bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Natural Course of Clinically Isolated Syndrome: A Longitudinal Analysis Using a Markov Model
Authors: Hou Yuli , Jia Yujuan , Hou Jingtian 
Published: July 2018

AbstractClinically isolated syndrome (CIS) refers to the initial clinical episode with symptoms suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS). Due to limited number of long-term follow-up studies, progression pattern from CIS to more advanced stages remains unclear. In the current study, we constructed a Markov model to simulate the natural course of CIS. The model estimated the probabilities of transition from CIS to more advanced disease stages and the duration needed for the progression. The analysis showed: (1) CIS is a solid disease identity: more than 85% of the subjects with a diagnosis of CIS progress to RRMS or more advanced stages within 20 years; (2) the reduction of life expectancy in subjects with CIS is marginal.
Determination of risk factors for herpesvirus outbreak in oysters using a broad-scale spatial epidemiology framework
Authors: Pernet Fabrice , Fuhrmann Marine , Petton Bruno , Mazurié Joseph , Bouget Jean-François , Fleury Elodie , Daigle Gaétan , Gernez Pierre 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMarine diseases have major impacts on ecosystems and economic consequences for aquaculture and fisheries. Understanding origin, spread and risk factors of disease is crucial for management, but data in the ocean are limited compared to the terrestrial environment. Here we investigated how the marine environment drives the spread of viral disease outbreak affecting The Pacific oyster worldwide by using a spatial epidemiology framework. We collected environmental and oyster health data at 46 sites spread over an area of 300 km2 along an inshore-offshore gradient during an epizootic event and conducted risk analysis. We found that disease broke out in the intertidal farming area and spread seaward. Mortalities and virus detection were observed in oysters placed 2 km from the farming areas, but oysters of almost all sites were subclinically infected. Increasing food quantity and quality, growth rate and energy reserves of oyster were associated with a lower risk of mortality offshore whereas increasing turbidity, a proxy of the concentration of suspended particulate matter, and terrestrial inputs, inferred from fatty acid composition of oysters, were associated with a higher risk of mortality. Offshore farming and maintenance of good ecological status of coastal waters are options to limit disease risk in oysters.
Mechanical interactions between bacteria and hydrogels
Authors: Kandemir Nehir , Vollmer Waldemar , Jakubovics Nicholas S. , Chen Jinju 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMechanical interactions between bacterial cells and extracellular polymeric substance are essential in determining biofilm assembly and disassembly as well the mechanical characteristics of biofilms. However, the physics of these mechanical interactions in different cell culture conditions are poorly understood. We created typical artificial biofilm consisting of planktonic bacteria and hydrogel, in the absence of metabolic or regulatory effect. We have demonstrated that the cell culture medium can significantly affect the mechanical interactions between bacterial cells and hydrogels. The stiffness of the bacteria-hydrogel artificial biofilm cannot be simply attributed by the summation of the contribution from the bacteria and hydrogel based on the mathematical models and computational models. We have revealed that the tryptone component of Luria-Bertani broth medium plays an important role in stiffening effect of bacteria-hydrogel construct. Such significant stiffening effect can be explained by the following mechanism: the presence of tryptone in cell culture medium may enable the bacteria itself to crosslink the hydrogel polymer chains. Our findings have also demonstrated the synergy of modelling and innovative experiments which would potentially impact the biofilm control strategies.
Don’t quote me: reverse identification of research participants in social media studies
Authors: Ayers John W. , Caputi Theodore L. , Nebeker Camille , Dredze Mark 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe investigated if participants in social media surveillance studies could be reverse identified by reviewing all articles published on PubMed in 2015 or 2016 with the words “Twitter” and either “read,” “coded,” or “content” in the title or abstract. Seventy-two percent (95% CI: 63–80) of articles quoted at least one participant’s tweet and searching for the quoted content led to the participant 84% (95% CI: 74–91) of the time. Twenty-one percent (95% CI: 13–29) of articles disclosed a participant’s Twitter username thereby making the participant immediately identifiable. Only one article reported obtaining consent to disclose identifying information and institutional review board (IRB) involvement was mentioned in only 40% (95% CI: 31–50) of articles, of which 17% (95% CI: 10–25) received IRB-approval and 23% (95% CI:16–32) were deemed exempt. Biomedical publications are routinely including identifiable information by quoting tweets or revealing usernames which, in turn, violates ICMJE ethical standards governing scientific ethics, even though said content is scientifically unnecessary. We propose that authors convey aggregate findings without revealing participants’ identities, editors refuse to publish reports that reveal a participant’s identity, and IRBs attend to these privacy issues when reviewing studies involving social media data. These strategies together will ensure participants are protected going forward.
The Role of Lexical Status and Individual Differences for Perceptual Learning in Younger and Older Adults
Authors: Colby Sarah , Clayards Meghan , Baum Shari 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
This study examined whether older adults remain perceptually flexible when presented with ambiguities in speech in the absence of lexically disambiguating information. We expected older adults to show less perceptual learning when top-down information was not available. We also investigated whether individual differences in executive function predicted perceptual learning in older and younger adults.

