bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hospital length of stay and healthcare costs among African American women due to obesity and diabetic conditions in United States: A model for correlation studies comparing ethnicity, co‐morbidities and hospital resources
Authors: Moss Terris R. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo examine obesity and diabetes associations with United States hospital use and healthcare costs for African American women, to explore the relationship between co‐morbidities of interest (obesity and diabetes) and hospital resources [length of stay (LOS) and costs].MethodsA retrospective, correlation, quantitative analysis for lengths of hospital stay and cost among adult African American women categorized according to their weight status with type 2 diabetes. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) data which contains the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used. Focused on 803,163 African American, female inpatients between the ages of 21 and 55 in the United States from 2008 to 2010. Researcher explored the relationship between individual health factors of interest (obesity and diabetes) and the effects on hospital LOS and healthcare costs. All statistical analysis will be performed using Stata v12. All inferential tests will be two‐sided and will utilize a 95% significance level. Two separate multiple regressions will be used.ResultsA total of 758,874 records were retained for analysis. The patients in the weighted population ranged in age from 21 to 55 years. The patient LOS ranged from 0 to 333 days. The patients had approximately 2 procedures on average, and presented with approximately 3 chronic conditions on average. The total charges (Cost) ranged from 106 to over 1 million US dollars. The size and direction of the relationship between LOS, healthcare costs and the independent variables of diabetes and obesity suggests that both LOS and health care cost decreased for African American female patients with diabetes or obesity. There is a statistically significant relationship between at least one of the individual health factors of interest (obesity and diabetes) and hospital LOS (F = 13,394.00, P < 0.0005, R2 = 0.440) and hospital costs (F = 10,171.23, P < 0.0005, R2 = 0.502).ConclusionsThere is evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in health care quality in hospital treatment of African American patients. After accounting for social determinants and insurance statuses, African Americans may receive lower‐quality care than the population at large. African Americans are admitted to the hospital, but services and LOS are shorter than the general population partially due to disparities in evaluating and offering treatment.
Electrocardiographic disturbances in children with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: AlTwajery Mohammed , AlMane Waleed , Al-Mayouf Sulaiman M 
Published: December 2018

Background:Conduction disturbances other than heart block related to neonatal lupus are rarely explored and reported in children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Objective:To report the electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in children with SLE and assess whether anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and hydroxychloroquine are associated with the rhythm disturbances.Methods:This cross-sectional retrospective study comprised patients with SLE who had regular followup in the Pediatric Lupus Clinic at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center-Riyadh. All enrolled patients were evaluated with regard to demographics, age at disease onset, disease duration, clinical and laboratory variables including autoantibodies, disease activity using SLEDAI disease activity index, and medications. An expert pediatric cardiologist reviewed the ECG findings of all enrolled patients independently without knowing the clinical status of the patients.Results:A total of 41 (35 females, 6 males) unselected patients with SLE with a mean age of 12.8 (2.5) years and mean follow-up duration of 4 (3) years completed the evaluation. The most frequent manifestations were renal disease (65.8%), followed by musculoskeletal (46.3%), hematological (41.5%), and cardiac involvement (19.5%). Thirty-two had active disease (SLEDAI >4), and the mean of SLEDAI was 9.2 (6.2). ECG abnormalities were seen in 12 patients (29.3%); these changes included ST-T changes (9.8%), right bundle branch block (7.3%), 4 prolonged QT interval (9.8%), and low QRS voltage (2.4%). Thirty- seven (90.3%) patients were on hydroxychloroquine, and 9 patients (22%) had positive anti-Ro/SSA antibodies. ECG abnormalities were associated significantly with anti-Ro/SSA antibodies (P< .05) and a low platelet count (P< .5) but had no association with other autoantibodies, hydroxychloroquine, or SLEDAI score.Conclusion:Children with SLE with anti-Ro/SSA antibodies are probably prone to heart conduction abnormalities. However, the heart rate and QT interval were affected by hydroxychloroquine. A larger prospective study is required to allow more definitive conclusions.
How Much Information Is Required to Well Constrain Local Estimates of Future Precipitation Extremes?
