bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Aneurysm Wall Enhancement in Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Rupture Risk of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Lv Nan , Karmonik Christof , Chen Shiyue , Wang Xinrui , Fang Yibin , Huang Qinghai , Liu Jianmin 
Published: June 2018

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The rupture risk assessment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is still challenging. Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) on vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) is suggested as a potential marker for wall inflammation, but its relationship with rupture risk of unruptured IAs has not been well described.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between AWE and conventional rupture risk factor of unruptured IAs.

METHODS
Clinical data and VW-MRI images were retrospectively reviewed in patients with unruptured IAs from January 2015 to December 2016 in our center. One hundred ten patients harboring 140 unruptured IAs were included. The presence of AWE was determined by comparing the postcontrast VW-MRI images with the precontrast ones. The rupture risk based on the PHASES score was calculated for each case. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate the association of AWE with rupture risk and other conventional risk factors.

RESULTS
AWE was present in 82 (58.6%) lesions. Unruptured IAs with AWE had significantly larger size (P < .001), more irregular shape (P = .003), and different distribution of locations (P = .023) comparing with aneurysms without AWE. The rupture risk score of AWE group was significantly higher than non-AWE group (P < .001). Aneurysm size (odds ratio = 1.536; 95% confidential interval 1.312-1.798; P < .001) and location (odds ratio = 1.592; 95% confidential interval 1.237-2.049; P < .001) were independently related with AWE in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION
The presence of AWE on VW-MRI was highly associated with conventional rupture-related characteristics, including aneurysmal size and location, and was detected more frequently in unruptured IAs with high rupture risk based on the PHASES score.
The gut microbiota metabolite indole alleviates liver inflammation in mice
Authors: Beaumont Martin , Neyrinck Audrey M. , Olivares Marta , Rodriguez Julie , de Rocca Serra Audrey , Roumain Martin , Bindels Laure B. , Cani Patrice D. , Evenepoel Pieter , Muccioli Giulio G. , Demoulin Jean‐Baptiste , Delzenne Nathalie M. 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTThe gut microbiota regulates key hepatic functions, notably through the production of bacterial metabolites that are transported via the portal circulation. We evaluated the effects of metabolites produced by the gut microbiota from aromatic amino acids (phenylacetate, benzoate, p‐cresol, and indole) on liver inflammation induced by bacterial endotoxin. Precision‐cut liver slices prepared from control mice, Kupffer cell (KC)‐depleted mice, and obese mice (ob/ob) were treated with or without LPS and bacterial metabolites. We observed beneficial effects of indole that dose‐dependently reduced the LPS‐induced up‐regulation of proinflammatory mediators at both mRNA and protein levels in precision‐cut liver slices prepared from control or ob/ob mice. KC depletion partly prevented the antiinflammatory effects of indole, notably through a reduction of nucleotide‐binding domain and leucine‐rich repeat containing (NLR) family pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) pathway activation. In vivo, the oral administration of indole before an LPS injection reduced the expression of key proteins of the NF‐KB pathway and downstream proinflammatory gene up‐regulation. Indole also prevented LPS‐induced alterations of cholesterol metabolism through a transcriptional regulation associated with increased 4β‐hydroxycholesterol hepatic levels. In summary, indole appears as a bacterial metabolite produced from tryptophan that is able to counteract the detrimental effects of LPS in the liver. Indole could be a new target to develop innovative strategies to decrease hepatic inflammation.—Beaumont, M., Neyrinck, A. M., Olivares, M., Rodriguez, J., de Rocca Serra, A., Roumain, M., Bindels, L. B., Cani, P. D., Evenepoel, P., Muccioli, G. G., Demoulin, J.‐B., Delzenne, N. M. The gut microbiota metabolite indole alleviates liver inflammation in mice. FASEB J. 32, 6681–6693 (2018). www.fasebj.org
Pharmacokinetic Comparison of Two Mycophenolate Mofetil Formulations in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Zhang Jun , Luo YongGang , Zhu ZhenFeng , Feng GuiWen , Sun Zhi , Zhang XiaoJian 
Published: June 2018

Background:
The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) capsule and MMF dispersible tablet by detecting the active metabolite of mycophenolic acid (MPA) in Chinese kidney transplant recipients.

