bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduced olfactory bulb volume in depression—A structural moderator analysis
Authors: Rottstädt Fabian , Han Pengfei , Weidner Kerstin , Schellong Julia , Wolff‐Stephan Sylvia , Strauß Timmy , Kitzler Hagen , Hummel Thomas , Croy Ilona 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundRemoval of the olfactory bulb (OB) leads to depression like behavior in rodents. A link between depression and olfactory function is also established in humans. We hypothesized that the human OB volume relates to depressive state and tested whether such a potential coherence is moderated by structural alterations in other brain regions.MethodsEighty‐three participants (32 patients with major depression and 51 matched healthy controls) underwent structural MR scanning. Individual OB volumes were compared between patients and controls and the impact of depression and comorbidity was analyzed with multiple regression analysis. Whole‐brain voxel‐based morphometry revealed structures co‐varying with both depressive state and OB volume.ResultsThe OB volume of patients was significantly reduced and this reduction averaged out at 17% compared to the controls. The OB volume was correlated to the volume of the insula, superior temporal cortex, and amygdala. The independent variables of depression (β = −.37), age (β = −.25), and gender (β = −.40) explained the individual OB volume variation (R2 = .37). The correlation between OB volume and depression was moderated by volumetric reductions in a cluster including the insula and superior temporal gyrus (STG).ConclusionsThe OB volume relates to depression in humans and to the volume of structures which are critical for salience detection. We assume that a reduced OB volume causes diminished neural olfactory input which facilitates volume reduction in the insula and STG. The OB volume may hence constitute a factor of vulnerability to depression. Olfactory‐based deep brain stimulation is discussed as a future therapeutic approach.
Impact of maternal HIV on umbilical cord lactate measurement at delivery in a South African labor ward
Authors: Allanson Emma R. , Pattinson Robert C. , Nathan Elizabeth A. , Dickinson Jan E. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo assess umbilical artery lactate levels and perinatal outcomes among women with and without HIV infection.MethodsThe present prospective cohort study recruited women planning to undergo vaginal delivery at Kalafong Hospital, South Africa, between March 3 and November 12, 2014. Umbilical artery lactate levels were measured and perinatal outcome data were recorded. Outcome analyses were stratified by maternal HIV status, and a subgroup analysis was performed where women with a CD4 count below 350 × 106 cells/L were compared with women without HIV.ResultsIn total, 936 women with singleton fetuses were enrolled. Maternal HIV status was available for 897 (95.8%) participants, of whom 202 (21.6%) had HIV infections. Overall, 186 (92.1%) women with HIV infections received prophylaxis or treatment. There was no difference between participants with and without HIV infections in the preterm delivery rate (P=0.770), mode of delivery (P=0.354), neonatal resuscitation rate (P=0.717), 1‐ or 5‐minute Apgar scores below 7 (P=0.353), or the rate of having an umbilical artery lactate level above 5.45 mmol/L (P=0.301). Similarly, there were no differences in outcomes in the subgroup analysis of women with a CD4 count below 350 × 106 cells/L.ConclusionUmbilical artery lactate levels and perinatal outcomes were found to be comparable between patients with and without HIV infections in a South African setting.
Size‐dependent superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles dictate interleukin‐1β release from mouse bone marrow‐derived macrophages
Authors: Chen Shuzhen , Chen Suyun , Zeng Yun , Lin Lin , Wu Chuang , Ke Yanyan , Liu Gang 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSuperparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been widely investigated for their biomedical applications in magnetic resonance imaging, targeting therapy, cell labeling, etc. It has been well documented that macrophages produce interleukin (IL)‐1β via several signaling pathways, such as inflammasome activation in response to particles including silica, asbestos and urea crystals with lipopolysaccharide priming. However, the size and dose effects of SPIONs on macrophages and the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we explored the cytotoxicity and mechanisms of the synthesized SPIONs with different size distributions of 30, 80 and 120 nm, and compared their potential capability in inducing IL‐1β release in mouse bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMMs). We found that SPIONs induced IL‐1β release in a size‐ and dose‐dependent manner, in which the smallest SPIONs triggered the highest IL‐1β in BMMs. When cellular uptake of SPIONs was inhibited by the actin polymerization inhibitor, cytochalasin D, SPION‐induced IL‐1β release was suppressed in BMMs. Preventing lysosome damage with bafilomycin A1 or CA‐074‐Me also counteracted SPION‐induced IL‐1β release. Moreover, SPION‐activated IL‐1β release was also attenuated by reactive oxygen species scavengers, diphenylene iodonium or N‐acetylcysteine. Our results elucidated the effects of size and dose on the cytotoxicity and mechanisms of IL‐1β release of SPIONs on macrophages, which facilitate the theoretical and experimental application of SPIONs in biotechnology and biomedicine in the future.
