bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sialyltransferase7A promotes angiotensin II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via HIF-1α-TAK1 signalling pathway
Authors: Yan Xiaoying , Zhao Ran , Feng Xiaorong , Mu Jingzhou , Li Ying , Chen Yue , Li Chunmei , Yao Qiying , Cai Lijie , Jin Lingling , Han Chuanchun , Zhang Dongmei 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimsSialylation is up-regulated during the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Sialyltransferase7A (Siat7A) mRNA is consistently over-expressed in the hypertrophic left ventricle of hypertensive rats independently of genetic background. The aims of this study were: (i) to detect the Siat7A protein levels and its roles in the pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy; (ii) to elucidate the effect of sialylation mediated by Siat7A on the transforming-growth-factor-β-activated kinase (TAK1) expression and activity in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy; and (iii) to clarify hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) expression was regulated by Siat7A and transactivated TAK1 expression in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.Methods and resultsSiat7A protein level was increased in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes of human and rats subjected to chronic infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II). Delivery of adeno-associated viral (AAV9) bearing shRNA against rat Siat7A into the left ventricular wall inhibited ventricular hypertrophy. Cardiac-specific Siat7A overexpression via intravenous injection of an AAV9 vector encoding Siat7A under the cardiac troponin T (cTNT) promoter aggravated cardiac hypertrophy in ANG II-treated rats. In vitro, Siat7A knockdown inhibited the induction of Sialyl-Tn (sTn) antigen and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy stimulated by ANG II. Mechanistically, ANG II induced the activation of TAK1-nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signalling in parallel to up-regulation of Siat7A in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. Siat7A knockdown inhibited activation of TAK1-NF-κB pathway. Interestingly, HIF-1α expression was increased in cardiomyocytes stimulated by ANG II but decreased after Siat7A knockdown. HIF-1α knockdown efficiently decreased TAK1 expression. ChIP and luciferase assays showed that HIF-1α transactivated the TAK1 promoter region (nt −1285 to −1274 bp) in the cardiomyocytes following ANG II stimulus.ConclusionSiat7A was up-regulated in hypertrophic myocardium and promoted cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via activation of the HIF-1α-TAK1-NF-κB pathway.
Surgery-first treatment improves clinical results in infective endocarditis complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulation†
Authors: Yokoyama Junya , Yoshioka Daisuke , Toda Koichi , Matsuura Ryohei , Suzuki Kota , Samura Takaaki , Miyagawa Shigeru , Yoshikawa Yasushi , Takano Hiroshi , Matsumiya Goro , Sakaguchi Taichi , Fukuda Hirotsugu , Takahashi Toshiki , Izutani Hironori , Funatsu Toshihiro , Nishi Hiroyuki ,   OSCAR Study Group, Sawa Yoshiki 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a critical infection with a high mortality rate, and it usually causes sepsis. Though disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) sometimes occurs in IE patients, no definitive treatment strategy for IE patients with DIC as a complication exists. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence, surgical results and treatment strategy for IE complicated with DIC.

METHODS:
Between 2009 and 2017, a total of 585 patients undergoing valve surgery for active IE were enrolled at 14 institutions, of whom 116 (20%) had DIC as a complication. For further evaluation, we divided DIC patients into medical treatment-first (n = 45, group M) and valve surgery-first (n = 51, group S) groups after excluding 20 patients with intracranial haemorrhage.

RESULTS:
The overall survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 91% and 85% in the non-DIC group and 65% and 55% in the DIC group, respectively (P < 0.001). Recurrence-free survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 99% and 95% in the non-DIC group and 94% and 74% in the DIC group, respectively (P < 0.001). The overall survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 77% and 64% in group S and 51% and 46% in group M, respectively (P = 0.032). Multivariable analysis revealed that ‘medical treatment first’ was an exclusive independent risk factor [hazards ratio 2.26 (1.13–4.75), P = 0.024] for overall mortality.

