bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Small Regulatory RNAs in the Enterobacterial Response to Envelope Damage and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Fröhlich Kathrin S. , Gottesman Susan 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACT

The ability of bacteria to thrive in diverse habitats and to adapt to ever-changing environmental conditions relies on the rapid and stringent modulation of gene expression. It has become evident in the past decade that small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are central components of networks controlling the bacterial responses to stress. Functioning at the posttranscriptional level, sRNAs base-pair with cognate mRNAs to alter translation, stability, or both to either repress or activate the targeted transcripts; the RNA chaperone Hfq participates in stabilizing sRNAs and in promoting pairing between target and sRNA. In particular, sRNAs act at the heart of crucial stress responses, including those dedicated to overcoming membrane damage and oxidative stress, discussed here. The bacterial cell envelope is the outermost protective barrier against the environment and thus is constantly monitored and remodeled. Here, we review the integration of sRNAs into the complex networks of several major envelope stress responses of Gram-negative bacteria, including the RpoE (σ
E
), Cpx, and Rcs regulons. Oxidative stress, caused by bacterial respiratory activity or induced by toxic molecules, can lead to significant damage of cellular components. In
Escherichia coli
and related bacteria, sRNAs also contribute significantly to the function of the RpoS (σ
S
)-dependent general stress response as well as the specific OxyR- and SoxR/S-mediated responses to oxidative damage. Their activities in gene regulation and crosstalk to other stress-induced regulons are highlighted.
GOAL study: clinical and non-clinical predictive factors for achieving glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes in real clinical practice
Authors: Al Mansari Abdulqawi , Obeid Youssef , Islam Najmul , Fariduddin Mohammed , Hassoun Ahmed , Djaballah Khier , Malek Mojtaba , Dicker Dror , Chaudhury Tirthankar 
Published: July 2018

ObjectiveThe American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes guidelines recommend to individualize treatment targets/strategies in inadequately controlled patients by lifestyle management and glucose-lowering drugs to decrease the burden of diabetes-related complications. This real-world practice study aimed to assess predictive factors for achieving the glycemic hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at 6 months as targeted by the treating physician in adults with type 2 diabetes who required initiation of basal insulin, initiation of bolus insulin, or modification from basal or premixed insulin to new insulin regimen containing insulin glargine and/or insulin glulisine. Research design and methodsThis was an international, multicenter, observational survey with 12-month follow-up time in adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled conducted in 10 developing countries. ResultsOverall, 2704 patients (mean age: 54.6 years, body mass index: 28.7 kg/m2; Caucasian: 46.1%, type 2 diabetes duration: 10.1 years) with poor glycemic control (mean HbA1c: 9.7% (83 mmol/mol), fasting blood glucose: 196.8 mg/dL) were eligible. At 6 months, advanced age, Caucasian ethnicity, shorter type 2 diabetes duration (>10 vs 1 year, p<0.0001), lower baseline HbA1c (≥ 8.5% vs <7%, p<0.0001) and no intake of oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) (none vs 2, p=0.02) were predictive factors for achieving glycemic goal as targeted by the treating physician. Absolute changes in the mean HbA1c of −1.7% and −2% were observed from baseline to 6 and 12 months, respectively. ConclusionsAlong with some well-known predictive factors, this study suggested that early insulin regimen treatment initiation and/or intensification allowed patients to promote glycemic control.
Gaps in health behaviours and use of preventive services between patients with diabetes and the general population: a population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Shin Hyun-Young , Park Sohee , Park Sang Min 
Published: July 2018