Morphology and ultrastructure of the esophagus during the ontogeny of the spider crab Maja brachydactyla (Decapoda, Brachyura, Majidae)
Authors: Castejón Diego , Rotllant Guiomar , Ribes Enric , Durfort Mercè , Guerao Guillermo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe esophagus of the eucrustaceans is known as a short tube that connects the mouth with the stomach but has generally received little attention by the carcinologists, especially during the larval stages. By this reason, the present study is focused on the morphology and ultrastructure of the esophagus in the brachyuran Maja brachydactyla during the larval development and adult stage. The esophagus shows internally four longitudinal folds. The simple columnar epithelium is covered by a thick cuticle. The epithelial cells of the adults are intensively interdigitated and show abundant apical mitochondria and bundles of filamentous structures. The cuticle surface has microspines and mutually exclusive pores. Three muscle layers surrounded by the connective tissue are reported: circular muscles forming a broad continuous band, longitudinal muscle bundles adjacent to the circular muscles, and dilator muscles crossing the connective tissue vertically toward the epithelium. The connective tissue has rosette glands. The esophagus of the larvae have epithelial cells with big vesicles but poorly developed interdigitations and filamentous structures, the cuticle is formed by a procuticle without differentiated exocuticle and endocuticle, the connective layer is thin and the rosette glands are absent. The observed features can be explained by his role in the swallowing of the food.
Quantification of hand synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis: Arterial mask subtraction reinforced with mutual information can improve accuracy of pixel‐by‐pixel time–intensity curve shape analysis in dynamic MRI
Authors: Kobayashi Yuto , Kamishima Tamotsu , Sugimori Hiroyuki , Ichikawa Shota , Noguchi Atsushi , Kono Michihito , Iiyama Toshitake , Sutherland Kenneth , Atsumi Tatsuya 
Published: March 2018

BackgroundSynovitis, which is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), needs to be precisely quantified to determine the treatment plan. Time–intensity curve (TIC) shape analysis is an objective assessment method for characterizing the pixels as artery, inflamed synovium, or other tissues using dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI).Purpose/HypothesisTo assess the feasibility of our original arterial mask subtraction method (AMSM) with mutual information (MI) for quantification of synovitis in RA.Study TypeProspective study.SubjectsTen RA patients (nine women and one man; mean age, 56.8 years; range, 38–67 years).Field Strength/Sequence3T/DCE‐MRI.AssessmentAfter optimization of TIC shape analysis to the hand region, a combination of TIC shape analysis and AMSM was applied to synovial quantification. The MI between pre‐ and postcontrast images was utilized to determine the arterial mask phase objectively, which was compared with human subjective selection. The volume of objectively measured synovitis by software was compared with that of manual outlining by an experienced radiologist. Simple TIC shape analysis and TIC shape analysis combined with AMSM were compared in slices without synovitis according to subjective evaluation.Statistical TestsPearson's correlation coefficient, paired t‐test and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsTIC shape analysis was successfully optimized in the hand region with a correlation coefficient of 0.725 (P < 0.01) with the results of manual assessment regarded as ground truth. Objective selection utilizing MI had substantial agreement (ICC = 0.734) with subjective selection. Correlation of synovial volumetry in combination with TIC shape analysis and AMSM with manual assessment was excellent (r = 0.922, P < 0.01). In addition, negative predictive ability in slices without synovitis pixels was significantly increased (P < 0.01).Data ConclusionsThe combination of TIC shape analysis and image subtraction reinforced with MI can accurately quantify synovitis of RA in the hand by eliminating arterial pixels.Level of Evidence: 2Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:687–694.
