bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation Between Liver Stiffness Measured by Shear Wave Elastography and Child‐Pugh Classification
Authors: Wang Jinhuan , Wang Qiao , Yu Guoying , She Qilu , Zhang Wenyuan , Zhang Jiagang 
Published: February 2018

ObjectivesTo explore the association between liver stiffness and the Child‐Pugh classification of liver function by shear wave elastography (SWE).MethodsA total of 116 patients with liver cirrhosis were divided into 3 groups according to the Child‐Pugh classification prospectively. Conventional ultrasound imaging and SWE were performed for all patients. The associations of liver stiffness measured by SWE with ultrasound measurements, serum biochemical indicators, and the Child‐Pugh classification were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were analyzed and compared to determine the ability of liver stiffness to diagnose cirrhosis.ResultsLiver stiffness measured by SWE increased with an increasing Child‐Pugh classification, internal diameter of the hepatic portal and splenic veins, spleen thickness, spleen length, total bilirubin level, and prothrombin time, which were positively correlated with the Child‐Pugh classification (allP < .05). The albumin level and liver stiffness showed higher areas under the curve in comparison with other parameters for evaluating the Child‐Pugh classification. Albumin and cholinesterase levels were negatively correlated with the Child‐Pugh classification (P < .05). All of these indicators were significantly different between each pair of groups (allP < .05), except for the internal diameter of the hepatic portal vein, prothrombin time, and total bilirubin, and cholinesterase levels between groups B and C (P > 0.05) and the thickness and length of spleen and internal diameter of the splenic vein between groups A and B (P > 0.05). There were no differences among the groups for alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and globulin levels.ConclusionsLiver stiffness measured by SWE was correlated with the Child‐Pugh classification, and it may be able to help evaluate liver function in patients with cirrhosis.
Point‐of‐Care Ultrasound in Undergraduate Urology Education: A Prospective Control‐Intervention Study
Authors: Olszynski Paul , Anderson Jordan , Trinder Krista , Domes Trustin 
Published: February 2018

ObjectivesThe effect of point‐of‐care ultrasound (US) training on clinical reasoning in undergraduate medical education remains largely unknown, with concerns arising about possible confusion among learners when such clinical tools are introduced too early. We studied the effect of a urology point‐of‐care US module on the performance of questions designed to assess clinical reasoning in urinary tract obstruction and voiding dysfunction.MethodsAll second‐year medical students at the University of Saskatchewan (Regina [n = 36] and Saskatoon [n = 61]) were enrolled in the study. Each cohort participated in the urology point‐of‐care US module concurrently with its Foundations in the Kidney and Urinary Tract course. The Regina cohort completed the point‐of‐care US module 1 week before the Saskatoon cohort, thus allowing for a control‐intervention comparison of script concordance question scores to evaluate the effect that the urology point‐of‐care US module had on clinical reasoning skills. Secondary outcomes included program evaluation metrics, such as overall course performance, urology point‐of‐care US objective structured clinical examination performance, and student course evaluation data.ResultsThe introduction of the urology point‐of‐care US module was not associated with a deterioration in scores on script concordance questions. There were no statistically significant differences between the Regina and Saskatoon students in their responses to the script concordance questions. There were statistically significant increases in student self‐reported achievement of learning objectives, with the effect size being medium to large (Cohen d, 0.5–0.8).ConclusionsPoint‐of‐care US training complements standard undergraduate classroom teaching of urology. Students effectively learned the skills to apply point‐of‐care US in their assessment of patients, and this process did not interfere with achieving the course objectives.
Multiparameter estimation using multi‐echo spoiled gradient echo with variable flip angles and multicontrast compressed sensing
Authors: Tamada Daiki , Wakayama Tetsuya , Onishi Hiroshi , Motosugi Utaroh 
Published: February 2018