ObjectivesAlthough both the prevalence and treatment rate of diabetes have increased, the degree of adherence to healthy behaviours by patients with diabetes has not yet been comprehensively evaluated. This study examines the differences in health management and mental health status according to diabetes status and awareness of that diagnosis.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 14 655 people using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Study 2010–2012, which used sampling weights. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to compare health-risk behaviours, preventive healthcare utilisation and mental health status according to diabetes diagnosis and awareness of the disease.ResultsCompared with people without diabetes, people with diabetes had comparably worse smoking status (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.09, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.30), insufficient physical activity (aOR 1.09, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.24) and were less likely to receive cancer screenings and regular health check-ups (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.85). Furthermore, compared with people unaware of their diabetes, people aware of their diabetes had lower odds of physical inactivity (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.99) and greater odds of receiving colon cancer screening (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.05) and influenza vaccination (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.11).ConclusionsPeople with diabetes were no better in terms of health behaviours and preventive healthcare utilisation than those who were without diabetes. Further efforts and political attention to ensure the delivery of quality care for people with diabetes are needed.
Using smartphone-based virtual patients to assess the quality of primary healthcare in rural China: protocol for a prospective multicentre study
Authors: Liao Jing , Chen Yaolong , Cai Yiyuan , Zhan Nan , Sylvia Sean , Hanson Kara , Wang Hong , Wasserheit Judith N , Gong Wenjie , Zhou Zhongliang , Pan Jay , Wang Xiaohui , Tang Chengxiang , Zhou Wei , Xu Dong 
Published: July 2018

IntroductionValid and low-cost quality assessment tools examining care quality are not readily available. The unannounced standardised patient (USP), the gold standard for assessing quality, is costly to implement while the validity of clinical vignettes, as a low-cost alternative, has been challenged. Computerised virtual patients (VPs) create high-fidelity and interactive simulations of doctor-patient encounters which can be easily implemented via smartphone at low marginal cost. Our study aims to develop and validate smartphone-based VP as a quality assessment tool for primary care, compared with USP.Methods and analysisThe study will be implemented in primary health centres (PHCs) in rural areas of seven Chinese provinces, and physicians practicing at township health centres and village clinics will be our study population. The development of VPs involves three steps: (1) identifying 10 VP cases that can best represent rural PHCs’ work, (2) designing each case by a case-specific development team and (3) developing corresponding quality scoring criteria. After being externally reviewed for content validity, these VP cases will be implemented on a smartphone-based platform and will be tested for feasibility and face validity. This smartphone-based VP tool will then be validated for its criterion validity against USP and its reliability (ie, internal consistency and stability), with 1260 VP/USP-clinician encounters across the seven study provinces for all 10 VP cases.Ethics and disseminationSun Yat-sen University: No. 2017-007. Study findings will be published and tools developed will be freely available to low-income and middle-income countries for research purposes.
High similarity between EEG from subcutaneous and proximate scalp electrodes in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Weisdorf Sigge , Gangstad Sirin W. , Duun-Henriksen Jonas , Mosholt Karina S. S. , Kjær Troels W. 
Published: July 2018

