bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Producing Neurospheroids and Hydrogels to Create a Three-dimensional in Vitro Model for the Use of Conduits in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration
Authors: Shete Devyani , Batth Aran , Nijhawan Aditi , Choudhary Jaffer , Thompson Ian 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Peripheral nerve regeneration is a complex challenge that requires suitable nerve guidance systems to bridge the severed ends of 2 nerves back together. Current polymeric conduits on the market provide good cellular growth but are limited by the length of gap defect they can repair, and complete functional recovery is rare. This project focused on creating a three-dimensional (3D) in Vitro spheroidal sprouting assay for peripheral nerve regeneration, as well as producing and testing different polymeric hydrogels as potential scaffold materials for the conduit.

METHODS
Different concentrations of chitosan, methylcellulose (MC) and sodium alginate were produced, as well as blends of these materials. These hydrogels were seeded with 3D neurospheroids, along with NG108-15 (neuronal) cells and Schwann cells to test their biocompatibility.

RESULTS
MTT assays showed the mean absorbance of chitosan gels with NG108-15 cells at 24 hr (P < .001) and 72 hr (P > .05) was similar/slightly higher than the negative control. Live-Dead data showed 93.4% of live cells at DIV7 on MC: Ch blends, compared to 72% with chitosan alone.

CONCLUSION
Overall, both chitosan and MC were nontoxic and biocompatible with NG108-15 and Schwann cells. Blending chitosan with MC improved its chemical and physical properties. The cells formed spheroids that well on a gel; this pseudo-3D structure is excellent for research purposes compared to 2D as it mimics the body's internal environment.
Predicting Recovery After Mild TBI
Authors: Booker James 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) is often treated as a homogenous group in current practice. Stratifying patients more accurately may result in the implementation of more effective, individualized treatment. We aimed to identify prognostic indicators of recovery 1-yr following MTBI.

METHODS
Using a prospective, observational study design, a large MTBI population (N = 596) was recruited following admission to the Emergency Department. Data was collected at brain injury clinics between August 2011 and July 2015. Functional recovery at 1-yr was assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE).

RESULTS
A follow-up rate of 92% was achieved. The most common aetiologies of MTBI were falls (n = 222) and road traffic collisions (n = 154). Distribution of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 15 (n = 363), 14 (n = 156) and 13 (n = 77). Multiordinal logistic regression of the GOSE found that psychiatric history (P < .001), alcohol intoxication (P = .011), assault (P = .022) and GCS <15 (P = < .001), led to worse outcome. An abnormal CT scan was not a predictor of functional recovery.

CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that after MTBI, patients with previous psychiatric history, GCS <15, aetiology of assault and alcohol intoxication result in worse long-term outcomes. Future work into developing a full prognostic model for MTBI may help to tailor individual treatment and improve long-term outcomes.
Thyroid Function in Health Care Workers Exposed to Ionizing Radiation
Authors: Luna-Sánchez Shirley , del Campo MT , Morán Julio Valverde , Fernández Ignacio Mahillo , Checa Fernando José Sancho , de la Hoz Rafael E. 
Published: March 2019

Objectives
To analyze possible alterations of thyroid function related to dosimetric values in health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation.

Materials and Methods
Forty-six health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation at a tertiary hospital previously exposed to ionizing radiation were included in the study. Age, sex, history of thyroid diseases, thyroid hormones, work post, service, dosimetric values of previous year, and 5 y period were considered. Alterations of thyroid function and other variables were analyzed by exact logistic regression univariate model.

Results
7.1% workers showed an increased serum thyroid-stimulating hormone without free T3 or free T4 alteration. A significant relationship between workers with increased thyroid-stimulating hormone and dosimetric values of previous year (odds ratio 6.35, 95% confidence interval 1.20–98.1, p = 0.021) and previous 5 y period of radiation exposure (odds ratio 1.72, 95% confidence interval 1.12–3.34, p = 0.007) was obtained.

Conclusion
An increased risk of subclinical hypothyroidism related to radiation doses was observed in this pilot study on a group of health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation.
Examining the Capacity of Registered Nurses to Deliver Culturally Competent Health Care to Veterans and Their Families
Authors: Bonzanto Tamara , Swan Beth Ann , Gaughan John P. 
Published: March 2019

Background:
Although more than 75% of veterans and their families are accessing care in non-Veterans Affairs (VA) settings, there is little information about health care workers, specifically registered nurses (RNs)' ability to provide culturally competent and appropriate care to military veterans and their families.

Purpose:
The purpose was to examine the capacity of RNs working in non-VA hospitals to deliver culturally competent health care to military veterans and their families.