Method

Younger (
n
= 31) and older adults (
n
= 27) completed 2 perceptual learning tasks composed of a pretest, exposure, and posttest phase. Both learning tasks exposed participants to clear and ambiguous speech tokens, but crucially, the lexically guided learning task provided disambiguating lexical information whereas the distributional learning task did not. Participants also performed several cognitive tasks to investigate individual differences in working memory, vocabulary, and attention-switching control.

Results
We found that perceptual learning is maintained in older adults, but that learning may be stronger in contexts where top-down information is available. Receptive vocabulary scores predicted learning across both age groups and in both learning tasks.

Conclusions
Implicit learning is maintained with age across different learning conditions but remains stronger when lexically biasing information is available. We find that receptive vocabulary is relevant for learning in both types of learning tasks, suggesting the importance of vocabulary knowledge for adapting to ambiguities in speech.
Factor VII-Deficient Substrate Plasmas Depleted of Protein C Raise the Sensitivity of the Factor VII Bio-Assay to Activated Factor VII: an International Study
Authors: Miller G J , Stirling Y , Esnouf M P , Heinrich J , van de Loo J , Kienast J , Wu K K , Morrissey J H , Meade T W , Martin J C , Imeson J D , Cooper J A , Finch A 
Published: July 2018

SummaryPlasma from healthy individuals, pregnant women and patients on warfarin were distributed to 3 laboratories supporting major cardiovascular surveys (Northwick Park, Muenster and Houston) for assay of factor VII coagulant activity (VIIC) with their own bio-assays. The mean VIIC in 147 samples agreed to within 1% of standard in Northwick Park and Houston, but was 14% of standard lower in Muenster owing to its more potent standard. In samples with an increased VIIC the Northwick Park assay gave a higher result than the other assays owing to its increased responsiveness to activated factor VII (VIIa). Thus when VIIa concentrations were determined directly with a clotting assay which utilises a soluble recombinant tissue factor, the increase in VIIC with increase in VIIa was considerably greater with the Northwick Park assay than the Muenster assay. This feature of the Northwick Park assay was traced to the virtual absence of protein C in its substrate plasma. Factor Va appears rate-limiting for the coagulant expression of VIIa in test plasma. If the thrombotic response to release of tissue factor is determined by the circulating concentration of VIIa, then the Northwick Park factor VII bio-assay may be preferable to other bio-assays currently employed to estimate risk of acute coronary events.
Comparison of the Effects of Two Diets Rich in Monounsaturated Fatty Acids Differing in their Linoleic/α-Linolenic Acid Ratio on Platelet Aggregation
Authors: Freese Riitta , Mutanen Marja , Valsta Liisa M , Salminen Irma 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe effect of dietary linoleic/α-linolenic acid ratio on human platelet aggregation in vitro was investigated using low-erucic acid rapeseed oil and high-oleic acid sunflower oil as the major fat sources. In a cross-over study 20 healthy male subjects, average age 29 year (range 20–46 yr), followed experimental rapeseed oil (RO) and Trisun-sunflower oil (TSO) diets after their habitual diet for six weeks. Subjects were provided most of the fat containing foods but were allowed to eat other foods almost freely. Fatty acid compositions of the diets calculated from dietary records were as follows (saturated/monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acids): RO diet 12.4/18.6/8.9% of total energy (en%) (linoleic/α-linolenic acid ratio 2.8) and TSO diet 11.8/17.8/8.3 en% (linoleic/α-linolenic acid ratio 28), respectively. Plasma cholesterol ester fatty acid composition proved compliance to the experimental diets. Platelet aggregations induced by ADP (1,2 and 3 μM) or thrombin (0.12, 0.15 and 0.18 NIH/ml) were significantly enhanced and collagen- (1.5, 2.5 and 5.0 μg/ml) induced aggregation tended to be enhanced after the TSO diet compared with the RO diet. After the TSO diet platelet aggregation was enhanced from the level of the habitual diets by one thrombin (0.18 NIH/ml), one collagen (1.5 μg/ml) and all three ADP concentrations. The diets had no effect on antithrombin III activity. Results show that platelet aggregation in vitro decreases as the ratio of linoleic acid to a-linolenic acid decreases in diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids.
Inhibitor-Resistant Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator: An Improved Thrombolytic Agent In Vitro
Authors: Shohet R V , Spitzer S , Madison E L , Bassel-Duby R , Gething M-J , Sambrook J F 
Published: July 2018