Subcutaneous recording using electroencephalography (EEG) has the potential to enable ultra-long-term epilepsy monitoring in real-life conditions because it allows the patient increased mobility and discreteness. This study is the first to compare physiological and epileptiform EEG signals from subcutaneous and scalp EEG recordings in epilepsy patients. Four patients with probable or definite temporal lobe epilepsy were monitored with simultaneous scalp and subcutaneous EEG recordings. EEG recordings were compared by correlation and time-frequency analysis across an array of clinically relevant waveforms and patterns. We found high similarity between the subcutaneous EEG channels and nearby temporal scalp channels for most investigated electroencephalographic events. In particular, the temporal dynamics of one typical temporal lobe seizure in one patient were similar in scalp and subcutaneous recordings in regard to frequency distribution and morphology. Signal similarity is strongly related to the distance between the subcutaneous and scalp electrodes. On the basis of these limited data, we conclude that subcutaneous EEG recordings are very similar to scalp recordings in both time and time-frequency domains, if the distance between them is small. As many electroencephalographic events are local/regional, the positioning of the subcutaneous electrodes should be considered carefully to reflect the relevant clinical question. The impact of implantation depth of the subcutaneous electrode on recording quality should be investigated further. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study is the first publication comparing the detection of clinically relevant, pathological EEG features from a subcutaneous recording system designed for out-patient ultra-long-term use to gold standard scalp EEG recordings. Our study shows that subcutaneous channels are very similar to comparable scalp channels, but also point out some issues yet to be resolved.
ZNF677 Suppresses Akt Phosphorylation and Tumorigenesis in Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Li Yujun , Yang Qi , Guan Haixia , Shi Bingyin , Ji Meiju , Hou Peng 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
The zinc finger protein 677 (ZNF677) belongs to the zinc finger protein family, which possesses transcription factor activity by binding sequence-specific DNA. Previous studies have reported its downregulated by promoter methylation in non–small cell lung cancer. However, its biological role and exact mechanism in human cancers, including thyroid cancer, remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that ZNF677 is frequently downregulated by promoter methylation in primary papillary thyroid cancers (PTC) and show that decreased expression of ZNF677 is significantly associated with poor patient survival. Ectopic expression of ZNF677 in thyroid cancer cells dramatically inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenic potential in nude mice and induced cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Conversely, knockdown of ZNF677 promoted thyroid cancer cell proliferation and colony formation. ZNF677 exerted its tumor suppressor functions in thyroid cancer cells through transcriptional repression of two targets CDKN3 and HSPB1 (or HSP27), thereby inhibiting phosphorylation and activation of Akt via distinct mechanisms. Taken together, our data show that ZNF677 functions as a tumor suppressor and is frequently silenced via promoter methylation in thyroid cancer.
Significance: These findings report a tumor suppressive role of the zinc-finger protein ZNF677 in primary papillary thyroid cancer through inhibition of Akt phosphorylation. Cancer Res; 78(18); 5216–28. ©2018 AACR.
Terrorist or Armed Opposition Group Fighter? The Experience of UK Courts and the Implications for Public International Law
Authors: Murray Alexander 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
The aim of this article is to explore British courts’ jurisprudence relating to the actions of those who have committed acts abroad which, in some circumstances, might be considered terrorism. It does this by identifying three different types of attacks: against civilians, against UN-mandated forces and against another State’s military forces. What emerges from this analysis is that British courts readily classified the first two forms of attack as terrorism while remaining flexible in respect of the third. The article draws on domestic law concerning terrorism and also that which relates to immigration and asylum claims. From this it is apparent the courts have used a complex patchwork of international and domestic law to distinguish between terrorism and ‘legitimate armed attacks’. This is significant because the discussion of the issues by the courts might be of assistance in clarifying and developing the distinction in international law.
Musculoskeletal and Cognitive Effects of a Movement Intervention During Prolonged Standing for Office Work
Authors: Baker Richelle , Coenen Pieter , Howie Erin , Lee Jeremy , Williamson Ann , Straker Leon 
Published: July 2018

Objective: To investigate whether use of a movement intervention when undertaking prolonged standing affected discomfort and cognitive function. Background: Alternate work positions to break up prolonged sitting for office workers are being trialed, such as standing. Prolonged standing has potential negative health implications, including low back and lower limb discomfort, and may influence cognitive function. Introducing movement during standing may provide a healthy and productive alternative work posture. Method: Twenty adult participants undertook a laboratory study of 2 hr of standing and standing with movement (using a footrest) while performing computer work. Changes in discomfort and cognitive function, with muscle fatigue, low back angle, pelvis movement, lower limb swelling, and mental state, were investigated. Results: Discomfort increased significantly over time across all body regions. Ankle/foot differed between conditions (incident rate ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.89 [1.10–3.23]), with higher discomfort during standing with movement. Creative problem-solving errors increased during standing with movement and decreased during standing (Time × Condition: β = 0.64 [0.10–1.18]), with no other cognitive function measure differences. Mental state deteriorated over time for both conditions, greater during standing with movement (Time × Condition: β = 2.44 [0.23–4.66]). No significant interaction effects were found for the other outcome variables. Conclusion: Standing with movement provided no advantage in discomfort or cognitive function. There were some negative effects for ankle/foot discomfort and creative problem solving. An alternate footrest design and protocol for use may yield more favorable results. Application: Based on the results from this study, footrest use to raise alternative foot for forced 5-min intervals would not be recommended to assist with managing discomfort while prolonged standing in workplaces.
Whole-Genome mRNA Gene Expression Differs Between Patients With and Without Delirium
Authors: Kalantar Katrina , LaHue Sara C. , DeRisi Joseph L. , Sample Hannah A. , Contag Caitlin A. , Josephson Scott A. , Wilson Michael R. , Douglas Vanja C. 
Published: July 2018