Methods:
A prospective survey design was carried out with nurses from a large academic health system. The RAND Corporation's Ready to Serve web-based survey was adapted with permission for use with RNs employed in civilian urban and community hospitals. In addition to reporting descriptive statistics on demographics and each individual item, a score was calculated to define high cultural competency.

Results:
Twenty-five (4%) RNs demonstrated the capacity to deliver culturally competent health care.

Conclusions:
This study revealed significant gaps in the capacity of nurses to deliver culturally competent care to military veterans and their families.
The effects of aging on hydromorphone-induced thermal antinociception in healthy female cats
Authors: Simon Bradley T. , Scallan Elizabeth M. , Monteiro Beatriz P. , Steagall Paulo V.M. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Introduction:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of aging on hydromorphone-induced thermal antinociception in cats.

Methods:
In a prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled design, 10 healthy female cats received each of the following treatments intramuscularly: hydromorphone (0.1 mg/kg) and 0.9% saline (0.05 mL/kg) with a 1-week washout between treatments at 6, 9, and 12 months of age. Skin temperature and thermal thresholds (TTs) were recorded before and up to 12 hours after injection. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures linear mixed model (α = 0.05).

Results:
After saline treatment, TT was not significantly different from baseline at any time point for any age group. After hydromorphone treatment, TT was significantly higher than baseline at 6 months for up to 1 hour, and at 9 and 12 months for up to 4 hours. Peak TT at 6, 9, and 12 months were 50.4 ± 2.7, 50.9 ± 2.0, and 53.6 ± 2.0°C at 0.5, 1, and 1 hours, respectively. Mean TT was significantly higher after hydromorphone treatment when compared with saline treatment at 9 and 12 months for up to 4 hours but not at 6 months. Magnitude of antinociception was consistently larger at 12 months when compared with 6 months of age. Hydromorphone provided a shorter duration and smaller magnitude of antinociception at 6 months when compared with 9 and 12 months.

Conclusion:
Pediatric cats may require more frequent dosing of hydromorphone than adults.
The Anterolateral Thigh Flap for Achilles Tendon Reconstruction: Functional Outcomes
Authors: Ehrl Denis , Heidekrueger Paul I. , Schmitt Andreas , Liska Franz , Ninkovic Milomir , Giunta Riccardo , Broer P. Niclas 
Published: March 2019

Background:
Following Achilles tendon rupture and repair, reruptures or infections are not infrequent. Consequently, several surgical techniques have been described to decrease complication rates. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the free composite fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap including fascia lata for reconstruction of combined complex soft-tissue and Achilles tendon defects.

Methods:
Within an 8-year period, 34 patients having undergone microvascular Achilles tendon reconstruction fulfilled inclusion criteria for this study: 25 of these patients (73.5 percent) returned for follow-up examination, seven of whom (28.0 percent) underwent additional bilateral contact pressure and power measurements. The data were screened for patients’ demographics, intraoperative and perioperative details, flap survival, surgical complications, and overall long-term outcomes.

Results:
Mean follow-up time was 40.8 months. The Thompson test was negative in all patients. The pain score assessed by the Numerical Rating Scale at the reconstructed site was low overall, but showed significant differences between rest and activity (p < 0.05). The assessment of the Vancouver Scar Scale showed very good results with both techniques. The measurements of the peak pressures, power while walking, and foot contact area did not show differences between the operated and nonoperated sides (p > 0.05), whereas range of motion revealed significant differences (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:
In patients who suffer complex Achilles tendon injury requiring free flap coverage, the composite anterolateral thigh flap including fascia lata provides a reliable and safe approach with very good functional and aesthetic outcomes. It should be considered one of the first reconstructive options.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
Therapeutic, IV.
Overlapping Surgery in Plastic Surgery: An Analysis of Patient Safety and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Parikh Rajiv P. , Sharma Ketan , Thornton Melissa , Brown Gabriella , Myckatyn Terence M. 
Published: March 2019

Background:
Overlapping surgery is an important and controversial health care issue. To date, there is minimal evidence on the safety of overlapping surgery in plastic surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare outcomes for patients undergoing overlapping surgery versus nonoverlapping surgery in plastic surgery.

Methods:
This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing plastic surgery procedures at a tertiary academic center between January of 2016 and January of 2018. Demographic and procedural characteristics, clinical outcomes, and adverse events were analyzed for patients undergoing overlapping versus nonoverlapping surgery. An a priori power analysis was performed, and chi-square, Wilcoxon rank sum, and bivariate logistic regression tests were used for analyses.