CONCLUSIONS:
Mortality and IE recurrence were statistically significantly higher in DIC patients. Valve surgery should not be delayed because most patients proceeding with medical treatment eventually require emergency surgery and their clinical outcomes are worse than those of patients undergoing early surgery.
Clinical outcomes of paediatric patients supported by the Berlin Heart EXCOR: a systematic review
Authors: Rohde Sofie , Antonides Christiaan F J , Dalinghaus Michiel , Muslem Rahatullah , Bogers Ad J J C 
Published: March 2019

SummaryVentricular assist devices (VADs) are widely accepted as therapy to bridge children to heart transplantation. We provide a systematic review of the current state of clinical outcomes in children after paediatric VAD support by the Berlin Heart EXCOR (BH EXCOR) device. A systematic literature search was performed in April 2018. Studies reporting clinical outcomes in at least 15 children supported by a BH EXCOR VAD were included. Additionally, we focused on outcomes in small children and compared outcomes of children supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) versus children supported by a biventricular assist device (BiVAD). Eighteen publications fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Mortality rates ranged from 6.3% [confidence interval (CI) 0.0–18.1%] to 38.9% (2.8–75.0%) while transplantation rates ranged from 37.0% (CI 18.8–55.2%) to 72.5% (CI 63.9–81.2%) and successful weaning rates from 0.0% to 20.7% (CI 6.0–35.5%). In children under 1 year of age, mortality rates ranged from 20.0% to 55.5% and transplantation rates ranged from 0.0% to 62.5%. BiVAD support seemed to result in worse clinical outcomes than LVAD support. Incidence of stroke ranged from 5.0% to 47.0% in all children supported with the BH EXCOR. Although a high incidence of adverse events such as stroke and pump thrombosis is reported, VAD support should be considered in children with end-stage heart failure awaiting heart transplantation. Further research is warranted, especially on optimal timing of device implantation and anticoagulation regimens.
Impact of combined plaque structural stress and wall shear stress on coronary plaque progression, regression, and changes in composition
Authors: Costopoulos Charis , Timmins Lucas H , Huang Yuan , Hung Olivia Y , Molony David S , Brown Adam J , Davis Emily L , Teng Zhongzhao , Gillard Jonathan H , Samady Habib , Bennett Martin R 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Aims
The focal distribution of atherosclerotic plaques suggests that local biomechanical factors may influence plaque development.

Methods and results
We studied 40 patients at baseline and over 12 months by virtual-histology intravascular ultrasound and bi-plane coronary angiography. We calculated plaque structural stress (PSS), defined as the mean of the maximum principal stress at the peri-luminal region, and wall shear stress (WSS), defined as the parallel frictional force exerted by blood flow on the endothelial surface, in areas undergoing progression or regression. Changes in plaque area, plaque burden (PB), necrotic core (NC), fibrous tissue (FT), fibrofatty tissue, and dense calcium were calculated for each co-registered frame. A total of 4029 co-registered frames were generated. In areas with progression, high PSS was associated with larger increases in NC and small increases in FT vs. low PSS (difference in ΔNC: 0.24 ± 0.06 mm2; P &lt; 0.0001, difference in ΔFT: −0.15 ± 0.08 mm2; P = 0.049). In areas with regression, high PSS was associated with increased NC and decreased FT (difference in ΔNC: 0.15 ± 0.04; P = 0.0005, difference in ΔFT: −0.31 ± 0.06 mm2; P &lt; 0.0001). Low WSS was associated with increased PB vs. high WSS in areas with progression (difference in ΔPB: 3.3 ± 0.4%; P &lt; 0.001) with a similar pattern observed in areas with regression (difference in ΔPB: 1.2 ± 0.4%; P = 0.004). Plaque structural stress and WSS were largely independent of each other (R 2 = 0.002; P = 0.001).