Methods:
In the prospective, randomized, open-label study, the renal transplant patients were given a multiple dose of either the MMF capsule or MMF dispersible tablet combination with tacrolimus (Tac). For each patient, 11 serial blood samples were collected over 12 hours (h). Parameters including predose concentration (C0), postdose minimum and maximum concentration (Cmin and Cmax), time to Cmax (Tmax), total body clearance (CL), and area under the concentration–time curve for the 12-hour exposure (AUC0–12h) were determined. Patient interviews were conducted to assess the occurrence of adverse events.

Results:
Baseline characteristics were comparable between both groups. The C0, Cmin, Cmax, Tmax, CL, and AUC0–12h values were not significantly different after multiple doses of MMF capsule or MMF dispersible tablet (P > 0.05). The median values of AUC0–12h were 43.98 and 41.95 mcg·h/mL for MMF capsule and MMF dispersible tablet, respectively. Interindividual variability in Cmax, Cmin, and C0 were considerable in both groups. No serious adverse events were reported by patients or found on analysis of laboratory tests.

Conclusions:
PK parameters of the 2 MPA drugs were comparable in early renal transplant patients in this study. The 2 formulations were well tolerated in Chinese kidney transplant patients.
Residual Optically Stimulated Luminescent (OSL) Signals for Al2O3:C and a Readout System With Reproducible Partial Signal Clearance
Authors: Abraham Sara A. , Kearfott Kimberlee J. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractOptically stimulated luminescent dosimeters are devices that, when stimulated with light, emit light in proportion to the integrated ionizing radiation dose. The stimulation of optically stimulated luminescent material results in the loss of a small fraction of signal stored within the dosimetric traps. Previous studies have investigated the signal loss due to readout stimulation and the optical annealing of optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters. This study builds on former research by examining the behavior of optically stimulated luminescent signals after annealing, exploring the functionality of a previously developed signal loss model, and comparing uncertainties for dosimeters reused with or without annealing. For a completely annealed dosimeter, the minimum signal level was 56 ± 8 counts, and readings followed a Gaussian distribution. For dosimeters above this signal level, the fractional signal loss due to the reading process has a linear relationship with the calculated signal. At low signal levels (below 20,000 counts) in this optically stimulated luminescent dosimeter system, calculated signal percent errors increase significantly but otherwise are on average 0.72 ± 0.27%, 0.40 ± 0.19%, 0.33 ± 0.12%, and 0.24 ± 0.07% for 30, 75, 150, and 300 readings, respectively. Theoretical calculations of uncertainties showed that annealing before reusing dosimeters allows for dose errors below 1% with as few as 30 readings. Reusing dosimeters multiple times increases the dose errors especially with low numbers of readouts, so theoretically around 300 readings would be necessary to achieve errors around 1% or below in most scenarios. Note that these dose errors do not include the error associated with the signal-to-dose conversion factor.
Preoperative Planning of Transapical Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair for Safe Adaptation in Clinical Practice
Authors: Heuts Samuel , Daemen Jean H. T. , Streukens Sebastian A.F. , Olsthoorn Jules R. , Vainer Jindrich , Cheriex Emile C. , Maessen Jos G. , Nia Peyman Sardari 
Published: June 2018

Objective Transapical off-pump minimally invasive mitral valve repair (TOP-MINI) is a new technique for the surgical repair of degenerative mitral regurgitation based on mitral valve prolapse. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the preoperative planning tools available for starting this new procedure in a safe manner. Methods The first patients undergoing TOP-MINI by a single surgeon in 2016 were prospectively included. All patients underwent identical clinical pathways and underwent extensive preoperative planning for a safe start of the program. Patients were discussed in our dedicated mitral valve heart-team consisting of diagnostic and interventional mitral valve specialists. All patients underwent computed tomography, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, and mitral valve replication using rapid prototyping. All procedures were performed by the same surgical team. Results Thirty-six patients were discussed for isolated mitral valve repair in our dedicated mitral valve heart team of which seven patients were deemed eligible for this novel approach. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of computed tomography images allowed the surgical team to determine skin incision level and ideal level of device insertion near the apex of the heart. Echocardiography and rapid prototyping allowed us to assess surgical success probability by determining the amount of tissue overlap and was used intraoperatively for guidance. All patients were operated on successfully, without any major adverse events. Conclusions We demonstrate a method to safely start the TOP-MINI program with precise patient selection and preoperative planning, allowing us to determine procedural strategy and assessment of surgical success probability.
Outcomes of a Rapid Deployment Aortic Valve versus its Conventional Counterpart
Authors: Wahlers Thorsten C. W. , Andreas Martin , Rahmanian Parwis , Candolfi Pascal , Zemanova Barbora , Giot Christophe , Ferrari Enrico , Laufer Günther 
Published: June 2018