PurposeTo develop multiparameter mapping including T1,
, and proton density fat fraction with a single breath‐hold to evaluate liver disease and liver function.MethodsA 6‐echo spoiled gradient‐echo sequence with dual flip angles was used to acquire a 12‐set MRI volume data set. To shorten the scan time, undersampling and multicontrast compressed‐sensing reconstruction were used. The scan time was 18 seconds.
and proton density fat fraction mapping were achieved by using the iterative least‐squares method. T1 mapping was estimated using driven equilibrium single‐pulse observation of T1. Quantitative values were validated by performing phantom and volunteer studies.ResultsStatistical analysis showed that the quantitative values measured using the proposed methods agreed with those measured using conventional methods. T1 values of water proton measured by the proposed method in phantom and volunteer studies were in good agreement with those by MRS.ConclusionThe results showed that accurate quantitative mapping of T1,
, and proton density fat fraction with a single breath‐hold was achieved using our approach.
27‐Hydroxycholesterol Inhibits Sterol Regulatory Element‐Binding Protein 1 Activation and Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Mice
Authors: Li Di , Long Weiqing , Huang Rong , Chen Ying , Xia Min 
Published: February 2018

ObjectiveAlthough 27‐hydroxycholesterol (27‐HC) has been reported as a potent regulator of lipid homeostasis, its role in hepatic lipogenesis remains obscure. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of 27‐HC on sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1 (SREBP‐1) and hepatic steatosis.MethodsIn this study, the 27‐HC level in mice was upregulated by overexpressing CYP27A1 or treating primary hepatocytes with 27‐HC, and then the hepatic lipid accumulation was detected.Results27‐HC inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation and decreased the levels of the mature active form of SREBP‐1. The expression of lipogenic genes, including acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, stearoyl‐coenzyme A desaturase‐1, and glycerol‐3‐phosphate acyltransferase, were also suppressed after 27‐HC intervention. Furthermore, 27‐HC induced expression of insulin‐induced gene‐2 (Insig‐2), an endoplasmic reticulum protein that prevents SREBP activation, both in vivo and in vitro. The inhibitory effect of 27‐HC on SREBP‐1 activation was absent when Insig‐2 was silenced. Finally, coimmunoprecipitation showed that 27‐HC promoted the binding of Insig‐2 to SREBP‐1.ConclusionsThese studies demonstrated the suppressive effect of 27‐HC on hepatic lipid accumulation and revealed a novel mechanism by which 27‐HC regulates lipogenesis.
Trajectories of caregiver burden and related factors in family caregivers of patients with lung cancer
Authors: Lee Yun‐Hsiang , Liao Yu‐Chien , Shun Shiow‐Ching , Lin Kuan‐Chia , Liao Wei‐Yu , Chang Pi‐Hua , Jhang Sin‐Yuan , Yu Chong‐Jen , Yang Pan‐Chyr , Hsieh Pei‐Yin , Lai Yeur‐Hur 
Published: February 2018

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to (1) identify the changes of 5 domains of family caregiver (FC) burden, overall burden, and its subtrajectories when caring for newly diagnosed advanced lung cancer patients during the first 6 months following cancer diagnosis; and (2) identify the FC‐related and patient‐related factors most associated with the overall FC burden and each of its subtrajectories.MethodsA total of 150 newly diagnosed advanced lung cancer patient‐FC dyads were recruited from a Taiwanese medical center. The overall FC burden was evaluated 4 times: before treatment, and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. The potential subtrajectory of the caregiver burden was investigated by latent class growth analysis. The FC‐related and patient‐related factors having the greatest effect on the overall FC burden and its subtrajectories over time were identified by generalized estimating equations.ResultsThe highest level of burden domain was “Impact on daily schedule” over time. Generally, most of the FC reported a moderate level of overall burden over the investigation period. Three subtrajectories of the overall FC burden over time (% caregivers) were identified: high burden (34.7%), moderate burden (56.0%), and low burden (9.3%), respectively. The self‐efficacy of FC was the strongest factor related to the changes of the FC's burden and burden in each subtrajectory.ConclusionThe results support the existing and different types of subtrajectories of the FC's burden. Health care professionals should provide care based on those differences. Further research to test interventions which integrate those important factors related to FC's burden, particularly FC's self‐efficacy, is strongly suggested.
The Impact of Pre‐Analytical Conditions on Human Serum Peptidome Profiling
Authors: Padoan Andrea 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe successful use of proteomic technology for the discovery of clinically relevant, new candidate biomarkers, especially in the low molecular weight range (peptidome), calls for a careful consideration of standardized operating procedures (SOP) for pre‐analytical variables, including samples handling and storage. The current lack of standardization, widely considered a relevant source of random and systematic errors, underlies the uncertainty of analytical results and poor comparability, especially in multi‐centric or inter‐laboratory studies. In their recent study, Tsuchida et al. used the MALDI‐TOF/MS technique to investigate the effect of long‐term storage at −20 °C, −80 °C, and in liquid nitrogen on serum samples obtained for peptidomic analyses. The authors have also evaluated the effects of different sample thawing modalities. By including results from the same series as that reported on in a previous publication, they have effectively defined some important requirements for the peptidomic analysis of serum samples (e.g., maximum time intervals between venepuncture and serum separation [1 h], minimum temperature for long‐term sera storage temperature [−80 °C], ideal conditions for sample thawing).
Estudo comparativo entre artrotomografia computadorizada multi-slice e artroscopia na avaliação das lesões do manguito rotador
Authors: Gómez-Vieira Luis Alfredo , Gómez-Cordero Nicolas Gerardo , Geambastiani Paulo Mauricio Almeida , Matos Marcos Almeida 
Published: February 2018