SummaryPlatelet-rich clots are inefficiently lysed by current fibrinolytic agents. Platelets contain a great deal of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), the principal endogenous inhibitor of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). We have tested whether PAI-1 resistant t-PAs would be more effective thrombolytic agents in an in vitro model of platelet rich clots. Clots were formed with recalcified human plasma without or with the addition of platelets. The lysis of these clots was followed by the release of incorporated 125I-fibrinogen. Mutant and wild-type t-PA were almost equally effective against clots lacking platelets but the mutant was twice as effective at lysing platelet-rich clots. A mechanism for this effect is suggested by the demonstration that a complex between wild-type t-PA and extruded platelet contents resembles that between purified t-PA and PAI-1 and that the PAI-1 resistant t-PA does not interfere with formation of this adduct. Because of its enhanced ability to lyse platelet-rich clots in vitro, further in vivo work may find that PAI-1 resistant t-PA is a more efficacious therapeutic agent than wild-type t-PA in situations where platelets contribute to the failure of thrombolysis.
Thrombogenicity of the Injured Vessel Wall – Role of Antithrombin and Heparin
Authors: Frebelius Siw , Hedin Ulf , Swedenborg Jesper 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe thrombogenicity of the vessel wall after endothelial denudation is partly explained by an impaired inhibition of thrombin on the subendothelium. We have previously reported that thrombin coagulant activity can be detected on the vessel wall after balloon injury in vivo. The glycosaminoglycans of the subendothelium differ from those of the endothelium and have a lower catalyzing effect on antithrombin III, but inhibition of thrombin can still be augmented by addition of antithrombin III to the injured vessel surface.In this study the effect of antithrombin III and heparin on thrombin coagulant activity on the vessel wall was studied after in vivo balloon injury of the rabbit aorta using biochemical and immunohistochemical methods and thrombin was analysed after excision of the vessel. Continuous treatment with heparin, lasting until sacrifice of the animal, or treatment with antithrombin III resulted in significant reduction of thrombin coagulant activity on the injured aorta. Heparin given only in conjunction with the injury did not prevent thrombin coagulant activity or deposition of fibrin on the surface.The capacity of the injured vessel wall to inhibit thrombin in vitro was improved on aortic segments obtained from animals receiving antithrombin III but not from those given heparin. It is concluded that treatment with antithrombin III interferes with thrombin appearance on the vessel wall after injury and thereby reduces the risk for thrombosis.
Radioimmunoassay of an Early Plasmin Degradation Product of Human Fibrinogen, “Fragment A”, and its Clinical Application
Authors: Takagi Kimiteru , Kawai Tadashi 
Published: July 2018