Objective The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement (RDAVR) and conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) from two studies. Methods Patients who underwent RDAVR (INTUITY valve) in the prospective, 5-year, single-arm multicenter TRITON study, or conventional AVR (Perimount Magna Ease valve) in the prospective Perimount Magna Ease postmarket study, were propensity score matched and compared for procedural, hemodynamic, safety, and clinical outcomes. Results Matched RDAVR (n = 106) and conventional AVR (n = 106) patients had similar baseline characteristics (mean ± SD age, 72.8 ± 7.6 vs 72.5 ± 7.4 years; male 59.4% vs 61.3%) and procedures (concomitant procedures: 41.5% vs 50.9%). Mean ± SD aortic cross-clamp time was significantly shorter in RDAVR than AVR patients (51.8 ± 20.9 vs 73.9 ± 33.2 minutes; P < 0.001), as was mean cardiopulmonary bypass time (82.8 ± 34.2 vs 102.4 ± 41.7 minutes; P < 0.001). At 1 year, RDAVR patients showed significantly lower mean ± SD and peak aortic valve gradients (9.0 ± 3.4 and 17.0 ± 6.2 mm Hg, respectively) than conventional AVR patients (13.4 ± 5.5 and 24.2 ± 10.8 mm Hg, respectively; all P < 0.001). Patient-prosthesis mismatch was significantly less common with RDAVR than with AVR [overall: 16/66 (24.2%) vs 46/76 (60.5%); P = 0.007; severe: 2/66 (3.0%) vs 13/76 (17.1%)]. There were no significant differences between the RDAVR and AVR groups regarding 30-day safety endpoints. Survival rates in the RDAVR and conventional AVR groups were, respectively, 99.1% and 100.0% at 30 days, 97.1% and 95.1% at 1 year, and 93.3% and 94.1% at 3 years ( P = nonsignificant). Conclusions In this retrospective study with matched populations, the RDAVR with the INTUITY valve system provided superior procedural and hemodynamic outcomes than a standard bioprosthesis without compromising safety.
Decreases in Suicide Cognitions After Cognitive Processing Therapy Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Due to Military Sexual Trauma
Authors: Holliday Ryan , Holder Nicholas , Monteith Lindsey L. , Surís Alina 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal self-directed violence (SDV). Military sexual trauma (MST) is a common precursor to PTSD among veterans. Survivors of MST are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD and are at greater risk for SI than survivors of other forms of trauma. Suicide-specific beliefs (e.g., unlovability, unbearability, unsolvability) have been shown to be strong predictors of SI and future suicidal SDV. Suicide-specific beliefs were examined over the course of treatment and follow-up in 32 veterans (23 women, 9 men) who received cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for MST-related PTSD. Hierarchical linear models revealed that veterans who received CPT had significant reductions in suicide-specific cognitions regarding unbearability, unlovability, and unsolvability. These preliminary findings warrant replication in a randomized controlled trial with a larger sample that includes participants with more acute suicidal intent.
The Impact of Massage and Reading on Children’s Pain and Anxiety After Cardiovascular Surgery: A Pilot Study*
Authors: Staveski Sandra L. , Boulanger Karen , Erman Lee , Lin Li , Almgren Christina , Journel Chloe , Roth Stephen J. , Golianu Brenda 
Published: June 2018

Objectives:
The purpose of this pilot study was three-fold: 1) to evaluate the safety and feasibility of instituting massage therapy in the immediate postoperative period after congenital heart surgery, 2) to examine the preliminary results on effects of massage therapy versus standard of care plus three reading visits on postoperative pain and anxiety, and 3) to evaluate preliminary effects of opioid and benzodiazepine exposure in patients receiving massage therapy compared with reading controls.