Resumo
Objetivo Comparar os achados por imagem das alterações anatômicas da artrotomografia computadorizada multi-slice na avaliação das lesões do manguito rotador do ombro e correlacioná-los com os achados da artroscopia (exame diagnóstico padrão-ouro).
Materiais e Métodos Estudo longitudinal, prospectivo, comparativo de acurácia diagnóstica, feito de junho de 2016 a junho de 2017, em pacientes de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 40 e 70 anos, com lesão dos tendões do manguito rotador do ombro, e que tinham necessidade terapêutica de fazer artroscopia do ombro. Foram incluídos pacientes com contraindicação à realização de ressonância magnética. Após a artrotomografia computadorizada multi-slice, todos os pacientes foram submetidos a artroscopia.
Resultados Para a obtenção dos resultados, os seguintes parâmetros foram considerados: sensibilidade, especificidade, acurácia, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo, coeficiente Kappa, e contraposição do método de imagem com a artroscopia.
Conclusão Na impossibilidade da realização da ressonância magnética (exame de imagem padrão-ouro), a artrotomografia computadorizada multi-slice se mostra um exame de imagem capaz de avaliar/diagnosticar as lesões do manguito rotador.
Acute supplementation of valine reduces fatigue during swimming exercise in rats
Authors: Tsuda Yuichi , Iwasawa Kaori , Yamaguchi Makoto 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
We investigated the respective effects of the acute supplementation of valine, leucine, and isoleucine on metabolism-related markers by administering a swimming exercise test to rats. As a behavioral analysis, we evaluated the effect of valine and that of leucine on spontaneous activity after exercise. Acute supplementation of valine before exercise significantly suppressed the depression of the liver glycogen and the blood glucose after exercise, whereas leucine decreased the blood glucose and isoleucine had no effect. Valine or leucine supplementation significantly decreased the plasma corticosterone level after exercise, while isoleucine had no effect. In the behavioral analysis, valine significantly increased the spontaneous activity after exercise, whereas leucine had no effect. These results indicate that in rats, the acute supplementation of valine, not leucine or isoleucine, is effective for maintaining liver glycogen and blood glucose and increasing spontaneous activity after exercise, which could contribute to the reduction of fatigue during exercise.
Comparison of beef traceability in serial and parallel fabrication systems using RFID and two-dimensional barcodes1
Authors: Foster T P , Schweihofer J P , Grooms D L , Clarke R H , Buskirk D D 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Traceability of beef attributes from small- and mid-sized farms through supply chains is a market barrier. The objective of this trial was to determine the influence of fabrication method on beef traceability system requirements. Individual identities of 54 animals were maintained through harvest, processing, packaging, and distribution. At harvest, each animal’s unique radio frequency identification (RFID) animal identification number was transferred to a harvest label on each carcass quarter. Following transportation to a processor, nine carcasses were processed on alternating days by one of the two methods. Carcasses were fabricated, using a serial fabrication method (SFM), into wholesale cuts one at a time or fabricated using a parallel fabrication method (PFM), by processing multiple hindquarters or forequarters simultaneously into wholesale cuts. In-process labels were generated by scanning the two-dimensional (2D) barcode on the harvest label with a handheld mobile computer and printed from a wireless mobile printer. Tracking of SFM and PFM carcass quarters was accomplished by creating in-process labels for lugs and individual wholesale cuts, respectively. The process was recorded and the data was captured from video analysis. The mean number of in-process labels generated per carcass for SFM was 3.7 and for PFM was 30.9 (P &lt; 0.01). The amount of time required for generating in-process labels for SFM (2 min 16 s) was less than PFM (8 min 45 s) (P = 0.01). The amount of time required to label each carcass was less (P &lt; 0.01) for SFM (18 s) than for PFM (3 min 10 s) with in-process labels. Total cost of traceability, including fixed and consumable cost per carcass, was nearly twice as much for PFM ($17.98) than SFM ($9.02). Traceability, within both processing methods, was found to have 100% fidelity, as verified using DNA marker genotyping. Overall, the number of labels generated for traceability was less for SFM than that for PFM. The overall time spent on generating, applying, and removing labels was less for SFM than that for PFM. The total cost of traceability was approximately half for SFM compared with that for PFM; however both methods were able to track product accurately. Tracking of beef from individual animals, using RFID ear tags and 2D barcodes, appears to be feasible for the fabrication methods used in this study.
Meta-analysis of hypoxic transcriptomes from public databases
Authors: Bono Hidemasa , Hirota Kiichi 
Published: February 2018