Trendbericht Physikalische Chemie 2017: Elektronenspektroskopie an Lithiumionenbatterien
Authors: Hausbrand René 
Published: March 2018

AbstractElektronenspektroskopische Analysen an Batteriegrenzflächen liefern Informationen über deren elektronische Struktur und chemische Reaktivität. Elektronisch höchst angeregte Moleküle lassen sich mit Photoassoziationsspektroskopie untersuchen. Fortschritte in Experiment und Theorie vertiefen das Verständnis für die hochdimensionale Dynamik atomarer und molekularer Tunnelprozesse.
Trendbericht Theoretische Chemie 2017: Quantenchemie für Funktionsmaterialien
Authors: Tonner Ralf 
Published: March 2018

AbstractQuantenchemische Untersuchungen an Funktionsmaterialien leisten Beiträge zu deren konzeptionellem Verständnis und geben Impulse für neue Experimente. Multiskalensimulationen helfen dabei, organische Solarzellen zu optimieren. Bei Moleküldynamik‐Simulationen besteht heute die Herausforderung vor allem in der statistischen Analyse des resultierenden hochdimensionalen Datensatzes.
Optimal zeroing dynamics with applications to control of serial and parallel manipulators
Authors: Zhang Yunong , Li Jian , Li Shuai , Chen Dechao , He Liangyu 
Published: March 2018

SummaryThe appearance of robot manipulators has dramatically improved the productivity in manufacturing. Serial and parallel manipulators are 2 classes of most popularly investigated manipulators, which have been playing an important role in robotic domain for a long time. Optimal control theory is a widely employed method that can achieve the objective constrained by some equations as subtasks, whereas zeroing dynamics is another powerful method to solve time‐varying problems with an exponential rate of error convergence. Intuitively, the cross‐fertilization of optimal control theory and zeroing dynamics may reach the capability to deal with time‐varying problem in a cost‐optimal manner. In this paper, we make progress along this direction by combining the optimal control theory and zeroing dynamics to propose a novel method called optimal zeroing dynamics for motion control of manipulators. The proposed method is applied to the control of serial and parallel manipulators, and the corresponding results have illustrated high accuracy and low sensitivity of the proposed optimal zeroing dynamics to disturbances.
The challenge of the management of adolescents and young adults with soft tissue sarcomas
Authors: Ferrari Andrea , Bleyer Archie , Patel Shreyaskumar , Chiaravalli Stefano , Gasparini Patrizia , Casanova Michela 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSoft tissue sarcomas are relatively frequent in adolescents and young adults and their clinical management may be complex, partly due to tumor associated factors, but also because different approaches have been adopted by pediatric and adult medical oncologists dealing with the same disease. However, times are changing and in the last few years, management has tended to converge towards a common strategy. Continued and increased international collaboration between pediatric and adult sarcoma groups is of critical importance to improve the quality of treatment as well as research programs dedicated to young patients with soft tissue sarcomas.
The impact of permissive and restrictive pharmaceutical policies on quetiapine dispensing: Evaluating a policy pendulum using interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Brett Jonathan , Schaffer Andrea , Dobbins Timothy , Buckley Nicholas A. , Pearson Sallie‐Anne 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the impact of 2 policy changes on quetiapine dispensing in Australia: removal of prior authorisation for prescribing (policy 1: July 2007) and removal of repeat prescriptions for 25‐mg quetiapine (policy 2: January 2014).MethodsWe performed an interrupted time series analysis using Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme claims data (July 2005 to December 2015). We assessed the impact of both policies on monthly quetiapine dispensing (25 mg and >25 mg) and the impact of policy change 2 on monthly rates of 25‐mg discontinuation and switching from 25 mg to other quetiapine strengths. We also estimated the impact of both policies on the proportion of people with potentially inappropriate therapy (no evidence of dose escalation) following 25‐mg initiation.ResultsFollowing removal of prior authorisation, 25‐mg and >25‐mg quetiapine dispensing in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme 10% sample increased by 11/month (95% CI: 2–21) and 14/month (95% CI: 8–20), respectively. After removing 25‐mg repeats, there was a permanent decrease of 1072 (95% CI 773–1371) dispensings and an increase in discontinuation of this strength; 48% of people dispensed the 25‐mg strength that discontinued, discontinued quetiapine completely; the remainder continued to use higher quetiapine strengths. We observed minimal switching to other quetiapine strengths. There was no change in inappropriate 25‐mg therapy following policy change 1 and a small decrease (79% to 76%, P = 0.05) following policy change 2.ConclusionMore nuanced policies are needed to ensure the appropriate access to 25‐mg quetiapine for dose escalation while discouraging use for indications where the evidence of risk and benefit is unclear.
