bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In situ vaccination: Harvesting low hanging fruit on the cancer immunotherapy tree
Authors: Sheen Mee Rie , Fiering Steven 
Published: April 2018

After 100 years of debate, it is clear that cancer is recognized by the immune system and this has generated immense interest in cancer immunotherapy. The systemic nature of the immune system gives immunotherapy the ability to treat metastatic disease, which currently requires chemotherapy that frequently fails. Like chemotherapy, most immunotherapy is systemically applied in an effort to generate systemic antitumor immune response. However, local administration of immunostimulatory reagents into a recognized tumor by in situ vaccination (ISV) can also generate systemic antitumor immunity to fight metastatic disease. Conventional vaccines contain antigens and immune adjuvants. With ISV, the tumor itself supplies the antigen and the treatment only applies immune adjuvant directly to the tumor. While current immunotherapy often fails to eliminate cancer because of local immunosuppression mediated by tumors, effective ISV changes the tumor microenvironment from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory, stimulates presentation of tumor antigens by antigen‐presenting cells to T cells, and generates systemic antitumor immunity that promotes antigen‐specific effector T‐cell attack of both treated and importantly, untreated metastatic tumors. The advantages of ISV are: simple and cost‐effective; minimal systemic side effects; feasible and flexible adjuvant delivery; exploiting all tumor antigens in the tumor avoids the need to identify antigens; utilizing all antigens in the tumor minimizes immune escape; and potential synergy when combined with other therapies. This review puts ISV into the broader context of cancer immunotherapy, including the use of nanoparticles, and outlines research needed in order to manifest the potential of ISV for clinical use.This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Optimising intratumoral treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma models with the diterpene ester Tigilanol tiglate
Authors: Barnett Catherine M. E. , Broit Natasa , Yap Pei-Yi , Cullen Jason K. , Parsons Peter G. , Panizza Benedict J. , Boyle Glen M. 
Published: April 2018

Summary
The five-year survival rate for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has remained at ~50% for the past 30 years despite advances in treatment. Tigilanol tiglate (TT, also known as EBC-46) is a novel diterpene ester that induces cell death in HNSCC in vitro and in mouse models, and has recently completed Phase I human clinical trials. The aim of this study was to optimise efficacy of TT treatment by altering different administration parameters. The tongue SCC cell line (SCC-15) was identified as the line with the lowest efficacy to treatment. Subcutaneous xenografts of SCC-15 cells were grown in BALB/c Foxn1nu and NOD/SCID mice and treated with intratumoral injection of 30 μg TT or a vehicle only control (40% propylene glycol (PG)). Greater efficacy of TT treatment was found in the BALB/c Foxn1nu mice compared to NOD/SCID mice. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated a potential role of the host’s innate immune system in this difference, specifically neutrophil infiltration. Neither fractionated doses of TT nor the use of a different excipiant led to significantly increased efficacy. This study confirmed that TT in 40% PG given intratumorally as a single bolus dose was the most efficacious treatment for a tongue SCC mouse model.
Preparation, characterization, and evaluation of azoxystrobin nanosuspension produced by wet media milling
Authors: Yao Junwei , Cui Bo , Zhao Xiang , Wang Yan , Zeng Zhanghua , Sun Changjiao , Yang Dongsheng , Liu Guoqiang , Gao Jinming , Cui Haixin 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
To improve the bioavailability of the poorly water-soluble fungicide, an azoxystrobin nanosuspension was prepared by the wet media milling method. Due to their reduced mean particle size and polydispersity index, 1-Dodecanesulfonic acid sodium salt and polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 were selected from six conventional surfactants, the content only accounting for 15% of the active compound. The mean particle size, polydispersity index, and