AbstractHypoxia is the insufficiency of oxygen in the cell, and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are central regulators of oxygen homeostasis. In order to obtain functional insights into the hypoxic response in a data-driven way, we attempted a meta-analysis of the RNA-seq data from the hypoxic transcriptomes archived in public databases. In view of methodological variability of archived data in the databases, we first manually curated RNA-seq data from appropriate pairs of transcriptomes before and after hypoxic stress. These included 128 human and 52 murine transcriptome pairs. We classified the results of experiments for each gene into three categories: upregulated, downregulated, and unchanged. Hypoxic transcriptomes were then compared between humans and mice to identify common hypoxia-responsive genes. In addition, meta-analyzed hypoxic transcriptome data were integrated with public ChIP-seq data on the known human HIFs HIF-1 and HIF-2 to provide insights into hypoxia-responsive pathways involving direct transcription factor binding. This study provides a useful resource for hypoxia research. It also demonstrates the potential of a meta-analysis approach to public gene expression databases for selecting candidate genes from gene expression profiles generated under various experimental conditions.
Subsurface microbial habitats in an extreme desert Mars-analogue environment
Authors: Warren-Rhodes Kimberley A. , Lee Kevin C. , Archer Stephen D.J. , Cabrol Nathalie , Ng-Boyle Linda , Wettergreen David , Zacny Kris , Pointing Stephen B. ,   the NASA Life in the Atacama Project Team
Published: February 2018