Authors: Li Chao , Zwiers Francis , Zhang Xuebin , Li Guilong 
Published: December 2018

AbstractGlobal warming is expected to increase the amount of atmospheric moisture, resulting in heavier extreme precipitation. Various studies have used the historical relationship between extreme precipitation and temperature (temperature scaling) to provide guidance about precipitation extremes in a future warmer climate. Here we assess how much information is required to robustly identify temperature scaling relationships, and whether these relationships are equally effective at different times in the future in estimating precipitation extremes everywhere across North America. Using a large ensemble of 35 North American regional climate simulations of the period 1951–2100, we show that individual climate simulations of length comparable to that of typical instrumental records are unable to constrain temperature scaling relationships well enough to reliably estimate future extremes of local precipitation accumulation for hourly to daily durations in the model's climate. Hence, temperature scaling relationships estimated from the limited historical observations are unlikely to be able to provide reliable guidance for future adaptation planning at local spatial scales. In contrast, well‐constrained temperature scaling relations based on multiple regional climate simulations do provide a feasible basis for accurately projecting precipitation extremes of hourly to daily durations in different future periods over more than 90% of the North American land area.
Microstructures, Water Contents, and Seismic Properties of the Mantle Lithosphere Beneath the Northern Limit of the Hangay Dome, Mongolia
Authors: Demouchy S. , Tommasi A. , Ionov D. , Higgie K. , Carlson R. W. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractTo constrain the deformation, thermal evolution, and seismic properties of the mantle lithosphere beneath the Hangay Dome, we have analyzed the microstructures, crystal preferred orientations (CPO), and hydrogen concentrations of olivine and pyroxenes of 50 mantle xenoliths carried up by Cenozoic basalts from Zala, Haer, and Shavaryn‐Tsaram from Tariat, Mongolia. Most xenoliths are medium‐ to coarse‐grained spinel‐lherzolites, but four contain garnet + spinel. Coarse granular, highly annealed microstructures predominate. The microstructures are associated with well‐developed CPO, typical of deformation under high temperature, moderate pressure, and dry conditions. The hydrogen concentrations in olivine, orthopyroxene, and clinopyroxene are low and range around 5, 75, and 147 ppm H2O wt, respectively. Together, microstructures and CPO indicate that ductile deformation was followed by static recrystallization, which has annealed the microstructures but preserved the CPO and, hence, the anisotropy of physical properties. Lack of correlation between annealing and equilibrium temperatures suggest that the annealing is due to a long quiescence episode since the last deformation episode. Here, there is not evidence that the formation of Hangay Dome is associated with recent deformation in the lithospheric mantle. Calculated seismic properties show moderate seismic anisotropy, with fast propagation of P waves and polarization of S waves parallel to the flow direction and low birefringence for S waves propagating obliquely to the flow plane. The results are consistent with weak P wave anomalies but not with the strong low S wave velocity anomalies predicted by some tomographic models or with the high conductivity inferred from magnetotelluric data for the lithospheric mantle beneath the Hangay Dome.
Increased Occurrence of Record‐Wet and Record‐Dry Months Reflect Changes in Mean Rainfall
Authors: Lehmann J. , Mempel F. , Coumou D. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractClimate change alters the hydrological cycle, which is expected to increase the risk of heavy rainfall events and prolonged droughts. Sparse rainfall data, however, have made it difficult to answer the question of whether robust changes can already be seen in the short observational time period. Here we use a comprehensive statistical tool to quantify changes in record‐breaking wet and dry months. The global‐mean number of record‐wet months has significantly increased over the recent decades and is now nearly 20% higher than would be expected in a stationary climate with no long‐term trends. This signal primarily comes from pronounced changes in the northern middle to high latitudes where the occurrence of record‐wet months has increased by up to 37% regionally. The tropics have seen opposing trends: More record‐wet months in Southeast Asia in contrast to more record‐dry months in Africa. These changes are broadly consistent with observed trends in mean rainfall.