SummaryUpon the plasmin digestion of human fibrinogen, an early cleavage product, which has been designated as fragment A, was isolated, and to study the action of plasmin in the circulation, radioimmunoassay for fragment A was carried out. This assay used rabbit immune serum obtained by injection of fragment A mixed with complete Freund’s adjuvant, and fragment A was labeled with 125I using the Chloramin-T method.In 20 normal healthy donors its serum level was 3.57 ± 1.62 μg/ml (mean ± SD), and it was increased significantly in certain diseases, such as acute leukemias, cardiovascular disorders, malignancies, renal failure, systemic lupus erythematosus and sepsis.
A Rapid Turbidimetric Determination of Fibrinogen Degradation Products (FDP)
Authors: Verbruggen H W , Wessels J M C 
Published: July 2018

SummaryA rapid and simple turbidimetric determination of fibrinogen degradation products is described. This method is based on the increase of the turbidity due to the formation of precipitating antigen-antibody complexes after addition of rabbit antihuman fibrinogen antiserum to human serum. The increase in turbidity correlates very well with results obtained with the haemagglutination inhibition technique and has the advantage of a more objective quantitation. The reproducibility appears to be quite good. The turbidimetric method is independent of the colour of serum samples.
Effect of Orthostatic Changes on Urokinase Excretion
Authors: Wilcox Gilbert M , Hial Valdemar , Horwitz David , Pisano John J , Keiser Harry R 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe effects of orthostatic changes on the excretion of urokinase were studied in healthy normal volunteers. Urokinase excretion rose (average +69%) significantly (p<.005) while urine volume fell (average–59%) significantly (p <.001) after the subjects had been standing. There was no difference between men and women nor was there an apparent diurnal variation in urokinase excretion of recumbent subjects. A relationship between urokinase excretion and sympathetic nervous system activity is suggested.
Immobilization of Plasminogen Activator, Urokinase, on Nylon
Authors: Sugitachi Akio , Taragi Kunihiko , Imaoka Shingi , Kosaki Goroh 
Published: July 2018

SummaryUrokinase (UK), a fibrinolytic enzyme activator purified from human material was immobilized on nylon using different procedures. One was a modified method of immobilization of antigen or antibody initially carried out by Edelman and others in 1971 (Procedure I). The other was our newly devised method (Procedure II) (Sugitachi et al. 1976).Major specificities of the immobilized UK are as follows:1. The UK revealed properties of a plasminogen activator and the optimum pH of the immobilized UK was between 7.2 and 7.4, these values being in good parallel with that of soluble UK. The immobilized UK maintained a stable fibrinolytic activity after long-term preservation and heat-treatment.2. As the fibrinolytic activity of immobilized UK was found to be inhibited by the antiplasmin in human plasma, an antiplasmin inhibitor was immobilized on the nylon together with the UK.The antiplasmin activity was to some extent prevented using this procedure.3. Nylon tubes immobilized with UK and antiplasmin inhibitor were used for thrombotic coagulation studies carried out according to the method of Chandler. Thrombus formation time (TFT) of UK-immobilized tubes was 30 min, while that of the non-treated tubes was no longer than 10 min.
Immunologic Studies of Antithrombin III Heparin Cofactor in the Newborn
Authors: Hathaway W E , Neumann L L , Borden C A , Jacobson L J 
Published: July 2018

SummarySerial quantitative immunoelectrophoretic (IE) measurements of antithrombin III heparin cofactor (AT III) were made in groups of well and sick newborn infants classified by gestational age. Collection methods (venous vs. capillary) did not influence the results; serum IE measurements were comparable to AT III activity by a clotting method. AT III is gestational age-dependent, increasing from 28.7% of normal adult values at 28-32 weeks to 50.9% at 37-40 weeks, and shows a gradual increase to term infant levels (57.4%) by 3-4 weeks of age. Infants with the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) show lower levels of AT III in the 33-36 week group, 22% vs. 44% and in the 37-40 week group, 33.6% vs. 50.9%, than prematures without RDS. Infants of 28-32 week gestational age had only slight differences, RDS = 24%, non-RDS = 28.7%. The lowest levels of AT III were seen in patients with RDS complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation and those with necrotizing enterocolitis. Crossed IE on representative infants displayed a consistent pattern which was identical to adult controls except for appropriate decreases in the amplitude of the peaks. The thrombotic complications seen in the sick preterm infant may be related to the low levels of AT III.
Thrombin Generation and Neutralization Test (TGNT) - a Simple, Practical, and Sensitive Assay for Plasma Heparin Quantitation
Authors: Stavridis I C , Vorias N I 
Published: July 2018