Design:
Prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Setting:
An academic children’s hospital.

Subjects:
Sixty pediatric heart surgery patients between ages 6 and 18 years.

Interventions:
Massage therapy and reading.

Measurement and Main Results:
There were no adverse events related to massage or reading interventions in either group. Our investigation found no statistically significant difference in Pain or State-Trait Anxiety scores in the initial 24 hours after heart surgery (T1) and within 48 hours of transfer to the acute care unit (T2) after controlling for age, gender, and Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 score. However, children receiving massage therapy had significantly lower State-Trait Anxiety scores after receiving massage therapy at time of discharge (T3; p = 0.0075) than children receiving standard of care plus three reading visits. We found no difference in total opioid exposure during the first 3 postoperative days between groups (median [interquartile range], 0.80 mg/kg morphine equivalents [0.29–10.60] vs 1.13 mg/kg morphine equivalents [0.72–6.14]). In contrast, children receiving massage therapy had significantly lower total benzodiazepine exposure in the immediate 3 days following heart surgery (median [interquartile range], 0.002 mg/kg lorazepam equivalents [0–0.03] vs 0.03 mg/kg lorazepam equivalents [0.02–0.09], p = 0.0253, Wilcoxon rank-sum) and number of benzodiazepine PRN doses (0.5 [0–2.5] PRN vs 2 PRNs (1–4); p = 0.00346, Wilcoxon rank-sum).

Conclusions:
Our pilot study demonstrated the safety and feasibility of implementing massage therapy in the immediate postoperative period in pediatric heart surgery patients. We found decreased State-Trait Anxiety scores at discharge and lower total exposure to benzodiazepines. Preventing postoperative complications such as delirium through nonpharmacologic interventions warrants further evaluation.
Dissecting the neural focus of attention reveals distinct processes for spatial attention and object-based storage in visual working memory
Authors: Hakim Nicole , Adam Kirsten C. S. , Gunseli Eren , Awh Edward , Vogel Edward K. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractComplex cognition relies on both online representations in working memory (WM) said to reside in thefocus of attention, and passive offline representations of related information. Here, we dissect the focus of attention by showing that distinct neural signals index the online storage of objects and sustained spatial attention. We recorded EEG activity during two tasks that employed identical stimulus displays while the relative demands for object storage and spatial attention varied. We found distinct delay-period signatures for an attention task (which only required spatial attention) and WM task (which invoked both spatial attention and object storage). Although both tasks required active maintenance of spatial information, only the WM task elicited robust contralateral delay activity that was sensitive to mnemonic load. Thus, we argue that the focus of attention is maintained via a collaboration between distinct processes for covert spatial orienting and object-based storage.
Evolution and developmental diversity of skin spines in pufferfish
Authors: Shono Takanori , Thiery Alexandre P. , Kurokawa Daisuke , Britz Ralf , Fraser Gareth J. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractTeleost fishes develop a huge variety of skin ornaments. How these diverse skin structures develop in fishes is unknown. The teleost fish order Tetraodontiformes includes some of the most unusual fishes such as the ocean sunfish, triggerfish and pufferfish, and they all can develop a vast assortment of scale derivatives that cover their bodies. Pufferfish have some of the most extreme scale derivatives, dermal spines, which are erected during their characteristic puffing behavior. Here we show that pufferfish spines develop through conserved gene interactions essential for other vertebrate skin appendage formation, like hair and feathers. However, pufferfish spines form without EDA (ectodysplasin), an essential molecule for the development of most vertebrate skin appendages. Modifying signaling pathways lead to loss or reduction of spine coverage in pufferfish, suggesting a mechanism for skin appendage diversification. We suggest that pufferfish skin spines evolved from a basic teleost scale-type through derived gene network modification in Tetraodontiformes.
Tool use by four species of Indo-Pacific sea urchins
Authors: Barrett Glyn , Revell Dominic , Harding Lucy , Mills Ian , Jorcin Axelle , Stiefel Klaus M. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWe compared the covering behavior of four sea urchin species, Tripneustes gratilla, Pseudoboletia maculata, Toxopneutes pileolus, and Salmacis sphaeroides found in the waters of Malapascua Island, Cebu Province and Bolinao, Panagsinan Province, Philippines. Specifically, we measured the amount and type of covering material on each urchin, and, in several cases, the recovery of debris cover after stripping the animal of its cover.We found that Tripneustes gratilla and Salmacis sphaeroides have a higher preference for plant material, especially sea-grass, compared to Pseudoboletia maculata and Toxopneutes pileolus, which prefer to cover themselves with coral rubble and other calcified material. Only for Toxopneutes pileolus did we find a decrease in cover with depth, confirming previous work that the covering behavior serves UV protection. We found no dependence of particle size on either species or urchin size, but we observed that larger urchins carried more and heavier debris. We observed a transport mechanism of debris onto the echinoid body surface utilizing a combination of tube feet and spines. The transport speed of individual debris items varied between species.We compare our results to previous studies of urchin covering behavior, comment on the phylogeny of urchin covering behavior and discuss the interpretation of this behavior as animal tool use.
Coffee polyphenols prevent cognitive dysfunction and suppress amyloid β plaques in APP/PS2 transgenic mouse
Authors: Ishida Keiko , Yamamoto Masaki , Misawa Koichi , Ota Noriyasu , Shimotoyodome Akira 
Published: June 2018