Lipid membrane interactions of a fluorinated peptide with potential ion channel‐forming ability
Authors: Auger Maud , Lefèvre Thierry , Otis François , Voyer Normand , Auger Michèle 
Published: March 2018

AbstractFluorinated peptides attract much interest in the biomedical area because they generally exhibit an enhanced stability compared to their hydrogenated counterparts and because fluorine atoms represent efficient probes to investigate peptide assemblies, especially in membranes. We previously designed and characterized a fluorinated peptide intended to form ion channels in membranes. This peptide, designated as LX2, adopts a predominantly α‐helical structure and acts as a selective ion channel for various cations. Molecular dynamics indicated that the peptide tetrameric form would be favored. However, the interactions of LX2 with model membranes have not been studied experimentally. Here we investigated the interactions of LX2 and its acetylated form, Ac‐LX2, with eukaryotic model membranes using CD and infrared spectroscopy, as well as 19F, 2H, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. 19F NMR results indicate that the peptides undergo restrained motions in the presence of membranes, which strongly suggests their insertion in membranes. Both LX2 and Ac‐LX2 adopt a well‐defined α‐helical structure, in contrast with the secondary structure observed in hexafluoroisopropanol. The alterations of lipid organization due to LX2 peptides appear overall relatively small but the results suggest that the two peptides are located in the membrane hydrophobic core, LX2 being closer to the interfacial region than Ac‐LX2.
The use of pharmacogenomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics to improve childhood asthma management: Where do we stand?
Authors: Farzan Niloufar , Vijverberg Susanne J. , Kabesch Michael , Sterk Peter J. , Maitland‐van der Zee Anke H. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAsthma is a complex multifactorial disease and it is the most common chronic disease in children. There is a high variability in response to asthma treatment, even in patients with good adherence to maintenance treatment, and a correct inhalation technique. Distinct underlying disease mechanisms in childhood asthma might be the reason of this heterogeneity. A deeper knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms of asthma has led to the recent development of advanced and mechanism‐based treatments such as biologicals. However, biologicals are recommended only for patients with specific asthma phenotypes who remain uncontrolled despite high dosages of conventional asthma treatment. One of the main unmet needs in their application is lack of clinically available biomarkers to individualize pediatric asthma management and guide treatment. Pharmacogenomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics are three omics fields that are rapidly advancing and can provide tools to identify novel asthma mechanisms and biomarkers to guide treatment. Pharmacogenomics focuses on variants in the DNA, epigenomics studies heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence but lead to alteration of gene expression, and transcriptomics investigates gene expression by studying the complete set of mRNA transcripts in a cell or a population of cells. Advances in high‐throughput technologies and statistical tools together with well‐phenotyped patient inclusion and collaborations between different centers will expand our knowledge of underlying molecular mechanisms involved in disease onset and progress. Furthermore, it could help to select and stratify appropriate therapeutic strategies for subgroups of patients and hopefully bring precision medicine to daily practice.