$$\zeta$$

ζ

potential of the nanosuspension were determined to be 238.1 ± 1.5 nm, 0.17 ± 0.02 and − 31.8 ± 0.3 mV, respectively. The lyophilized nanosuspension mainly retained crystalline state, with only a little amorphous content as determined by powder X-ray diffraction. Compared to conventional fungicide formulations, the nanosuspension presented an increased retention volume and a reduced contact angle, indicating enhanced wettability and adhesion. In addition, the azoxystrobin nanosuspension showed the highest antifungal activity, with a medial lethal concentration of 1.4243 μg/mL against Fusarium oxysporum. In optical micrographs, hyphal deformations of thinner and intertwined hyphae were detected in the exposed group. Compared to the control group, the total soluble protein content, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities were initially increased and then decreased with prolonged exposure time. The azoxystrobin nanosuspension reduced the defensive antioxidant capability of Fusarium oxysporum and resulted in the generation of excessive reactive oxygen species. This study provides a novel method for preparing nanosuspension formulation of poorly soluble antifungal agents to enhance the biological activity and decrease the negative environmental impact.
Influence Factors of Sexual Activity for Internal Migrants in China
Authors: Zhang Junguo , Wu Junqing , Li Yuyan , Zhou Ying , Li Yiran , Zhao Rui , Shi Yuanming , Li Zheng , Huang Wei , Chen Jian 
Published: April 2018

Abstract

Background
Sexual frequency is associated with the quality of life. China’s internal migrants that are sexually active are more likely to participate in sexual behavior. However, less work has been undertaken to assess the sexual frequency and its predictors in migrants.

Aim
This study seeks to explore which factors were related to sexual frequency in migrants and how the association varies with different levels of sexual frequency.

Methods
A total of 10,834 men and 4,928 women aged 20–49 years from 5 cities in China were enrolled by multi-stage sampling during August 2013–August 2015.

Outcomes
Sexual frequency among migrants was determined by asking: How many times have you had sexual intercourse with a man/woman in the past 30 days?

Results
In this study, sexual frequency with an average age of 38.28 years was 5.06 (95% CI 5.01–5.11) time per month. Negative binomial showed that male gender, younger age, earlier age of sexual debut, masturbation, more knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, longer time together with a spouse, and higher school education and incomes were predictors of increased sexual frequency in migrants. Communicating with sexual partners frequently had the largest effect on sexual frequency compared with occasional communicating (β = 0.2419, incidence rate ratio = 1.27, 95% CI 1.23–1.31). In the quantile regression, months of cohabitation (β = 0.0999, 95% CI 0.08–0.12), frequent sexual communication (β = 0.4534, 95% CI 0.39–0.52), and masturbation (β = 0.2168, 95% CI 0.14–0.30) were positively related to lower levels of sexual frequency. Interestingly, migrants who had low and high sexual frequency would be affected in opposite directions by the knowledge of sexual and reproductive health.

Clinical Translation
Clinicians can more understand the relationship between sexual frequency and its factors that can as the symptom basis of sexually-related diseases.

Conclusions
The present findings indicate that specific demographic, socioeconomic, and epidemiological characteristics influenced sexual frequency among migrants. Sexual communication as the largest effect predictor to sexual frequency should be paid more attention to, to improve sexual activity of migrants.
Changes of glucose levels precede dementia in African‐Americans with diabetes but not in Caucasians
Authors: Hendrie Hugh C. , Zheng Mengjie , Lane Kathleen A. , Ambuehl Roberta , Purnell Christianna , Li Shanshan , Unverzagt Frederick W. , Murray Michael D. , Balasubramanyam Ashok , Callahan Chris M. , Gao Sujuan 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIntroductionChanges in glucose levels may represent a powerful metabolic indicator of dementia in African‐Americans with diabetes. It is unclear whether these changes also occur in Caucasians.MethodsA secondary data analysis using electronic medical records from 5228 African‐Americans and Caucasians aged ≥65 years was carried out. Mixed effects models with repeated serum glucose measurements were used to compare changes in glucose levels between African‐Americans and Caucasian patients with and without incident dementia.ResultsAfrican‐Americans and Caucasians with diabetes had significantly different changes in glucose levels by dementia status (P < .0001). African‐Americans experienced a significant decline in glucose levels before the dementia diagnosis (estimated glucose decline 1.3421 mg/dL per year, P < .0001) than those who did not develop dementia. Caucasians with and without dementia showed stable glucose levels over time (P = .3071).DiscussionSignificant changes in glucose levels precede dementia in African‐American patients with diabetes but not in Caucasians.
The Impact of 2015 NHSN Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) Definition Change on Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) Rates and CLABSI Prevention Efforts at an Academic Medical Center
Authors: Advani Sonali D. , Lee Rachael A. , Long Martha , Schmitz Mariann , Camins Bernard C. 
Published: April 2018