Conclusion
Areas with high PSS are associated with compositional changes consistent with increased plaque vulnerability. Areas with low WSS are associated with more plaque growth in areas that progress and less plaque loss in areas that regress. The interplay of PSS and WSS may govern important changes in plaque size and composition.
The association between future time perspective and sexual behaviours in individuals attending HIV testing centres
Authors: Guillon Marlène , Fouéré Sébastien , Segouin Christophe , Simon Anne 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
Most European countries are still facing a high burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cases each year. Available literature has found associations between time preference, i.e. the relative weight given by individuals to future outcomes compared to present ones, and various health behaviours such as tobacco or alcohol consumption, vaccination or participation in cancer screening programmes. Our objective is to investigate the role of future preference in risky sexual behaviours.

Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires in three HIV testing centres in Paris. We collected data on sexual behaviours, risk perceptions, risk attitude, future preference (Considerations of Future Consequences scale) and socioeconomic and demographic variables. Full data for variables used in regression analyses were available for 1090 respondents. We study factors associated with condom use at the first sexual encounter, with the frequency of condom use and with the number of sexual partners.

Results
In the full sample, future preference is positively correlated with both measures of condom use while it is negatively correlated with the number of sexual partners. Decomposing the analysis by risk group, our results indicate that future preference has more impact on sexual behaviours, especially condom use, among men who have sex with men compared to heterosexual men and, to a lesser extent, compared to heterosexual women.

Conclusion
If future time perspective is confirmed as a determinant of safer sexual behaviours, prevention campaigns could be shifted towards greater information on short-term consequences of STIs.
A Multi-study Coordinated Meta-analysis of Pulmonary Function and Cognition in Aging
Authors: Duggan Emily C , Piccinin Andrea M , Clouston Sean , Koval Andriy V , Robitaille Annie , Zammit Andrea R , Wu Chenkai , Brown Cassandra L , Lee Lewina O , Finkel Deborah , Beasley William H , Kaye Jeffrey , Terrera Graciela Muniz , Katz Mindy , Lipton Richard B , Deeg Dorly , Bennett David A , Praetorius Björk Marcus , Johansson Boo , Spiro Avron , Weuve Jennifer , Hofer Scott M 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
Substantial research is dedicated to understanding the aging-related dynamics among individual differences in level, change, and variation across physical and cognitive abilities. Evaluating replicability and synthesizing these findings has been limited by differences in measurements and samples, and by study design and statistical analyses confounding between-person differences with within-person changes. In this article, we conducted a coordinated analysis and summary meta-analysis of new results on the aging-related dynamics linking pulmonary function and cognitive performance.

Methods
We performed coordinated analysis of bivariate growth models in data from 20,586 participants across eight longitudinal studies to examine individual differences in baseline level, rate of change, and occasion-specific variability in pulmonary and cognitive functioning. Results were summarized using meta-analysis.

Results
We found consistent but weak baseline and longitudinal associations in levels of pulmonary and cognitive functioning, but no associations in occasion-specific variability.

Conclusions
Results provide limited evidence for a consistent link between simultaneous changes in pulmonary and cognitive function in a normal aging population. Further research is required to understand patterns of onset of decline and differences in rates of change within and across physical and cognitive functioning domains, both within-individuals and across countries and birth cohorts. Coordinated analysis provides an efficient and rigorous approach for replicating and comparing results across independent longitudinal studies.
Nanopore sequencing of long ribosomal DNA amplicons enables portable and simple biodiversity assessments with high phylogenetic resolution across broad taxonomic scale
Authors: Krehenwinkel Henrik , Pomerantz Aaron , Henderson James B , Kennedy Susan R , Lim Jun Ying , Swamy Varun , Shoobridge Juan Diego , Graham Natalie , Patel Nipam H , Gillespie Rosemary G , Prost Stefan 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
In light of the current biodiversity crisis, DNA barcoding is developing into an essential tool to quantify state shifts in global ecosystems. Current barcoding protocols often rely on short amplicon sequences, which yield accurate identification of biological entities in a community but provide limited phylogenetic resolution across broad taxonomic scales. However, the phylogenetic structure of communities is an essential component of biodiversity. Consequently, a barcoding approach is required that unites robust taxonomic assignment power and high phylogenetic utility. A possible solution is offered by sequencing long ribosomal DNA (rDNA) amplicons on the MinION platform (Oxford Nanopore Technologies).