Montelukast reverses airway remodeling in actively sensitized young mice
Authors: Debelleix Stephane , Siao‐Him Fa Valérie , Begueret Hugues , Berger Patrick , Kamaev Andy , Ousova Olga , Marthan Roger , Fayon Michael 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAsthma is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation leading to airway remodeling (AR). In children, AR may occur very early prior to the age of 6 years. Treatments to prevent or reverse AR are unknown.AimWe sought to determine (i) whether short allergenic sensitization at a young age in a mouse model may induce enhanced AR and inflammation compared to adults; (ii) the effect of Montelukast on such AR.MethodsImmature and adult Balb/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. AHR and AR were measured using cultured precision‐cut lung slices and inflammation by bronchoalveolar lavage. Experiments were repeated after administration of Montelukast.ResultsOVA‐challenged mice developed AHR to methacholine regardless of age of first exposure to OVA. Young mice developed greater thickened basement membrane, increased smooth muscle mass, and increased area of bronchovascular fibrosis compared with adult mice. Cellular infiltrates in BAL differed depending upon animal age at first exposure with higher eosinophilia measured in younger animals. Montelukast decreased ASM mass, BAL cellularity.ConclusionWe provide thus evidence for a greater degree of AR after allergenic sensitization and challenge in younger mice versus adults. This study provides proof of concept that airway remodeling can be prevented and reversed in this case by anti‐asthmatic drug Montelukast in this model.
Efficiency of physiotherapy with Caycedian Sophrology on children with asthma: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Romieu Huguette , Charbonnier Françoise , Janka Dora , Douillard Aymeric , Macioce Valérie , Lavastre Kathleen , Abassi Hamouda , Renoux Marie‐Catherine , Mura Thibault , Amedro Pascal 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundAsthma is the most common chronic disease in pediatrics. Along with the usual drug therapy using corticosteroids and bronchodilators, some interest has been shown for adjuvant therapies, such as sophrology. However, the level of evidence for non‐pharmaceutical therapies in asthma remains low, especially in children. This study aimed to assess whether in children with asthma, peak expiratory flow (PEF) improved more after a sophrology session alongside standard treatment than after standard treatment alone.MethodsWe carried out a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial among 74 children aged 6‐17 years old, hospitalized for an asthma attack. Group 1: conventional treatment (oxygen, corticosteroids, bronchodilators, physiotherapy) added to one session of sophrology. Group 2: conventional treatment alone. The primary outcome was the PEF variation between the initial and final evaluations (PEF2‐PEF1).ResultsDemographic and clinical characteristics were similar in both groups at baseline. Measures before and after the sophrology session showed that the PEF increased by mean 30 L/min in the sophrology group versus 20 L/min in the control group (P = 0.02). Oxygen saturation increased by 1% versus 0% (P = 0.02) and the dyspnea score with visual analogue scale improved by two points point (P = 0.01). No differences were observed between the two groups in terms of duration of hospitalization, use and doses of conventional medical treatment (oxygen, corticosteroids, and bronchodilators), and quality of life scores.ConclusionsSophrology appears as a promising adjuvant therapy to current guideline‐based treatment for asthma in children.
Endolysosomal‐Escape Nanovaccines through Adjuvant‐Induced Tumor Antigen Assembly for Enhanced Effector CD8+ T Cell Activation
Authors: Qiu Liping , Valente Michael , Dolen Yusuf , Jäger Eliezer , Beest Martin ter , Zheng Liyan , Figdor Carl G. , Verdoes Martijn 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe activation of tumor‐specific effector immune cells is key for successful immunotherapy and vaccination is a powerful strategy to induce such adaptive immune responses. However, the generation of effective anticancer vaccines is challenging. To overcome these challenges, a novel straight‐forward strategy of adjuvant‐induced tumor antigen assembly to generate nanovaccines with superior antigen/adjuvant loading efficiency is developed. To protect nanovaccines in circulation and to introduce additional functionalities, a biocompatible polyphenol coating is installed. The resulting functionalizable nanovaccines are equipped with a pH (low) insertion peptide (pHLIP) to facilitate endolysosomal escape and to promote cytoplasmic localization, with the aim to enhance cross‐presentation of the antigen by dendritic cells to effectively activate CD8+ T cell. The results demonstrate that pHLIP‐functionalized model nanovaccine can induce endolysosomal escape and enhance CD8+ T cell activation both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, based on the adjuvant‐induced antigen assembly, nanovaccines of the clinically relevant tumor‐associated antigen NY‐ESO‐1 are generated and show excellent capacity to elicit NY‐ESO‐1‐specific CD8+ T cell activation, demonstrating a high potential of this functionalizable nanovaccine formulation strategy for clinical applications.