The 2015 changes in the catheter-associated urinary tract infection definition led to an increase in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and catheter-related candidemia in some health systems due to the change in CLABSI attribution. However, our rates remained unchanged in 2015 and further declined in 2016 with the implementation of new vascular-access guidelines.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;878–880
Diversity, distribution and parasitism rates of fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) on sigmodontine rodents (Cricetidae) from Argentinian Patagonia
Authors: Sanchez J. , Lareschi M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractFleas have great medical relevance as vectors of the causative agents of several diseases in animals and humans and rodents are the principal reservoirs for these pathogens. Argentinian Patagonia has the highest diversity of rodent fleas in South America. However, parasitism rates of rodents by fleas, the factors that influence them and the ecological aspects that modulate geographical distributions of flea–host association remain unknown for this region. This is the first study to record the diversity, prevalence, abundance, geographical distributions and host ranges of fleas in Argentinian Patagonia. It also compares parasitism rates among Patagonian ecoregions and host species. We captured 438 rodents belonging to 13 species, which harboured 624 fleas from 11 species and subspecies (P= 46%; mean abundance = 1.44). The high parasitism rates obtained were consistent with previous records for other arid regions, suggesting that Patagonia favours the survival and development of Siphonaptera. Host geographic range and abundance were related to the parasitological indexes: host species with high-density populations had the highest mean flea abundance and prevalence, whereas widely distributed hosts had the highest richness and diversity of flea species. Our results contribute to the knowledge of the flea–host–environment complex. Our analysis of flea distributions and parasitism rate in Central Patagonia may be useful in epidemiological studies of flea-borne diseases and provide a basis for implementing surveillance systems for better risk assessment of emerging zoonoses in the region.
The potential distribution of the Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia): an updated distribution model including irrigation improves model fit for predicting potential spread
Authors: Avila G.A. , Davidson M. , van Helden M. , Fagan L. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractDiuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov), Russian wheat aphid, is one of the world's most invasive and economically important agricultural pests of wheat and barley. In May 2016, it was found for the first time in Australia, with further sampling confirming it was widespread throughout south-eastern regions. Russian wheat aphid is not yet present in New Zealand. The impacts of this pest if it establishes in New Zealand, could result in serious control problems in wheat- and barley-growing regions. To evaluate whether D. noxia could establish populations in New Zealand we used the climate modelling software CLIMEX to locate where potential viable populations might occur. We re-parameterised the existing CLIMEX model by Hughes and Maywald (1990) by improving the model fit using currently known distribution records of D. noxia, and we also considered the role of irrigation into the potential spread of this invasive insect. The updated model now fits the current known distribution better than the previous Hughes and Maywald CLIMEX model, particularly in temperate and Mediterranean areas in Australia and Europe; and in more semi-arid areas in north-western China and Middle Eastern countries. Our model also highlights new climatically suitable areas for the establishment of D. noxia, not previously reported, including parts of France, the UK and New Zealand. Our results suggest that, when suitable host plants are present, Russian wheat aphid could establish in these regions. The new CLIMEX projections in the present study are useful tools to inform risk assessments and target surveillance and monitoring efforts for identifying susceptible areas to invasion by Russian wheat aphid.
A novel technique to identify the nerve of origin in head and neck schwannomas
Authors: Ching H H , Spinner A G , Reeve N H , Wang R C 
Published: April 2018