AbstractSediments in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama Desert are a terrestrial analogue to Mars regolith. Understanding the distribution and drivers of microbial life in the sediment may give critical clues on how to search for biosignatures on Mars. Here, we identify the spatial distribution of highly specialised bacterial communities in previously unexplored depth horizons of subsurface sediments. We deployed an autonomous rover in a mission-relevant Martian drilling scenario with manual sample validation. Subsurface communities were delineated by depth related to sediment moisture. Geochemical analysis indicated soluble salts and minerology that influenced water bio-availability, particularly in deeper sediments. Colonization was also patchy and uncolonized sediment was associated with indicators of extreme osmotic challenge. The study identifies linkage between biocomplexity, moisture and geochemistry in Mars-like sediments at the limit of habitability and demonstrates feasibility of the rover-mounted drill for future Mars sample recovery.
Household Transmission Study of Cryptosporidiosis in Bangladesh
Authors: Korpe Poonum S. , Gilchrist Carol , Burkey Cecelia , Ahmed Emtiaz , Madan Vikram , Castillo Rachel , Ahmed Shahnawaz , Arju Tuhinur , Alam Masud , Kabir Mamun , Petri William A. , Haque Rashidul , Faruque A.S.G. , Duggal Priya 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTBackgroundCryptosporidium, an apicomplexan protozoa, is a leading contributor to diarrheal morbidity and mortality in children under five years old worldwide. As there is no vaccine and no approved drug for Cryptosporidium spp. in young children, preventing parasite transmission is crucial. We undertook a pilot case-control study to define the extent of person-to-person transmission of cryptosporidiosis within families in an urban and rural community in Bangladesh.MethodsWe enrolled 48 case families with a Cryptosporidium-infected child aged 6-18 months. Controls were age-sex matched Cryptosporidium-negative children (n=12). Once children were identified, we enrolled all household members. We then followed these individuals for 8 weeks, with weekly surveillance stools and testing with qPCR for Cryptosporidium spp.FindingsIn the 48 case families, the rate of secondary infections with Cryptosporidium was 18.6% (22/118) compared to 0 new infections (0/35) in the 12 control families. In the 22 urban Mirpur households, the secondary attack rate was 30% (18/60) in cases compared to 0% (0/14) in controls (chi-square p = 0.018). In contrast, in the 21 rural Mirzapur households, the secondary attack rate was 6.9% (4/58) in case households compared to 0% (0/21) in controls (chi-square p = 0.22). Genotyping by gp60 demonstrated infection with the same subspecies in five of six families. Serologic response to Cryptosporidium infection was associated with younger age, longer duration of infection, and C hominis gp60_IbA9G3R2 infection.InterpretationThe high rate of secondary infection in Mirpur suggests that person-to-person transmission is likely a major source of Cryptosporidium infection for young children living in this region. GP 60 genotyping demonstrated direction of infection in 2 households, and concurrent infection in five households. Further work is needed to understand the differences in parasite transmissibility and immunity to different genotypes.
Novel modular pressure and flow rate balanced microfluidic serial dilution networks on printed circuit boards: Designs, Simulations and Fabrication
Authors: Vasilakis Nikolaos , Papadimitriou Konstantinos I. , Morgan Hywel , Prodromakis Themistoklis 
Published: February 2018

AbstractFast, efficient and more importantly accurate serial dilution is a requirement for many chemical and biological microfluidic-based applications. Over the last decade, a large number of microfluidic devices has been proposed, each demonstrating either a different type of dilution technique or complex system architectures based on various flow source combinations. In this work, a novel serial dilution architecture is demonstrated, implemented on a commercially fabricated printed circuit board (PCB). The proposed single layer, stepwise serial diluter comprises an optimised microfluidic network, where identical dilution ratio per stage can be ensured, either by applying equal pressure or equal flow rates at both inlets. The advantages of the proposed serial diluter are twofold. Firstly, it is structured as a modular unit cell, simplifying the required fluid driving mechanism to a single source for both sample and buffer solution. Thus, this unit cell can be seen as a fundamental microfluidic building block, which can form multistage serial dilution cascades, once combined appropriately with itself or other similar unit cells. Secondly, the serial diluter has been fabricated entirely using commercial PCB technologies, allowing the device to be interfaced with standard electronic components, if more complex miniature point-of-care (PoC) systems are desired, where the small footprint and accuracy of the device is of paramount importance.
Differential Recordings of Local Field Potential:A Genuine Tool to Quantify Functional Connectivity
Authors: Gabriel Meyer , Julien Caponcy , Salin Paul A. , Jean-Christophe Comte 
Published: February 2018

AbstractLocal field potential (LFP) recording is a very useful electrophysiological method to study brain processes. However, this method is criticized for recording low frequency activity in a large area of extracellular space potentially contaminated by distal activity. Here, we theoretically and experimentally compare ground-referenced (RR) with differential recordings (DR). We analyze electrical activity in the rat cortex with these two methods. Compared with RR, DR reveals the importance of local phasic oscillatory activities and their coherence between cortical areas. Finally, we show that DR provides a more faithful assessment of functional connectivity caused by an increase in the signal to noise ratio, and of the delay in the propagation of information between two cortical structures.