Heterogeneous Changes in Western North American Glaciers Linked to Decadal Variability in Zonal Wind Strength
Authors: Menounos B. , Hugonnet R. , Shean D. , Gardner A. , Howat I. , Berthier E. , Pelto B. , Tennant C. , Shea J. , Noh Myoung‐Jong , Brun F. , Dehecq A. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWestern North American (WNA) glaciers outside of Alaska cover 14,384 km2 of mountainous terrain. No comprehensive analysis of recent mass change exists for this region. We generated over 15,000 multisensor digital elevation models from spaceborne optical imagery to provide an assessment of mass change for WNA over the period 2000–2018. These glaciers lost 117 ± 42 gigatons (Gt) of mass, which accounts for up to 0.32 ± 0.11 mm of sea level rise over the full period of study. We observe a fourfold increase in mass loss rates between 2000–2009 [−2.9 ± 3.1 Gt yr−1] and 2009–2018 [−12.3 ± 4.6 Gt yr−1], and we attribute this change to a shift in regional meteorological conditions driven by the location and strength of upper level zonal wind. Our results document decadal‐scale climate variability over WNA that will likely modulate glacier mass change in the future.
GIT1 contributes to autophagy in osteoclast through disruption of the binding of Beclin1 and Bcl2 under starvation condition
Authors: Zhao Shu-Jie , Kong Fan-Qi , Cai Wei , Xu Tao , Zhou Zhi-Min , Wang Zi-Bin , Xu An-Di , Yang Ya-Qing , Chen Jian , Tang Peng-Yu , Wang Qian , Cheng Lin , Luo Yong-Jun , Zhou Zheng , Li Lin-Wei , Huang Yi-Fan , Zhao Xuan , Yin Guo-Yong , Xue Ming-Xin , Fan Jin 
Published: December 2018

AbstractApproximately 10–15% of all bone fractures do not heal properly, causing patient morbidity and additional medical care expenses. Therefore, better mechanism-based fracture repair approaches are needed. In this study, a reduced number of osteoclasts (OCs) and autophagosomes/autolysosomes in OC can be observed in GPCR kinase 2-interacting protein 1 (GIT1) knockout (KO) mice on days 21 and 28 post-fracture, compared with GIT1 wild-type (GIT1 WT) mice. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that GIT1 contributes to OC autophagy under starvation conditions. Mechanistically, GIT1 interacted with Beclin1 and promoted Beclin1 phosphorylation at Thr119, which induced the disruption of Beclin1 and Bcl2 binding under starvation conditions, thereby, positively regulating autophagy. Taken together, the findings suggest a previously unappreciated role of GIT1 in autophagy of OCs during fracture repair. Targeting GIT1 may be a potential therapeutic approach for bone fractures.
RNA helicases mediate structural transitions and compositional changes in pre-ribosomal complexes
Authors: Brüning Lukas , Hackert Philipp , Martin Roman , Davila Gallesio Jimena , Aquino Gerald Ryan R. , Urlaub Henning , Sloan Katherine E. , Bohnsack Markus T. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractProduction of eukaryotic ribosomal subunits is a highly dynamic process; pre-ribosomes undergo numerous structural rearrangements that establish the architecture present in mature complexes and serve as key checkpoints, ensuring the fidelity of ribosome assembly. Using in vivo crosslinking, we here identify the pre-ribosomal binding sites of three RNA helicases. Our data support roles for Has1 in triggering release of the U14 snoRNP, a critical event during early 40S maturation, and in driving assembly of domain I of pre-60S complexes. Binding of Mak5 to domain II of pre-60S complexes promotes recruitment of the ribosomal protein Rpl10, which is necessary for subunit joining and ribosome function. Spb4 binds to a molecular hinge at the base of ES27 facilitating binding of the export factor Arx1, thereby promoting pre-60S export competence. Our data provide important insights into the driving forces behind key structural remodelling events during ribosomal subunit assembly.
Genome-wide DNA Methylation and RNAseq Analyses Identify Aberrant Signalling Pathways in Focal Cortical Dysplasia (FCD) Type II
Authors: Dixit Aparna Banerjee , Sharma Devina , Tripathi Manjari , Srivastava Arpna , Paul Debasmita , Prakash Deepak , Sarkar Chitra , Kumar Krishan , Banerjee Jyotirmoy , Chandra P. Sarat 
Published: December 2018

AbstractFocal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is one of the most common pathologies associated with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). The pharmacological targets remain obscured, as the molecular mechanisms underlying FCD are unclear. Implications of epigenetically modulated aberrant gene expression in disease progression are reported in various DRE pathologies except FCD. Here we performed genome-wide CpG-DNA methylation profiling by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) microarray and RNA sequencing (RNAseq) on cortical tissues resected from FCD type II patients. A total of 19088 sites showed altered DNA methylation in all the CpG islands. Of these, 5725 sites were present in the promoter regions, of which 176 genes showed an inverse correlation between methylation and gene expression. Many of these 176 genes were found to belong to a cohesive network of physically interacting proteins linked to several cellular functions. Pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), EGFR, PDGFRA, NTRK3, and mTOR signalling pathways. This is the first study that investigates the epigenetic signature associated with FCD type II pathology. The candidate genes and pathways identified in this study may play a crucial role in the regulation of the pathogenic mechanisms of epileptogenesis associated with FCD type II pathologies.