AbstractObjective:Identifying the nerve of origin in head and neck schwannomas is a diagnostic challenge. Surgical management leads to a risk of permanent deficit. Accurate identification of the nerve would improve operative planning and patient counselling.Methods:Three patients with head and neck schwannomas underwent a diagnostic procedure hypothesised to identify the nerve of origin. The masses were infiltrated with 1 per cent lidocaine solution, and the patients were observed for neurological deficits.Results:All three patients experienced temporary loss of nerve function after lidocaine injection. Facial nerve palsy, voice changes with documented unilateral same-side vocal fold paralysis, and numbness in the distribution of the maxillary nerve (V2), respectively, led to a likely identification of the nerve of origin.Conclusion:Injection of lidocaine into a schwannoma is a safe, in-office procedure that produces a temporary nerve deficit, which may enable accurate identification of the nerve of origin of a schwannoma. Identifying the nerve of origin enhances operative planning and patient counselling.
Development of stop consonants in three- to six-year-old Mandarin-speaking children
Authors: YANG Jing 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis study compared the temporal measurements of stop consonants in 29 three- to six-year-old Mandarin-speaking children and 12 Mandarin-speaking adults. Each participant produced 18 Mandarin disyllabic words which contained six stop consonants /p, pʰ, t, tʰ, k, kʰ/ each followed by three vowels /a, i, u/ at the word-initial position in the first syllable. The temporal measurements of VOT, overall burst duration, average duration per burst, number of bursts, and VOT-lag duration were obtained. Although adult-like short-lag VOTs were achieved in all children, the long-lag VOTs were widespread in the younger group and gradually developed to a concentrated distribution in the older children. Further analysis of the burst and VOT-lag revealed that these children tended to produce shorter average duration per burst and longer VOT-lag than the adults. These results indicate that children in this age range may not have developed adult-like laryngeal–oral timing pattern and airflow control for stop production.
Prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and residual antimicrobials in the environment in Vietnam
Authors: Yamasaki Shinji , Le Tuyen Danh , Vien Mai Quang , Van Dang Chinh , Yamamoto Yoshimasa 
Published: April 2018

AbstractEmergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli, have become serious problems worldwide. Recent studies conducted in Vietnam revealed that ESBL-producing E. coli are widely distributed in food animals and people. CTX-M-9 and CTX-M-1 are the most prevalent β-lactamases among the identified ESBLs. Furthermore, most of the ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were multi-drug resistant. Residual antimicrobials such as sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, sulfadimidine, cephalexin, and sulfadiazine were also detected at a high level in both animal meats and environmental water collected from several cities, including Ho Chi Minh city and Can Tho city. These recent studies indicated that improper use of antimicrobials in animal-originated food production might contribute to the emergence and high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in Vietnam. Although clonal ESBL-producing E. coli was not identified, CTX-M-55 gene-carrying plasmids with similar sizes (105–139 kb) have been commonly detected in the ESBL-producing E. coli strains isolated from various food animals and human beings. This finding strongly suggests that horizontal transfer of the CTX-M plasmid among various E. coli strains played a critical role in the emergence and high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in Vietnam.
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen Production and Consumption in Eastern Tropical South Pacific Surface Waters
Authors: Knapp A. N. , Casciotti K. L. , Prokopenko M. G. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractModels of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) production and consumption indicate that marine DON is produced in the euphotic zone, especially in upwelling environments, and is consumed as it transits into more oligotrophic regions where it may support export production. However, evaluation of such models is data limited, and in particular, few measurements of DON concentration and/or nitrogen isotopic composition (“δ15N”) exist from the South Pacific. Here we present measurements of the concentration and δ15N of DON collected in the eastern tropical South Pacific during the austral summers of 2010 (El Niño) and 2011 (La Niña). The concentration and δ15N of DON from the eastern tropical South Pacific are broadly consistent with prior measurements elsewhere, that is, DON concentrations of 5 ± 1 μM and DON δ15N of 5 ± 1‰, but variations were associated with DON production and consumption. Specifically, surface ocean chlorophyll a concentrations were highly correlated with upper 50‐m DON stocks (r = 0.96), consistent with a photosynthetic source for DON. Additionally, upper 50‐m DON stocks and their δ15N were significantly negatively correlated (r = −0.84, p = 0.0006), indicating that DON was consumed in surface waters with an isotope effect of 5.5 ± 1.2‰. These results inform our understanding of the controls of DON distributions in the surface ocean and indicate that DON may support export production in nitrate‐poor surface waters, which may decouple new from gross production.
The Role of the Upper Tidal Estuary in Wetland Blue Carbon Storage and Flux
Authors: Krauss Ken W. , Noe Gregory B. , Duberstein Jamie A. , Conner William H. , Stagg Camille L. , Cormier Nicole , Jones Miriam C. , Bernhardt Christopher E. , Graeme Lockaby B. , From Andrew S. , Doyle Thomas W. , Day Richard H. , Ensign Scott H. , Pierfelice Katherine N. , Hupp Cliff R. , Chow Alex T. , Whitbeck Julie L. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractCarbon (C) standing stocks, C mass balance, and soil C burial in tidal freshwater forested wetlands (TFFW) and TFFW transitioning to low‐salinity marshes along the upper estuary are not typically included in “blue carbon” accounting, but may represent a significant C sink. Results from two salinity transects along the tidal Waccamaw and Savannah rivers of the U.S. Atlantic Coast show that total C standing stocks were 322–1,264 Mg C/ha among all sites, generally shifting to greater soil storage as salinity increased. Carbon mass balance inputs (litterfall, woody growth, herbaceous growth, root growth, and surface accumulation) minus C outputs (surface litter and root decomposition, gaseous C) over a period of up to 11 years were 340–900 g C · m−2 · year−1. Soil C burial was variable (7–337 g C · m−2 · year−1), and lateral C export was estimated as C mass balance minus soil C burial as 267–849 g C · m−2 · year−1. This represents a large amount of C export to support aquatic biogeochemical transformations. Despite reduced C persistence within emergent vegetation, decomposition of organic matter, and higher lateral C export, total C storage increased as forests converted to marsh with salinization. These tidal river wetlands exhibited high N mineralization in salinity‐stressed forested sites and considerable P mineralization in low‐salinity marshes. Large C standing stocks and rates of C sequestration suggest that TFFW and oligohaline marshes are considerably important globally to coastal C dynamics and in facilitating energy transformations in areas of the world in which they occur.
Analysis of 182 cerebral palsy transcriptomes points to dysregulation of trophic signalling pathways and overlap with autism
Authors: van Eyk Clare L. , Corbett Mark A. , Gardner Alison , van Bon Bregje W. , Broadbent Jessica L. , Harper Kelly , MacLennan Alastair H. , Gecz Jozef 
Published: April 2018

AbstractCerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability of childhood. It is characterised by permanent, non-progressive but not unchanging problems with movement, posture and motor function, with a highly heterogeneous clinical spectrum and frequent neurodevelopmental comorbidities. The aetiology of CP is poorly understood, despite recent reports of a genetic contribution in some cases. Here we demonstrate transcriptional dysregulation of trophic signalling pathways in patient-derived cell lines from an unselected cohort of 182 CP-affected individuals using both differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). We also show that genes differentially expressed in CP, as well as network modules significantly correlated with CP status, are enriched for genes associated with ASD. Combining transcriptome and whole exome sequencing (WES) data for this CP cohort likely resolves an additional 5% of cases separated to the 14% we have previously reported as resolved by WES. Collectively, these results support a convergent molecular abnormality in CP and ASD.