Objective: To identify differences in gene expression between patients with in-hospital delirium from a known etiology (urinary tract infection [UTI]) and patients with delirium from an unknown etiology, as well as from nondelirious patients. Methods: Thirty patients with delirium (8 with UTI) and 21 nondelirious patients (11 with UTI) were included in this prospective case–control study. Transcriptomic profiles from messenger RNA sequencing of peripheral blood were analyzed for gene expression and disease-specific pathway enrichment patterns, correcting for systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Genes and pathways with significant differential activity based on Fisher exact test ( P < .05, |Z score| >2) are reported. Results: Patients with delirium with UTI, compared to patients with delirium without UTI, exhibited significant activation of interferon signaling, upstream cytokines, and transcription regulators, as well as significant inhibition of actin cytoskeleton, integrin, paxillin, glioma invasiveness signaling, and upstream growth factors. All patients with delirium, compared to nondelirious patients, had significant complement system activation. Among patients with delirium without UTI, compared to nondelirious patients without UTI, there was significant activation of elF4 and p7056 K signaling. Conclusions: Differences exist in gene expression between delirious patients due to UTI presence, as well as due to the presence of delirium alone. Transcriptional profiling may help develop etiology-specific biomarkers for patients with delirium.
From the Inside Out: The Policies and Diplomacy Shaping India’s Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century
Authors: Bhalla Madhu 
Published: July 2018

Shiv Shankar Menon, Choices: Inside the Making of India’s Foreign Policy. Gurgaon: Allen Lane, Penguin, 2016, pp. 243, ₹599. ISBN: 9780670089239. Shyam Saran, How India Sees the World: Kautilya to the 21st Century. New Delhi: Juggernaut, 2017, pp. 312, ₹599. ISBN: 9789386228406.
Risk Factors for Perinatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Munoz Daniela , Hidalgo María José , Balut Fernanda , Troncoso Mónica , Lara Susana , Barrios Andrés , Parra Patricia 
Published: July 2018

Introduction: Arterial ischemic stroke in newborns is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Its pathophysiology and associated risk factors are not yet clearly understood and defined. Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate possible risk factors in diagnosed cases of PAIS (perinatal arterial ischemic stroke). Materials and methods: Case–control study. Clinical data of patients with PAIS diagnosis were analyzed. Two healthy controls were selected for each PAIS case, matched for gestational age. Risk factors were explored using univariable and multivariable analysis. Outcome: 40 patients were included in the study, 24 males and 16 females; 52.5% of cases were diagnosed within the first month of birth, and 47.5% were retrospectively diagnosed. The results showed a male predominance (66.7%). The distribution of cerebral ischemic injury was predominantly medial cerebral artery (87.5%) and occurred more commonly in the left cerebral hemisphere (62.5%). Significant risk factors in the univariate analysis (P < 0.05) were primiparity, stillbirth, neonatal sepsis, asphyxia, twin pregnancy, placenta abruption, emergency cesarean section, Apgar score ≤7 after 5 min, breech presentation, and hyperbilirubinemia. In the multivariate analysis, primiparity (OR 11.74; CI 3.28–42.02), emergency cesarean section (OR 13.79; CI 3.51–54.13), birth asphyxia (OR 40.55; CI 3.08–532.94) and Apgar score ≤7 after 5 min (OR 13.75; CI 1.03–364.03) were significantly associated factors with PAIS. Only five (16.6%) patients had an abnormal thrombophilia study. Conclusion: Risk factors of primiparity, emergency cesarean section, birth asphyxia, and Apgar score ≤7 after 5 min were significantly associated with perinatal stroke. More studies with a larger number of patients and with prolonged follow up are required to establish more clearly the associated risk factors involved in this pathology.
Systematic review of drug effects in humans and models with surfactant-processing disease
Authors: Klay Dymph , Hoffman Thijs W. , Harmsze Ankie M. , Grutters Jan C. , van Moorsel Coline H.M. 
Published: July 2018