Targeted expression of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin improves the production of tropane alkaloids in Hyoscyamus niger hairy roots
Authors: Guo Zhiying , Tan Hexin , Lv Zongyou , Ji Qian , Huang Yuxiang , Liu Jingjing , Chen Donghong , Diao Yong , Si Jinping , Zhang Lei 
Published: December 2018

AbstractUnder hypoxic conditions, the expression of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) in plants is proposed to increase the productivity of certain oxygen-requiring metabolic pathways by promoting the delivery of oxygen. Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are a class of important plant secondary metabolites with significant medicinal value; the final step in their biosynthesis requires oxygen. Whether heterologous expression of VHb, especially in different subcellular compartments, can accelerate the accumulation of TAs is not known. Herein, the effect of heterologous expression of VHb in different subcellular locations on the TA profile of H. niger hairy roots was investigated. The targeted expression of VHb in the plastids (using pVHb-RecA construct), led to the accumulation of 197.68 μg/g hyoscyamine in the transgenic H. niger hairy roots, which was 1.25-fold of the content present in the lines in which VHb expression was not targeted, and 3.66-fold of that present in the wild type (WT) lines. The content of scopolamine was increased by 2.20- and 4.70-fold in the pVHb-RecA transgenic lines compared to that in the VHb transgenic and WT lines. Our results demonstrate that VHb could stimulate the accumulation of TAs in the transgenic H. niger hairy roots. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression of key genes involved in TA biosynthesis increased significantly in the VHb transgenic lines. We present the first description of a highly efficient strategy to increase TA content in H. niger. Moreover, our results also shed light on how the production of desired metabolites can be efficiently enhanced by using more accurate and appropriate genetic engineering strategies.
lncRNA profile study reveals the mRNAs and lncRNAs associated with docetaxel resistance in breast cancer cells
Authors: Huang Peide , Li Fengyu , Li Lin , You Yuling , Luo Shizhi , Dong Zhensheng , Gao Qiang , Wu Song , Brünner Nils , Stenvang Jan 
Published: December 2018

AbstractResistance to adjuvant systemic treatment, including taxanes (docetaxel and paclitaxel) is a major clinical problem for breast cancer patients. lncRNAs (long non-coding RNAs) are non-coding transcripts, which have recently emerged as important players in a variety of biological processes, including cancer development and chemotherapy resistance. However, the contribution of lncRNAs to docetaxel resistance in breast cancer and the relationship between lncRNAs and taxane-resistance genes are still unclear. Here, we performed comprehensive RNA sequencing and analyses on two docetaxel-resistant breast cancer cell lines (MCF7-RES and MDA-RES) and their docetaxel-sensitive parental cell lines. We identified protein coding genes and pathways that may contribute to docetaxel resistance. More importantly, we identified lncRNAs that were consistently up-regulated or down-regulated in both the MCF7-RES and MDA-RES cells. The co-expression network and location analyses pinpointed four overexpressed lncRNAs located within or near the ABCB1 (ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1) locus, which might up-regulate the expression of ABCB1. We also identified the lncRNA EPB41L4A-AS2 (EPB41L4A Antisense RNA 2) as a potential biomarker for docetaxel sensitivity. These findings have improved our understanding of the mechanisms underlying docetaxel resistance in breast cancer and have provided potential biomarkers to predict the response to docetaxel in breast cancer patients.