Results:
Eight hundred sixty-six patients constituted the study population: 555 (64.1 percent) underwent nonoverlapping surgery and 311 (35.9 percent) underwent overlapping surgery. There was no significant difference (p > 0.050) in mean age, body mass index, tobacco use, American Society of Anesthesiologists rating, or Charlson Comorbidity Index score between cohorts. Comparison of nonoverlapping and overlapping cases revealed no differences in complications (12.1 percent versus 11.9 percent; p = 0.939), reoperations (6.1 percent versus 6.8 percent; p = 0.717), readmissions (3.6 percent versus 3.5 percent; p = 0.960), or emergency room visits (4.7 percent versus 4.8 percent; p = 0.927). Stratification by procedure demonstrated no difference (p > 0.050) in complications between cohorts. Median operative time was significantly longer for overlapping operations (105 minutes versus 83 minutes; p = 0.004).

Conclusions:
This study supports the safety of overlapping surgery in plastic surgery.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
Therapeutic, III.
A stochastic spatial model for heterogeneity in cancer growth
Authors: Queiroga Alexandre Sarmento , Morais Mauro César Cafundó , Tortelli Tharcisio Citrangulo , Chammas Roger , Ramos Alexandre Ferreira 
Published: March 2019

AbstractEstablishing a quantitative understanding of tumor heterogeneity, a major feature arising from the evolutionary processes taking place within the tumor microenvironment, is an important challenge for cancer biologists. Recently established experimental techniques enabled summarizing the variety of tumor cell phenotypes in proliferative or migratory. In the former, cells mostly proliferate and rarely migrate, while the opposite happens with cells having the latter phenotype, a “go-and-grow” description of heterogeneity. In this manuscript we present a discrete time Markov chain to simulate the spatial evolution of a tumor which heterogeneity is described by cells having those two phenotypes. The cell density curves have two qualitatively distinct temporal regimes, as they recover the Gompertz curve widely used for tumor growth description, and a bi-phasic growth which temporal shape resembles the tumor growth dynamics under influence of immunoediting. We also show how our representation of heterogeneity gives rise to variable spatial patterning even when the tumors have similar size and dynamics.Author summaryWe present a spatial stochastic model to represent the growth of a tumor as a structure having cells of two phenotypes: one whose cells have division as their predominant transition, and another where cells are mostly migrating. The migratory phenotype results from a transformation of the proliferative. Our proposition is based on the assumption that a tumor grows initially within a limited region while its cells are capable of acquire nutrients. During that phase, the cancer cells start changing their phenotype because of stress in their microenvironment and exhaustion of nutrients that lead them to become more migratory and capable of generating metastasis. Our model enables us to recover the usual dynamics observed in tumor growth such as a logistic-like curve, called Gompertz model, widely observed, or the bi-phasic growth observed characterized by equilibrium phase interspersed between two growth regimes. Our approach also enable us to understand the internal spatial and temporal structure of the two sub-populations and can be useful to investigate the phenomena underpinning heterogeneous tumor growth, a feature that helps on the design of treatment strategies based on mitigating heterogeneity related drug resistance.
3D association of ER, PR and Her2 at protein levels to aid sub-grouping of breast cancer patients in routine clinical practice
Authors: Lv Jiahong , Yu Guohua , Li Lei , Zhang Yunyun , Zhang Wenfeng , Lv Yan , Zhang Jiandi , Tang Fangrong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTreatments of patients with solid tumors frequently rely on the relative and semi-quantitative assessment of tissue protein biomarkers by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The perspective of transition to absolute and quantitative assessment of tissue biomarkers is hindered by lack of a suitable method, especially for Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tissues. In this study, we explored the feasibility of Quantitative Dot Blot (QDB) method as a universal platform to quantitate tissue biomarkers as absolute and continuous variables in FFPE samples by measuring unprecedentedly the protein levels of Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), Her2 and Ki67 simultaneously in 1048 FFPE samples. When using measured Her2, ER and PR levels as coordinates to develop 3D scatterplot, we observed a distinct distribution pattern of the samples with natural segregation of three groups as the likely phenotypical projection of known intrinsic subtypes. Thus, we have achieved a major milestone in this transition by identifying the first practice method for daily clinical practice, and one clinical usage in 3D subtyping of samples for prediction and prognosis. This study may serve as basis for a new field of Quantitative Diagnosis where diagnosis, prognosis and prediction are derived from database analysis of protein biomarkers as absolute and continuous variables.
Non-enzymatically oxidized arachidonic acid regulates mouse spermatogenic cell T-type Ca2+currents