Findings
Using a dataset of various animal and plant species, with a focus on arthropods, we assemble a pipeline for long rDNA barcode analysis and introduce a new software (MiniBar) to demultiplex dual indexed Nanopore reads. We find excellent phylogenetic and taxonomic resolution offered by long rDNA sequences across broad taxonomic scales. We highlight the simplicity of our approach by field barcoding with a miniaturized, mobile laboratory in a remote rainforest. We also test the utility of long rDNA amplicons for analysis of community diversity through metabarcoding and find that they recover highly skewed diversity estimates.

Conclusions
Sequencing dual indexed, long rDNA amplicons on the MinION platform is a straightforward, cost-effective, portable, and universal approach for eukaryote DNA barcoding. Although bulk community analyses using long-amplicon approaches may introduce biases, the long rDNA amplicons approach signifies a powerful tool for enabling the accurate recovery of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity across biological communities.
Health workers’ knowledge of safer conception and attitudes toward reproductive rights of HIV-infected couples in Kano, Nigeria
Authors: Iliyasu Zubairu , Galadanci Hadiza S , Zubairu Ahmad A , Amole Taiwo G , Sam-Agudu Nadia A , Aliyu Muktar H 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe restriction of reproductive rights of HIV-positive couples in low-resource settings could be related to the attitudes and skills of health workers. We assessed health workers’ knowledge of safer conception and their attitudes toward the reproductive rights of HIV-positive couples in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.MethodsA cross-section of health workers (n=294) was interviewed using structured questionnaires. Knowledge and attitude scores were analyzed. Logistic regression was employed to generate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for predictors of attitude.ResultsSafer conception methods mentioned by respondents included timed unprotected intercourse with (27.9%) and without antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (37.4%), in vitro fertilization plus intracytoplasmic sperm injection (26.5%), and sperm washing and intrauterine insemination (24.8%). The majority (94.2%) of health workers acknowledged the reproductive rights of HIV-infected persons, although (64.6%) strongly felt that HIV-infected couples should have fewer children. Health workers reported always/nearly always counseling their patients on HIV transmission risks (64.1%) and safer conception (59.2% and 48.3% for females and males, respectively) (p<0.05). Among health workers, being older (30–39 vs <30 y) (AOR=1.33, 95% CI=1.13–2.47), married (AOR=2.15, 95% CI=1.17–5.58) and having a larger HIV-positive daily caseload (20–49 vs <20) (AOR=1.98, 95% CI=1.07–3.64) predicted positive attitude towards reproductive rights of HIV-affected couples.ConclusionsHealth workers had limited knowledge of safer conception methods, but were supportive of the reproductive rights of HIV-positive couples. Health workers in Nigeria require training to effectively counsel couples on their reproductive rights, risks and options.
Exact Adaptive Confidence Intervals for Small Areas
Authors: Burris Kyle C , Hoff Peter D 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
In the analysis of survey data, it is of interest to estimate and quantify uncertainty about means or totals for each of several nonoverlapping subpopulations or areas. When the sample size for a given area is small, standard confidence intervals based on data only from that area can be unacceptably wide. In order to reduce interval width, practitioners often utilize multilevel models in order to borrow information across areas, resulting in intervals centered around shrinkage estimators. However, such intervals only have the nominal coverage rate on average across areas under the assumed model for across-area heterogeneity. The coverage rate for a given area depends on the actual value of the area mean and can be nearly zero for areas with means that are far from the across-group average. As such, the use of uncertainty intervals centered around shrinkage estimators are inappropriate when area-specific coverage rates are desired. In this article, we propose an alternative confidence interval procedure for area means and totals under normally distributed sampling errors. This procedure not only has constant 1−α frequentist coverage for all values of the target quantity but also uses auxiliary information to borrow information across areas. Because of this, the corresponding intervals have shorter expected lengths than standard confidence intervals centered on the unbiased direct estimator. Importantly, the coverage of the procedure does not depend on the assumed model for across-area heterogeneity. Rather, improvements to the model for across-area heterogeneity result in reduced expected interval width.