AbstractEpidemiological studies have found that habitual coffee consumption may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Coffee contains numerous phenolic compounds (coffee polyphenols) such as chlorogenic acids. However, evidence demonstrating the contribution of chlorogenic acids in preventing cognitive dysfunction induced by Alzheimer’s disease is limited. In this study, we investigated the effect of chlorogenic acids on prevention of cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS2 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Five-week-old APP/PS2 mice were administered a diet supplemented with coffee polyphenols daily for 5 months. The memory and cognitive function of mice was determined using the novel object recognition test, the Morris water maze test, and the step-through passive avoidance test. We found that chronic treatment with coffee polyphenols prevented cognitive dysfunction and significantly reduced hippocampal Aβ deposition. We then determined the effect of 5-caffeoylquinic acid, one of the primary components of coffee polyphenols, on Aβ formation. 5-Caffeoylquinic acid did not inhibit Aβ fibrillation, but degraded Aβ fibrils in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that coffee polyphenols prevented cognitive deficits and alleviated Aβ plaque deposition via disaggregation of Aβ in APP/PS2 mouse.
Age-related late-onset disease heritability patterns and implications for genome-wide association studies
Authors: Oliynyk Roman Teo 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundGenome-wide association studies and other computational biology techniques are gradually discovering the causal gene variants that contribute to late-onset human diseases. After more than a decade of genome-wide association study efforts, these can account for only a fraction of the heritability implied by familial studies, the so-called “missing heritability” problem.MethodsComputer simulations of polygenic late-onset diseases in an aging population have quantified the risk allele frequency decrease at older ages caused by individuals with higher polygenic risk scores becoming ill proportionately earlier. This effect is most prominent for diseases characterized by high cumulative incidence and high heritability, examples of which include Alzheimer’s disease, coronary artery disease, cerebral stroke, and type 2 diabetes.ResultsThe incidence rate for late-onset diseases grows exponentially for decades after early onset ages, guaranteeing that the cohorts used for genome-wide association studies overrepresent older individuals with lower polygenic risk scores, whose disease cases are disproportionately due to environmental causes such as old age itself. This mechanism explains the decline in clinical predictive power with age and the lower discovery power of familial studies of heritability and genome-wide association studies. It also explains the relatively constant-with-age heritability found for late-onset diseases of lower prevalence, exemplified by cancers.ConclusionsFor late-onset polygenic diseases showing high cumulative incidence together with high initial heritability, rather than using relatively old age-matched cohorts, study cohorts combining the youngest possible cases with the oldest possible controls may significantly improve the discovery power of genome-wide association studies.