Authors: Bondarenko O. , Corzo G. , Santana F.L. , del Río-Portilla F. , Darszon A. , López-González I. 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTDuring spermatogenesis, phospholipids and fatty acids (FAs) play an important role both as structural components of spermatogenic cell plasma membranes and as molecular messengers that trigger the differentiation of the male germ cell line. However, spontaneous oxidation of plasma membrane phospholipids and FAs causes a decrease in mammalian fertility. In the present report, we examine the effects of non-enzymatically oxidized arachidonic acid (AAox) on mouse spermatogenic T-type Ca2+currents (ICaT) due to their physiological relevance during spermatogenesis. AAoxeffects on the biophysical parameters of ICaTwere significantly different from those previously reported for AA. AAoxleft shifted the I-V curve peak and both activation and steady-state inactivation curves. ICaTdeactivation kinetics were slower in presence of AAoxand the time for its recovery from inactivation increased significantly. Therefore, the fraction of inactivated Ca2+channels of spermatogenic cells is increased at voltages where they are usually active. The inhibition of ICaTby AAoxcould contribute to the infertility phenotype and to the observed apoptotic state of spermatogenic cells induced by oxidized FAs.
Handling and Adequacy of Iodine at Household Level: Community Based Cross-sectional Survey in Dega Damot District, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Afework Aschalew , Mulu Wondemagegn , Abate Almayehu , Lule Abel 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTIntroductionIodine is essential for regulation of physical growth and neural development. Although, fortification of iodine has been practiced decades before and iodized salt is available, handling and cultural food preparation may affect the content of iodine in the dishes. Moreover, Dega Damot is mountainous area that may lose its iodine via erosion. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the handling and adequacy of iodine in the salt in Dega Damot district, West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia.MethodCommunity based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 24 to November 15, 2017 on 802 households. Stratified multi-stage sampling was employed to select households. A total of 422 and 380 house-holds from low land and high land, respectively took part in the study. For the interview either the husband or the spouse was selected randomly. Data on handling were collected by face-to-face interview using structured questionnaires. The concentration of iodine was determined using Rapid Test Kit. Descriptive statistics were used to describe relevant findings on the handling of iodized salt. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were analyzed to identify associated factors.ResultFrom 802 samples tested, 37 (4.6%) had iodine greater than 15parts per million. The majority (94.5%) of the respondents have been roasting their salt for ‘Dikus’ preparation where as 91.1% of the households stored their salt in open containers. Salts with closed containers (AOR=3.22, CI=1.31-7.89), unroasted salts [AOR=5.23, CI=1.25-22.11], good knowledge on handling [AOR=5.55, CI=1.64-18.77], salts from high land area [AOR=2.11, 9CI=1.02-4.37], were significantly associated with adequacy of iodine Conclusions: Adequate utilization of iodine was very low. Roasting of salt was common. These phenomena may be continued because ‘Dikus’ preparation is cultured in this population. We recommend the supplementation of packed iodized salt in the dishes
Hemimetabolous insects elucidate the origin of sexual development via alternative splicing
Authors: Wexler Judith , Delaney Emily K. , Belles Xavier , Schal Coby , Wada-Katsumata Ayako , Amicucci Matthew , Kopp Artyom 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTInsects are the only animals in which sexual differentiation is controlled by sex-specific RNA splicing. Thedoublesex(dsx) transcription factor produces distinct male and female protein isoforms (DsxM and DsxF) under the control of the RNA splicing factortransformer(tra).traitself is also alternatively spliced so that a functional Tra protein is only present in females; thus, DsxM is produced by default, while DsxF expression requires Tra. The sex-specific Dsx isoforms are essential for both male and female sexual differentiation. This pathway is profoundly different from the molecular mechanisms that control sex-specific development in other animal groups. In animals as different as vertebrates, nematodes, and crustaceans, sexual differentiation involves male-specific transcription ofdsx-related transcription factors that are not alternatively spliced and play no role in female sexual development. To understand how the unique splicing-based mode of sexual differentiation found in insects evolved from a more ancestral transcription-based mechanism, we examineddsxandtraexpression in three basal, hemimetabolous insect orders. We find that functional Tra protein is limited to females in the kissing bugRhodnius prolixus(Hemiptera), but is present in both sexes in the lousePediculus humanus(Phthiraptera) and the cockroachBlattella germanica(Blattodea). Although alternatively spliceddsxisoforms are seen in all these insects, they are sex-specific in the cockroach and the kissing bug but not in the louse. InB. germanica, RNAi experiments show thatdsxis necessary for male, but not female, sexual differentiation, whiletracontrols female development via adsx-independent pathway. Our results suggest that the distinctive insect mechanism based on thetra-dsxsplicing cascade evolved in a gradual, mosaic process: sex-specific splicing ofdsxpredates its role in female sexual differentiation, while the role oftrain regulatingdsxsplicing and in sexual development more generally predates sex-specific expression of the Tra protein. We present a model where the canonicaltra-dsxaxis originated via merger between expandingdsxfunction (from males to both sexes) and narrowingtrafunction (from a general splicing factor to the dedicated regulator ofdsx).