A new method to trace three-dimensional magnetic field structure within molecular clouds using dust polarization
Authors: Chen Che-Yu , King Patrick K , Li Zhi-Yun , Fissel Laura M , Mazzei Renato R 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
The complete three-dimensional structure of the magnetic field within molecular clouds has eluded determination despite its high value in determining controlling factors in the star formation process, as it cannot be directly probed observationally. Considering that inclination of the magnetic field relative to the plane of sky is one of the major sources of depolarization of thermal emission from dust in molecular clouds, we propose here a new method to estimate the inclination angle of the cloud-scale magnetic field based on the statistical properties of the observed polarization fraction. We test this method using a series of Monte Carlo experiments and find that the method works well, provided that deviations of magnetic field direction from the averaged values are small. When applied to synthetic observations of numerical simulations of star-forming clouds, our method gives fairly accurate measurements of the mean magnetic field inclination angle (within 10°–25°), which can further be improved if we restrict our technique to regions of low dispersion in polarization angles ${\cal S}$. We tested our method on the BLASTPol polarimetric observations of the Vela C molecular cloud complex, which suggests that the magnetic field of Vela C has a high inclination angle (∼60°), consistent with previous analyses.
A search for red giant solar-like oscillations in all Kepler data
Authors: Hon Marc , Stello Dennis , García Rafael A , Mathur Savita , Sharma Sanjib , Colman Isabel L , Bugnet Lisa 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACT
The recently published Kepler mission Data Release 25 (DR25) reported on ∼197 000 targets observed during the mission. Despite this, no wide search for red giants showing solar-like oscillations have been made across all stars observed in Kepler’s long-cadence mode. In this work, we perform this task using custom apertures on the Kepler pixel files and detect oscillations in 21 914 stars, representing the largest sample of solar-like oscillating stars to date. We measure their frequency at maximum power, νmax, down to $\nu _{\mathrm{max}}\simeq 4\, \mu$Hz and obtain log (g) estimates with a typical uncertainty below 0.05 dex, which is superior to typical measurements from spectroscopy. Additionally, the νmax distribution of our detections show good agreement with results from a simulated model of the Milky Way, with a ratio of observed to predicted stars of 0.992 for stars with $10 \lt \nu _{\mathrm{max}}\lt 270\, \mu$Hz. Among our red giant detections, we find 909 to be dwarf/subgiant stars whose flux signal is polluted by a neighbouring giant as a result of using larger photometric apertures than those used by the NASA Kepler science processing pipeline. We further find that only 293 of the polluting giants are known Kepler targets. The remainder comprises over 600 newly identified oscillating red giants, with many expected to belong to the Galactic halo, serendipitously falling within the Kepler pixel files of targeted stars.
Health Literacy, Opioid Misuse, and Pain Experience Among Adults with Chronic Pain
Authors: Rogers Andrew H , Bakhshaie Jafar , Orr Michael F , Ditre Joseph W , Zvolensky Michael J 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundChronic pain is a significant public health problem that is associated with several negative health outcomes, including increased health care cost, decreased productivity, and prescription opioid misuse. Although efforts have been made to curb the growing opioid epidemic in the United States, further research is needed to better understand individual difference factors that may be associated with greater pain and opioid misuse. Lower levels of health literacy, defined as the ability to obtain, understand, and use health information to make important decisions regarding health and medical care, has been associated with several chronic illnesses. Yet little work has examined the relationship between health literacy, pain, and opioid misuse among individuals with chronic pain.MethodsThe current study examined health literacy in relation to current opioid misuse, severity of opioid dependence, pain severity, and pain disability among 445 adults with chronic pain (74.6% female, Mage [SD] = 38.45 [11.06] years).ResultsResults indicated that health literacy was significantly negatively associated with each of the criterion variables.ConclusionsThese results suggest that health literacy may contribute to opioid misuse and pain experience among individuals with chronic pain. Interventions targeting health literacy among individuals with chronic illness may help to address the opioid public health crisis.