Integrated analysis of microRNA and mRNA expression profiles in splenomegaly induced by non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in rats
Authors: Saruwatari Junji , Dong Chao , Utsumi Teruo , Tanaka Masatake , McConnell Matthew , Iwakiri Yasuko 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe spleen plays an important role in the immune and hematopoietic systems. Splenomegaly is a frequent consequence of portal hypertension, but the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we have performed a whole-genome microarray analysis combined with histological examination in enlarged spleens isolated from rats with partial portal vein ligation (PPVL) surgery to provide comprehensive profiles of microRNAs and their target mRNAs with a focus on their potential biological functions. A total of 964 mRNAs and 30 microRNAs showed significant differential expression in the spleens of PPVL rats compared to rats undergoing a sham procedure. Twenty-two down-regulated microRNAs were associated with significantly increased genes highly involved in fibrogenic activity and cell proliferation/migration (e.g., Ctgf, Serpine1, Col1a1). Consistently, histological analyses demonstrated increased splenic fibrosis and cell proliferation in the spleens of PPVL rats. Eight up-regulated microRNAs were associated with suppression of genes that are related to interferon-mediated antiviral activity in innate immune responses (e.g., Irf7, Dhx58). In conclusion, we determined a specific microRNA-mRNA network potentially implicated in the tissue fibrosis and cell proliferation in portal hypertension-induced splenomegaly. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanisms for regulation of spleen structure and function.
Impact of combined ischemic preconditioning and remote ischemic perconditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury after liver transplantation
Authors: Li Ding-yang , Liu Wen-tao , Wang Guang-yi , Shi Xiao-ju 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIschemic preconditioning (IPC) and remote ischemic perconditioning (RIPer) confer protective effects against liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), but data about RIPer applying in liver transplantation is lacking. The study aimed to evaluate whether the combination of IPC and RIPer provides reinforced protective effects. C57BL/6 mice (160 pairs) were allocated into four groups: control, subjected to liver transplantation only; IPC, donor hilar was clamped for 10 min followed by 15 min of reperfusion; RIPer, three cycles of occlusion (5 min) and opening (5 min) of femoral vascular bundle were performed before reperfusion; IPC + RIPer, donors and recipients were subjected to IPC and RIPer respectively. Liver tissues were obtained for histological evaluation, TUNEL staining, malondialdehyde assays, GSH-Px assays, and NF-κB p65 protein and Bcl-2/Bax mRNA analyses. Blood samples were used to evaluate ALT, AST, TNF-α, NOx levels and flow cytometry. We found that protective efficacy of RIPer is less than IPC in terms of ALT, TNF-α, GSH-Px and NOx at 2 h postoperation, but almost equivalent at 24 h and 72 h postoperation. Except for Suzuki scores, ALT, Bcl-2/Bax mRNA ratio, other indices showed that combined treatment brought enhanced attenuation in IRI, compared with single treatment, through additive effects on antioxidation, anti-apoptosis, modulation of microcirculation disturbance, and inhibition of innate immune response. This study suggested a combined strategy that could enhance protection against IRI in clinical liver transplantation, otherwise, provided a hint that RIPer’s mechanism might be partly or totally different from IPC in humoral pathway.
Regulation of Myosin-5b by Rab11a and the Rab11 family interacting protein 2
Authors: Ji Huan-Hong , Yao Lin-Lin , Liu Chang , Li Xiang-dong 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
Mammalian myosin-5b (Myo5b) plays a critical role in the recycling of endosomes to the plasma membrane via the interactions with Rab11a and the Rab11 family interacting protein 2 (FIP2). However, it remains unclear on how Rab11a and FIP2 are coordinated in tethering Myo5b with the vesicles and activating the motor function of Myo5b. In the present study, we show that Rab11a binds to the globular tail domain (GTD) of Myo5b and this binding abolishes the head–GTD interaction of Myo5b, thus activating the motor function of Myo5b. On the other hand, FIP2 directly interacts with both Rab11a and the tail of Myo5b, and the binding of FIP2 to Myo5b does not affect Myo5b motor function. Moreover, Rab11a displays higher affinity to FIP2 than to Myo5b, suggesting that Rab11a binds preferentially to FIP2 than to Myo5b. Based on the current findings, we propose that the association of Myo5b with vesicles is mediated by FIP2, which bridges Myo5b and the membrane-bound Rab11a, whereas the motor function of Myo5b is regulated by Rab11a.