SummaryA simple, quantitative method for detection of small amounts of heparin in human plasma is described. This method is based on the activation of coagulation factor X to its enzymatic form (Xa), by a mixture of RVV platelet substitute (Esnouf and Williams 1962, Esnouf and Jobin 1967) in a plasma rendered fibrinogen free without affecting other clotting factores (Bell et al. 1968, Bell 1973), by Arvin (Ancrod).Activation of factor X, results in thrombin generation. Thrombin inactivation by its natural inhibitors depends on the time elapsed from the start-point of activation. The inactivation process is enhanced by heparin (Biggs et al. 1970, Blomback et al. 1963) and this enhancement depends on the quantity of heparin in the plasma.
Acquired Inhibitors of Factor V
Authors: Feinstein Donald I 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe clinical and laboratory data on the 12 patients with an acquired inhibitor to factor V have been reviewed. The degree of clinical bleeding in these patients varied from none to severe, and in most patients the inhibitor was transient. The combination of a markedly prolonged partial thromboplastin time and Quick prothrombin time and failure of normal plasma to correct these tests, in the presence of a normal thrombin and prothrombin and proconvertin time, seems to be pathognomonic for a factor V inhibitor. The inhibitors have physicochemical properties of immunoglobulins and a few have been characterized as polyclonal IgG antibodies or a mixture of IgM and IgG antibodies. The etiology and pathophysiologic mechanism of their development is unknown, but there seems to be a close relationship to major surgery. When tested with inhibitor plasma, the plasmas from 9 patients with hereditary factor V deficiency from 7 unrelated families did not contain factor V antibody-neutralizing material.
The Effect of ICI 55,897 and Clofibrate on Platelet Function and Other Tests Abnormal in Atherosclerosis
Authors: O’Brien J R , Etherington M D , Jamieson Sandra , Sussex Janet , Shuttleworth R D 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThere is considerable evidence that the quantity or quality of plasma lipids influences platelet function tests, and clofibrate reduces high plasma lipids and alters some platelet tests. Clofibrate was accordingly given to patients with vascular disease who were at risk of thrombosis. The heparin thrombin clotting time (HTCT), initially short and thus possibly reflecting increased activation, was regularly returned to normal after about a month’s delay. The fibrinogen was also normalized but the initially abnormal anti-thrombic activity became more abnormal. ICI 55,897, an analogue of clofibrate, also normalized the HTCT and the fibrinogen and had no adverse effect on the anti-thrombin levels. This compound has no effect on plasma lipids. If it can be shown that the correction of abnormal tests conveys clinical benefit these findings suggest that ICI 55,897 might clinically be more beneficial than clofibrate. However, direct comparison of clofibrate and ICI 55,897 suggests that clofibrate is more effective in normalizing the HTCT. The mechanisms underlying these drug-induced changes are unknown but they cannot be directly related to lipid changes.
In Vitro Interaction between Cultured Cells and Human Blood Platelets
Authors: Holme Randi , Oftebro Reidar , Hovig Torstein 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe effects of washed human cultured cells (tumour cells and Chang liver cells) on human blood platelets in heparinized plasma were studied. Platelet aggregation was induced by suspensions of the tumour cells. Ultrastructural examination showed that the platelets, especially in the central regions of the aggregates, were tightly packed and the α-granules were mostly present. In the periphery of the aggregates the platelets appeared swollen and devoid of organelles, and fibrin strands were seen. The platelet aggregation was not completely abolished by incubation with apyrase. The washing fluids from the tumour cells also induced platelet aggregation, but the aggregation could be abolished by incubation with apyrase.When three different lines of the Chang cells were used, suspensions of two lines of these cells induced platelet aggregation, but the third line did not. Presence of ADP could be demonstrated in the washing fluids from the cultured cells, except for the one line of Chang cells which did not induce platelet aggregation. The experiments indicated that the platelet aggregation induced by the various types of cells was mediated via ADP, but with a possible additional effect of coagulation activity.