) tests for hypoxia tolerance, and experimental description of full ṀO2 versus PO2 profiles accompanied by measurements of ventilation, lactate appearance and metabolic rate by calorimetry. If the goal is to assess the ability of the animal to regulate ṀO2 from this profile in a mathematical fashion, promising, more informative alternatives to Pcrit are the regulation index and Michaelis–Menten or sigmoidal allosteric analyses.