Fibrotic interstitial pneumonias are a group of rare diseases characterised by distortion of lung interstitium. Patients with mutations in surfactant-processing genes, such as surfactant protein C (SFTPC), surfactant protein A1 and A2 (SFTPA1andA2), ATP binding cassette A3 (ABCA3) and Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS1,2and4), develop progressive pulmonary fibrosis, often culminating in fatal respiratory insufficiency. Although many mutations have been described, little is known about the optimal treatment strategy for fibrotic interstitial pneumonia patients with surfactant-processing mutations.We performed a systematic literature review of studies that described a drug effect in patients, cell or mouse models with a surfactant-processing mutation. In total, 73 articles were selected, consisting of 55 interstitial lung disease case reports/series, two clinical trials and 16 cell or mouse studies. Clinical effect parameters included lung function, radiological characteristics and clinical symptoms, while experimental outcome parameters included chemokine/cytokine expression, surfactant trafficking, necrosis and apoptosis. SP600125, a c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, hydroxychloroquine and 4-phenylbutyric acid were most frequently studied in disease models and lead to variable outcomes, suggesting that outcome is mutation dependent.This systematic review summarises effect parameters for future studies on surfactant-processing disorders in disease models and provides directions for future trials in affected patients.
Endogenous expression mapping of malignant melanoma by mass spectrometry imaging
Authors: Sugihara Yutaka , Rivas Daniel , Malm Johan , Szasz Marcell , Kwon HoJeong , Baldetorp Bo , Olsson Håkan , Ingvar Christian , Rezeli Melinda , Fehniger Thomas E. , Marko‐Varga György 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundCurrently, only a limited number of molecular biomarkers for malignant melanoma exist. This is the case for both diagnosing the disease, staging, and efficiently measuring the response to therapy by tracing the progression of disease development and drug impact. There is a great need to identify novel landmarks of disease progression and alterations.MethodsMatrix‐assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI‐MSI) has been developed within our group to study drug localisation within micro‐environmental tissue compartments. Here, we expand further on this technology development and introduce for the first time melanoma tumour tissues to map metabolite localisation utilising high resolution mass spectrometry. MALDI‐MSI can measure and localise the distribution pattern of a number of small molecule metabolites within tissue compartments of tumours isolated from melanoma patients. Data on direct measurements of metabolite identities attained at the local sites in tissue compartments has not been readily available as a measure of a clinical index for most cancer diseases. The current development on the mapping of endogenous molecular expression melanoma tumours by mass spectrometry imaging focuses on the establishment of a cancer tissue preparation process whereby a matrix crystal formation is homogenously built on the tissue surface, providing uniform molecular mapping. We apply this micro‐preparation technology to disease presentation by mapping the molecular signatures from patient tumour sections.ResultsWe have automated the process with a micro‐technological dispensing platform. This provides the basis for thin film generation of the cancer patient tissues prior to imaging screening. Compartmentalisation of the tumour regions are displayed within the image analysis interfaced with histopathological grading and characterisation.ConclusionsThis enables site localisation within the tumour with image mapping to disease target areas such as melanoma cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes.