bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutrition Status Among HIV‐Positive and HIV‐Negative Inpatients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Lazzari Tássia Kirchmann , Forte Gabriele Carra , Silva Denise Rossato 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe association between tuberculosis (TB) and malnutrition is well recognized. Considering the risk of mortality due to malnutrition in patients with TB, it is necessary to conduct a thorough nutrition assessment to identify individuals at nutrition risk. The study objective was to assess the nutrition status of hospitalized patients with TB, co‐infected or not by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).MethodsPatients with confirmed diagnosis of TB were included using a cross‐sectional design. Nutrition assessment parameters included: body mass index (BMI), triceps skin‐fold thickness (TSF), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), mid‐upper‐arm circumference (MUAC), mid‐arm muscle circumference (MAMC), food frequency questionnaire, Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), and serum levels of hemoglobin.ResultsA total 108 patients completed the study. Forty‐four patients (40.7%) were HIV positive. Considering the BMI, 36.1% of the patients met the criteria for nutrition deficiency. Body fat percentage was low in 27.8% of patients. In addition, more than half of the participants met criteria for malnutrition according to MUAC, MAMC, TSF, SGA, or MST. Malnutrition measured by MAMC was more frequent in HIV‐positive patients (n=33, 75.0%) than in HIV‐negative patients (n=31, 48.4%) (P = 0.010). Regarding the components of diet, selenium and vitamin C intake among HIV‐positive patients was significantly lower than in HIV‐negative patients.ConclusionsWe identified a high prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients with pulmonary TB, regardless of the method used to assess nutrition status. In HIV‐positive patients, malnutrition measured by MAMC was more frequent than in HIV‐negative patients.
Phase Angle as a Sarcopenia Marker in Hospitalized Elderly Patients
Authors: Santana Natalia de Moraes , Pinho Claudia Porto Sabino , da Silva Cristiane Pereira , dos Santos Natalia Fernandes , Mendes Roberta Maria Lins 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundPhase angle (PhA) has been proposed as a parameter to predict clinical outcomes and mortality for various diseases. Several studies have considered it an important nutrition assessment tool. However, the usefulness of this parameter as a sarcopenia marker has not yet been evaluated. This study was developed to evaluate the performance of PhA as a sarcopenia marker in hospitalized elderly patients.Materials and MethodsThis was a cross‐sectional study involving elderly patients admitted to a hospital in northeastern Brazil. The PhA was obtained from resistance and reactance measurements by bioelectrical impedance. Sarcopenia was defined as a decrease in muscle mass associated with a reduced muscle strength or physical performance.ResultsThe sample consisted of 148 patients with a mean age of 71.6 (±7.6) years and a 62.8% prevalence of sarcopenia. The average PhA was 5.9 ± 2.0°, similar for men and women (5.9 ± 2.3 vs 5.9 ± 1.8; P = .946). In men, sarcopenic patients had a lower average PhA (5.6 ± 2.3°) when compared with patients without this condition (6.8 ± 1.9°; P = .024). When comparing the value of PhA regarding the degree of sarcopenia, it was found that patients from both sexes with severe sarcopenia had lower averages. The PhA had a low predictive capacity in relation to the diagnostic components of sarcopenia (physical performance, muscle mass, and strength).ConclusionPhA was an inaccurate marker to identify sarcopenia and presented low predictive capacity to explain muscle mass, muscle strength, and functional capacity, components involved in the diagnosis of sarcopenia.
Potential use of stable isotope and fatty acid analyses for traceability of geographic origins of jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas)
Authors: Gong Yi , Li Yunkai , Chen Xinjun , Chen Ling 
Published: February 2018

RationaleSquid is an important seafood resource for Asian and European countries. With the continuous development of processed squid products, an effective traceability system has become increasingly prominent. Here, we attempt to trace the fishery products of the main target species, jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas), by using biochemical tracers.MethodsCarbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N values) and fatty acid profiles were identified in squid from three harvest locations in the eastern Pacific Ocean by isotope ratio mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, respectively. Comparative analysis was used to evaluate the geographic variations in tracers and to identify the suitable discriminatory variables among origins.ResultsSignificant spatial variations were found in isotopic values and fatty acid profiles in squid muscle tissues, possibly because of different food availability and/or oceanographic conditions that each group experiences at a given location. The stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that δ15N, C16:1n7, C17:1n7, C18:2n6, C20:1 and C20:4n6 were effective variables at differentiating origin.ConclusionsCombined use of stable isotope ratios and fatty acid analyses could trace geographic origins of jumbo squid. This study provides an alternative approach for improving authenticity evaluation of commercial squid products.
Quantification of dsRNA using stable isotope labeling dilution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
Authors: Kung An‐Wen , Kilby Peter M. , Portwood David E. , Dickman Mark J. 
Published: February 2018

RationaleRecent developments in RNA interference (RNAi) have created a need for cost‐effective and large‐scale synthesis of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA), in conjunction with high‐throughput analytical techniques to fully characterise and accurately quantify dsRNA prior to downstream RNAi applications.MethodsStable isotope labeled dsRNA was synthesised both in vivo (15N) and in vitro (13C,15N‐guanosine‐containing dsRNA) prior to purification and quantification. The stable isotope labeled dsRNA standards were subsequently spiked into total RNA extracted from E. coli engineered to express dsRNA. RNase mass mapping approaches were subsequently performed using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS) for both the identification and absolute quantification of the dsRNA using the ratios of the light and heavy oligonucleotide pairs.ResultsAbsolute quantification was performed based on the resulting light and heavy oligoribonucleotides identified using MS. Using this approach we determined that 624.6 ng/μL and 466.5 ng/μL of dsRNA was present in 80 μL total RNA extracted from 108 E. coli cells expressing 765 bp and 401 bp dsRNAs, respectively.ConclusionsStable isotope labeling of dsRNA in conjunction with MS enabled the characterisation and quantification of dsRNA in complex total RNA mixtures.
Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Results in Downregulation of c-Myc and DNA Replication Pathways with Immunomodulation Toward CD4 and CD8 Cells
Authors: Wang Li-Tzu , Jiang Shih-Sheng , Ting Chiao-Hsuan , Hsu Pei-Ju , Chang Chia-Chi , Sytwu Huey-Kang , Liu Ko-Jiunn , Yen B. Linju 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Multilineage tissue-source mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess strong immunomodulatory properties and are excellent therapeutic agents, but require constant isolation from donors to combat replicative senescence. The differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into MSCs offers a renewable source of MSCs; however, reports on their immunomodulatory capacity have been discrepant. Using MSCs differentiated from iPSCs reprogrammed using diverse cell types and protocols, and in comparison to human embryonic stem cell (ESC)-MSCs and bone marrow (BM)-MSCs, we performed transcriptome analyses and assessed for functional immunomodulatory properties. Differentiation of MSCs from iPSCs results in decreased c-Myc expression and its downstream pathway along with a concomitant downregulation in the DNA replication pathway. All four lines of iPSC-MSCs can significantly suppress in vitro activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation to a similar degree as ESC-MSCs and BM-MSCs, and modulate CD4 T lymphocyte fate from a type 1 helper T cell (Th1) and IL-17A-expressing (Th17) cell fate to a regulatory T cell (Treg) phenotype. Moreover, iPSC-MSCs significantly suppress cytotoxic CD8 T proliferation, activation, and differentiation into type 1 cytotoxic T (Tc1) and IL-17-expressing CD8 T (Tc17) cells. Coculture of activated PBMCs with human iPSC-MSCs results in an overall shift of secreted cytokine profile from a pro-inflammatory environment to a more immunotolerant milieu. iPSC-MSC immunomodulation was also validated in vivo in a mouse model of induced inflammation. These findings support that iPSC-MSCs possess low oncogenicity and strong immunomodulatory properties regardless of cell-of-origin or reprogramming method and are good potential candidates for therapeutic use.
Recent climate change has increased forest winter bird densities in East Europe
Authors: Askeyev Oleg , Askeyev Arthur , Askeyev Igor 
Published: February 2018

AbstractRecent studies on climate change have reported serious impacts on winter forest birds in Western Europe. However, in areas where climate change has caused milder winters and more stable conditions in summer, one would expect resident bird populations to increase, rather than to decrease in winter. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of climate change on the population dynamics of ten species of Passeriformes in the Tartarstan Republic, Russia. Ravkin's transect method was used to census fixed randomly selected plots spread over a large geographic area at least once every month for the past 26 years. Observers remained the same over the whole period. The abundance of nine species in the first half of the winter and four species in the second half of the winter showed significant increases during the study period. Unlike studies from countries in Western Europe, there were no significant decreases in these species. Significant changes in winter conditions, as well as during the breeding season, and an overall increase in annual temperatures are likely reasons for a significant increase in the number of birds in winter. Greater winter survival, an increase in the survival rate of fledglings and juveniles during the summer, and later onset of winter, are very important determinants of the winter population. Our findings show that numbers of birds in late winter are related to the severity of winter conditions. Our data do not support conclusions that the populations of forest bird species have decreased due to climate change.
Effect of heating on the structural and optical properties of TiO2 nanoparticles: antibacterial activity
Authors: Haq Sirajul , Rehman Wajid , Waseem Muhammad , Javed Rehan , Mahfooz-ur-Rehman  , Shahid Muhammad 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTiO2nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature by chemical precipitation method and were then heated at 120, 300, 600 and 900 °C temperatures. The phase transition and crystallite size variation were determined by X-rays diffraction (XRD) analysis. The surface area, pore volume and pore size were measured using Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) methods. The optical activity of heat treated and non-heat treated samples were carried out by diffuse reflectance (DR) spectroscopy. Four different methods were used to calculate band gap energy. The results obtained from thermogravimetric and differential thermal gravimetric (TG/TDG) analyses and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy agreed with each other. Agar well diffusion method has been applied to explore the antibacterial activity of nanoparticles against different bacterial strains such asBacillus subtilis,Staphylococcus Aureus, Escherichia coliandPseudomonas Aeruginosa. It was observed that TiO2nanoparticles heated at 120 °C displayed maximum antibacterial activity while those heated at higher temperature showed no activity against the examined bacteria.
Learning to cope with anxiety: Long‐term links from adolescence to adult career satisfaction
Authors: Miles Maddison M. , Szwedo David E. , Allen Joseph P. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTThis study examined the long‐term effect of anxiety on career satisfaction for young adults in the United States. The abilities to positively cope with stress and function competently as an adult were examined as potential moderators of this link, and adolescent developmental precursors of these abilities were also investigated. Analyses revealed a negative association between anxiety at age 21 and career satisfaction at age 27. However, this association was ameliorated for youth with better coping skills and functional competence at age 24. Autonomy and relatedness behaviors with best friends and mothers were examined as potential predictors of these moderators, with positive autonomy and relatedness from friends at age 13 emerging as the sole predictor of these skills. Results suggest that although anxiety may inhibit career satisfaction for many youth, positive coping and adult functional competence skills may allow anxious individuals to achieve career satisfaction. Moreover, these skills may be promoted through peer relationships in early adolescence.
School engagement and intentional self‐regulation: A reciprocal relation in adolescence
Authors: Stefansson Kristjan K. , Gestsdottir Steinunn , Birgisdottir Freyja , Lerner Richard M. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTStudents' gradual disconnection from school in adolescence, as reflected in decreased school engagement, has been demonstrated in several cultures and is of great concern to educators. At the same time, intentional self‐regulation (ISR) has been shown to be a precursor, mediator, and outcome of school engagement. However, the relation between school engagement and ISR during adolescence is poorly understood. In this research, we explored the reciprocal relation between school engagement and ISR during adolescence. Based on a sample of 561 adolescents in Iceland (46% girls; Mage at Wave 1 = 14.3 years; SD = 0.3) and four waves of data collected during Grades 9 and 10, the results demonstrated a reciprocal relation between school engagement and ISR after controlling for several covariates (e.g., gender and academic achievement). The results suggest that school engagement and ISR are highly related, yet distinct concepts, which mutually reinforce each other during adolescence.
Individual assets and problem behaviors in at‐risk adolescents: A longitudinal cross‐lagged analysis
Authors: Min Meeyoung O. , Minnes Sonia , Kim June‐Yung , Yoon Miyoung , Singer Lynn T. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTAutoregressive cross‐lagged structural equation modeling was conducted to examine longitudinal relationships between individual assets (social competence, positive values and identity) and problem behaviors in 373 adolescents (174 boys, 199 girls) who participated in a prospective study on the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure from birth. More behavioral problems at age 12 were related to fewer individual assets at age 15, while greater individual assets were related to more behavioral problems, with a non‐significant yet nuanced (p = .076) gender difference. More problem behaviors were associated with decreased individual assets in girls, yet greater individual assets were associated with more problem behaviors in boys. Efforts to promote individual assets may not lower the risk of engaging in problem behaviors especially among boys. Continued studies into adulthood will uncover how individual assets and problem behaviors in childhood and adolescence may affect social and vocational adjustment in this high risk population.
Direct healthcare cost of schizophrenia – European overview
Authors: Kovács G. , Almási T. , Millier A. , Toumi M. , Horváth M. , Kóczián Kristóf , Götze À , Kaló Z. , Zemplényi A.T. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPurposeTo provide an overview on the magnitude of the impact of schizophrenia on the healthcare system in Europe and to gain a better understanding on the most important factors influencing the variation of costs.MethodsStudies reporting costs and healthcare utilization among patients with schizophrenia were searched in MEDLINE (via Scopus), EMBASE (via Scopus) and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews on 19th January 2017.ResultsTwenty-three studies, from the 1075 references initially identified, were included in this review. The annual cost per patient ranged from €533 in Ukraine to €13,704 in the Netherlands. Notably drug costs contributed to less than 25% of the direct healthcare cost per patient in every country, which might be explained by similar pharmaceutical prices among countries due to the reference pricing system applied in Europe. Inpatient costs were the largest component of health service costs in the majority of the countries. Despite methodological heterogeneity across studies, four major themes could be identified (age, severity of symptoms, continuation of treatment/persistence, hospitalization) that have substantial impact on the costs of schizophrenia.ConclusionsSchizophrenia represents a substantial cost for the healthcare system in Europe driven by the high cost per patient. Substantial savings could potentially be achieved by increasing investment in the following areas: (1) reducing the number of hospitalizations e.g. by increasing the efficiency of outpatient care; (2) working out interventions targeted at specific symptoms; (3) improving patient persistence and adherence in antipsychotic therapy.
The MINDVIEW project: First results
Authors: Benlloch José M. , González Antonio J. , Pani Roberto , Preziosi Enrico , Jackson Carl , Murphy John , Barberá Julio , Correcher Carlos , Aussenhofer Sebastian , Gareis Daniel , Visvikis Dimitris , Bert Julien , Langstrom Bengt , Farde Lars , Toth Miklos , Haggkvist Jenny , Caixeta Fabio V. , Kullander Klas , Somlai-Schweiger Ian , Schwaiger Markus 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe present the first results of the MINDVIEW project. An innovative imaging system for the human brain examination, allowing simultaneous acquisition of PET/MRI images, has been designed and constructed. It consists of a high sensitivity and high resolution PET scanner integrated in a novel, head-dedicated, radio frequency coil for a 3T MRI scanner. Preliminary measurements from the PET scanner show sensitivity 3 times higher than state-of-the-art PET systems that will allow safe repeated studies on the same patient. The achieved spatial resolution, close to 1 mm, will enable differentiation of relevant brain structures for schizophrenia. A cost-effective and simple method of radiopharmaceutical production from 11C-carbon monoxide and a mini-clean room has been demonstrated. It has been shown that 11C-raclopride has higher binding potential in a new VAAT null mutant mouse model of schizophrenia compared to wild type control animals. A significant reduction in TSPO binding has been found in gray matter in a small sample of drug-naïve, first episode psychosis patients, suggesting a reduced number or an altered function of immune cells in brain at early stage schizophrenia.
Magnesium sulphate induces preconditioning in preterm rodent models of cerebral hypoxia‐ischemia
Authors: Koning Gabriella , Lyngfelt Ellinor , Svedin Pernilla , Leverin Anna‐Lena , Jinnai Masako , Gressens Pierre , Thornton Claire , Wang Xiaoyang , Mallard Carina , Hagberg Henrik 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundBrain injury in preterm infants represents a substantial clinical problem associated with development of motor impairment, cognitive deficits and psychiatric problems. According to clinical studies, magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) given to women in preterm labor reduces the risk of cerebral palsy in the offspring but the mechanisms behind its neuroprotective effects are still unclear. Our aim was to explore whether MgSO4 induces tolerance (preconditioning) in the preterm rodent brain. For this purpose we established a model of perinatal hypoxia‐ischemia (HI) in postnatal day 4 rats and also applied a recently developed postnatal day 5 mouse model of perinatal brain injury.MethodsPostnatal day 4 Wistar rats were exposed to unilateral carotid artery ligation followed by 60, 70 or 80 min of hypoxia (8% O2). On postnatal day 11, brains were collected and macroscopically visible damage as well as white and grey matter injury was examined using immunohistochemical staining. Once the model had been established, a possible preconditioning protection induced by a bolus MgSO4 injection prior to 80 min HI was examined 7 days after the insult. Next, a MgSO4 bolus was injected in C57Bl6 mice on PND 4 followed by exposure to unilateral carotid artery ligation and hypoxia, (10% O2) for 70 min on PND 5. Brains were collected 7 days after the insult and examined with immunohistochemistry for grey and white matter injury.ResultsIn rats, a 60 min period of hypoxia resulted in very few animals with brain injury and although 70 min of hypoxia resulted in a higher percentage of injured animals, the brains were marginally damaged. An 80 min exposure of hypoxia caused cortical tissue damage combined with hippocampal atrophy and neuronal loss in the C3 hippocampal layer.In the rat model, MgSO4 (1.1 mg/g administered i.p. 24 h prior to the induction of HI, resulting in a transient serum Mg2+ concentration elevation to 4.1 ± 0.2 mmol/l at 3 h post i.p. injection) reduced brain injury by 74% in grey matter and 64% in white matter.In the mouse model, MgSO4 (0.92 mg/g) i.p. injection given 24 h prior to the HI insult resulted in a Mg2+ serum concentration increase reaching 2.7 ± 0.3 mmol/l at 3 h post injection, which conferred a 40% reduction in grey matter injury.ConclusionsWe have established a postnatal day 4 rat model of HI for the study of preterm brain injury. MgSO4 provides a marked preconditioning protection both in postnatal day 4 rats and in postnatal day 5 mice.
Risk factors for intra-abdominal abscess post laparoscopic appendicectomy for gangrenous or perforated appendicitis: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Guy Stephen , Wysocki Peter 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain. Post-operative Intra-abdominal Abscess (PIA) frequently complicates appendicectomy and increases morbidity and cost (1). Its incidence is increased in perforated or gangrenous appendicitis (2). Risk factors for the development of PIA within this high-risk group have not been established in adults. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with PIA following laparoscopic appendicectomy for gangrenous or perforated appendicitis in adults. Secondary aims were to describe the timing and anatomical location of PIA occurrence.

Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was performed. The data of all adults that underwent laparoscopic appendicectomy for gangrenous or perforated appendicitis at Logan Hospital (Queensland, Australia) from July 2010 to June 2014 were reviewed using a database from a previous study (3). The Primary outcome was the association between the development of PIA and; age, gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologists class, Disease Severity Score (4), blood tests on admission (white cell count (WCC), C-reactive protein, total bilirubin) and histopathology of the appendix.

Results:
Of 143 patients, 13 developed PIA (9.1%). There was a weakly positive association between elevated preoperative WCC and the risk of PIA (Spearman’s correlation coefficient 0.174, P = 0.038). No other factors were significantly associated with increased risk of PIA. The median post-operative day of diagnosis was day nine (mean 7.9, range 2–17).

Conclusions:
In this cohort, there was a weakly positive association between preoperative WCC and PIA. Prospective trials investigating other potential risk factors are required.

Highlights: