bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of white birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) bark extracts
Authors: Blondeau Dorian , St‐Pierre Annabelle , Bourdeau Nathalie , Bley Julien , Lajeunesse André , Desgagné‐Penix Isabel 
Published: October 2019

AbstractExtracts from white birch have been reported to possess antimicrobial properties, but no study has linked the chemical composition of bark extract with antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to identify white birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) bark extracts with antimicrobial activity and elucidate its composition. In order to obtain the highest extraction yield, bark residues >3 mm were retained for extraction. A total of 10 extraction solvents were used to determine the extraction yield of each of them. Methanol and ethanol solvents extracted a greater proportion of molecules. When tested on eight microorganism species, the water extract proved to have the best antimicrobial potential followed by the methanol extract. The water extract inhibited all microorganisms at low concentration with minimal inhibitory concentration between 0.83 and 1.67 mg/ml. Using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to a time‐of‐flight quadrupole mass spectrometer, several molecules that have already been studied for their antimicrobial properties were identified in water and methanol extracts. Catechol was identified as one of the dominant components in white birch bark water extract, and its antimicrobial activity has already been demonstrated, suggesting that catechol could be one of the main components contributing to the antimicrobial activity of this extract. Thus, extractives from forestry wastes have potential for new applications to valorize these residues.
Chromate exposure induces DNA hypermethylation of the mismatch repair gene MLH1 in lung cancer
Authors: Tsuboi Mitsuhiro , Kondo Kazuya , Soejima Shiho , Kajiura Koichiro , Kawakita Naoya , Toba Hiroaki , Kawakami Yukikiyo , Yoshida Mitsuteru , Takizawa Hiromitsu , Tangoku Akira 
Published: October 2019

AbstractHexavalent chromium is recognized as a human carcinogen. Our previous studies revealed that lung cancer (LC) in chromate‐exposed workers (chromate LC) had molecular features of frequent microsatellite instability (MSI), repression of MLH1 level, and aberrant DNA methylation of several tumor‐suppressor genes, including MLH1. In the present study, we quantitatively investigated MLH1‐promoter methylation status using bisulfite pyrosequencing of paired tumorous/nontumorous tissues from chromate and nonchromate LCs to determine the effect of chromate exposure on MLH1‐promoter methylation. The methylation level of MLH1 promoter was significantly higher in chromate LC tumors (P < .001) than nonchromate LC tumors and, among chromate LC, significantly higher in tumorous tissue than nontumorous tissue (P = .004). Moreover, the methylation level of MLH1 promoter in normal lung tissue tended to be higher in chromate LC than nonchromate LC (P = .062). In addition, LC with reduced levels of MLH1 showed significantly higher methylation levels of MLH1 promoter than LC exhibiting normal MLH1 levels (P = .019). Moreover, immunohistochemical analyses determined that levels of SUV39H1, an H3K9me2‐related methyltransferase, were higher in chromate LC than nonchromate LC (P = .076). Furthermore, we evaluated three DNA double‐strand break‐repair genes (MRE11, RAD50, and DNA‐PKcs) as possible targets of MSI by fragment‐length polymorphism analysis, revealing the mutation frequency of RAD50 as significantly higher in chromate LC than nonchromate LC (P = .047). These results suggest that chromate exposure might induce MLH1 hypermethylation in LC as a mechanism of chromate‐induced carcinogenesis.
Gene‐level genome‐wide association analysis of suicide attempt, a preliminary study in a psychiatric Mexican population
Authors: González‐Castro Thelma Beatriz , Martínez‐Magaña José Jaime , Tovilla‐Zárate Carlos Alfonso , Juárez‐Rojop Isela Esther , Sarmiento Emmanuel , Genis‐Mendoza Alma Delia , Nicolini Humberto 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundEvidence suggests that liability for suicide behavior is heritable; additionally, suicide has been partly related to other psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, most of the information reported so far address Caucasian and Asian individuals. Hence, our aim was to conduct a gene‐level association study in Mexican psychiatric individuals diagnosed with suicide attempt.MethodsWe recruited 192 individuals from two clinical centers in Mexico. All participants were born in Mexico and had Mexican parents and grandparents. Direct genotyping was performed using the commercial platform Infinium PsychArray BeadChip. A p‐value lower than 1e‐05 was considered as gene‐level significant and a p‐value lower than 1e‐04 was considered as gene‐level nominal significant.ResultsOur analyses showed that SCARA5 was associated to suicide intent at a gene‐level with statistical significance (p‐value = 1.12e‐6). Other genes were nominally associated with suicide attempt: GHSR (p‐value = 0.0004), RGS10 (p‐value = 5.13e‐5), and STK33 (p‐value = 3.62e‐5). Regarding gene variant analyses, the SNPs with a statistical association (p > .05) were rs561361616, rs1537577, rs11198999 for RGS10, and rs11041981, rs11041993, rs11041994, rs11041995, rs11041997, rs10840083, rs10769918 for STK33. For these genes, previous studies have associated SCARA5 with depression, GHSR with alcohol dependence and depression, and RGS10 with schizophrenia and depression. To date, STK33 has not been associated with any psychiatric disorder.ConclusionOur outcomes revealed that SCARA5, GHSR, RGS10 and STK33 could be considered as risk biomarkers for suicide attempt behavior in our Mexican psychiatric sample. We recommend to perform larger scale analyses to have conclusive results.
Design of nonuniform substrate dielectric lens antennas using 3D printing technology
Authors: Belen Mehmet A. , Mahouti Peyman 
Published: October 2019

AbstractWith the latest developments in 3D printing technologies and decreases in their costs, these prototyping methods are now being used extensively in many applications for fast, low‐cost, and precise prototyping. In this work, 3D printing technology had been used for prototyping of nonuniform substrate dielectric lens antennas. For this, two study cases had been taken into consideration: (a) design of a dielectric lens antenna with 25 nonuniform height dielectric pillars with constant dielectric value, and (b) design of a dielectric lens antenna with 25 pillars of nonuniform dielectric constant value but equal height. Both of the designs, first, were modeled in 3D EM simulation environments and then were prototyped via 3D printing technology. Both the simulations and measured results of the prototyped antennas were compared and found that they were agreeable. Both of the antenna designs achieved a measured gain level of almost 17.4 dBi at 10 GHz, with a return loss of less than −10 dB. Thus, as it can be observed from the experimental results, the proposed 3D printing‐based manufacturing process is an efficient solution for the realization of high‐performance nonuniform substrate dielectric lens antennas that are either difficult or impractical with conventional prototyping methods.
Technical Note: Increased photon starvation artifacts at low helical pitch in ultra‐low‐dose CT
Authors: Browne Jacinta E. , Bruesewitz Michael R. , Vrieze Thomas J. , McCollough Cynthia H. , Yu Lifeng 
Published: October 2019

PurposeThe aim of this study was to demonstrate that a low helical pitch causes increased photon starvation artifacts at ultra‐low‐dose CT.MethodsA cylindrical water phantom with a diameter of 30 cm was scanned on two different generation CT scanners: a 64‐slice scanner (Sensation 64, Siemens Healthcare) and a 192‐slice scanner (Somatom Force, Siemens Healthcare) at multiple effective mAs levels (mAs/pitch = 200, 100, 50, 25, and 12). The corresponding CTDIvol values were 4.1, 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 mGy, on the 64‐slice scanner and 3.8, 1.9, 1.0, 0.5 mGy on the 192‐slice scanner, for the selected effective mAs values. For each dose setting, the scan was repeated at four helical pitches: 1.2, 0.9, 0.6, and the lowest achievable pitch on each scanner. The tube current was automatically adjusted by the scanner so that the effective mAs, and thus CTDIvol, were kept the same for different pitches. All CT data sets were reconstructed with a slice thickness of 3mm and a medium smooth kernel. Images acquired at the same dose level but different helical pitches were visually inspected to assess photon starvation artifacts and noise levels.ResultsAt the same radiation dose, image noise increased with the decreasing helical pitch. The increase was more severe on the old‐generation 64‐slice scanner. Photon starvation artifacts were evident at 200 effective mAs on the 64‐slice scanner at 80 kV. On the 192‐slice scanner there was no visible photon starvation artifacts at both 200 and 50 effective mAs (CTDIvol = 4.1 mGy and 1.0 mGy, respectively); nor was there a visible impact from the lower helical pitch. Only when the dose was lowered to be extremely low (~0.26 mGy, achievable at 70 kV), did photon starvation artifacts become evident.ConclusionsA low helical pitch may increase image noise and photon starvation artifacts compared to a higher pitch for the same dose level, particularly at ultra‐low dose CT.
The motor unit and quantitative electromyography
Authors: Bromberg Mark B. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractElectromyography (EMG) assesses the anatomic motor unit (A‐MU), but knowledge of its anatomy, physiology, and changes with pathology is limited. The electrophysiological motor unit (E‐MU) and its motor unit potential (E‐MUP) represents a fraction of the A‐MU. Routine EMG assesses a limited number of E‐MUP waveform characteristics (metrics) and their magnitudes qualitatively scaled in a nonlinear manner. Another approach is quantitative EMG (QEMG), whereby 20+ E‐MUPs are extracted and both basic and derived metrics obtained and values expressed quantitatively. In diseased muscle, many E‐MUP metrics may be normal, which complicates diagnostic interpretation. In QEMG, E‐MUP metrics can be clustered and statistical analyses performed to assign probabilities that E‐MUPs (and the muscle) are normal, neuropathic, or myopathic. In this article we review what is known about the A‐MU, the restricted E‐MU, E‐MUP metrics, and what QEMG offers currently and in the future.
How can we improve the diagnosis and management of bladder pain syndrome? Part 1: ICI‐RS 2018
Authors: Khullar Vik , Chermansky Christopher , Tarcan Tufan , Rahnama'i Mohammad Sajjad , Digesu Alex , Sahai Arun , Veit‐Rubin Nikolaus , Dmochowski Roger 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundThis paper summarizes the discussion in a think tank at the ICI‐RS 2018 about the diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome (BPS).AimsTo review the guidelines, investigations and subtypes of BPS.Materials and MethodsReview of literature in the light of the think tank discussion.ResultsAll guidelines recommend completing history, physical examination, urine analysis, urine culture, and urine cytology to define the BPS phenotype but there are differences on further investigations. In those guidelines which recommend cystoscopy, the identification of Hunner's lesions (HLs) is recommended as this changes the treatment plan and outcome.ConclusionWe propose that the differentiation of Hunner's ulcers is an important step in the assessment of these patients. Further suggestions for research are suggested.
Are there differences in the damage to the pelvic floor between malmstrom's and kiwi omnicup vacuums? A multicenter study
Authors: González‐Diaz Enrique , García‐Mejido José A. , Martín‐Martínez Alicia , Fernández‐Fernández Camino , Ortega Ismael , Medina Margarita , Fernández‐Corona Alfonso , Fernández‐Palacín Ana , Sainz José A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractObjectivesThe objective of this study is to investigate a multicenter study to establish if differences exist in the levator ani muscle avulsion (LAM) rates between deliveries performed with Malmstrom's vacuum and the Kiwi vacuum.Study designA prospective, multicenter observational study with 199 primiparous subjects was performed. All patients had undergone vaginal delivery by vacuum (Malmstrom's or Kiwi). Avulsion was defined as an abnormal insertion of LAM in the lower pubic branch in the multiplanar mode, as identified in the three central sections by transperineal 3/4D echography 6 months after delivery. The area of ​​the levator hiatus was measured in the plane of minimum dimensions at rest, during the Valsalva maneuver and during contraction.ResultsLAM avulsion occurred in 33.1% of cases in which Malmstrom's vacuum was used and in 29.4% of cases in which the Kiwi vacuum was used (the difference was not statistically significant), which resulted in a crude odds ratio (OR) of 0.977 (0.426, 2.241; P = .957) and an adjusted OR of 2.90 (0.691; 12.20; P = .146). Women in the Malmstrom's vacuum group had a larger LHA at rest 14.77 vs 12.64 cm2; P = .001) and at maximum contraction (13.41 vs 10.83 cm2; P < 0.001) in comparison with the Kiwi group, although the difference did not reach statistical significance under Valsalva maneuver (18.71 vs 17.21 cm2; P = .051).Differences between both groups were detected in the measurements of the hiatus area levator at rest (14.77 vs 12.64 cm2), during the Valsalva maneuver (18.71 vs 17.21 cm2) and during maximum contraction (13.41 vs 10.83 cm2).ConclusionsIn the present study, Malmstrom's vacuum was not associated with a higher risk of LAM in comparison with Kiwi's Omnicup.
What's in a name? Choosing a title for a female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery clinic: A prospective questionnaire
Authors: Nguyen Anh , Cheung Alice , Berg William , Lee Wai , Weissbart Steven , Kim Jason 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAimsA new multidisciplinary clinic specializing in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS) opened at our institution. We sought to assess patient preference in naming this new center, and how readability and word choice informs these preferences.MethodsWe prospectively surveyed patient preference in naming this new center, as well as patient knowledge and societal perception of pelvic floor disorders. This survey was distributed to female patients presenting to general urology and gynecology clinics.ResultsThere were 300 respondents out of 1000 distributed surveys. Patients preferred titles with accessible readability scores and societally neutral vocabulary. Preferred titles for the clinic were at a 6th‐grade readability level. Patients preferred neutral titles that included the word “health” and disliked titles that contained the words “pelvic floor” and “dysfunction.” In general, survey participants believed that “incontinence” was associated with negative connotations.ConclusionReadable and neutral vocabulary in the title of the clinic are key components of patient‐preferred titles for an FPMRS clinic and affect patient comfort levels in scheduling an appointment.
Role of p38 MAP kinase signaling pathways in storage and voiding dysfunction in mice with spinal cord injury
Authors: Shimizu Nobutaka , Wada Naoki , Shimizu Takahiro , Suzuki Takahisa , Kurobe Masahiro , Kanai Anthony J. , de Groat William C. , Hashimoto Mamoru , Hirayama Akihide , Uemura Hirotsugu , Yoshimura Naoki 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAimTo investigate the role of p38 MAP kinase in lower urinary tract dysfunction in mice with spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsCystometry and external urethral sphincter‐electromyography were performed under an awake condition in 4‐week SCI female mice. Two weeks after SCI, a catheter connected to an osmotic pump filled with a p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was implanted into the intrathecal space of L6‐S1 spinal cord for continuous intrathecal instillation at infusion rate of 0.51 μL/h for 2 weeks before the urodynamic study. L6 dorsal root ganglia were then removed from CSF and p38 MAPK inhibitor‐treated SCI mice as well as from CSF‐treated normal (spinal intact) mice to evaluate the levels of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) transcripts by real‐time polymerase chain reaction.ResultsIn p38 MAPK inhibitor‐treated SCI mice, nonvoiding contractions during bladder filling, bladder capacity, and post‐void residual volume were significantly reduced while micturition pressure and voiding efficiency were significantly increased in comparison to these measurements in CSF‐treated SCI mice. The expression of TRPV1, TNF‐α, and iNOS messenger RNA was increased in SCI mice compared with expression in spinal intact mice and significantly decreased after p38 MAPK inhibitor treatment.ConclusionsThe p38 MAPK signaling pathway in bladder sensory neurons or in the spinal cord plays an important role in storage and voiding problems such as detrusor overactivity and inefficient voiding after SCI.
Reducing overprescribing of antibiotics for suspected urinary tract infections in a health sciences campus student health service
Authors: Sebesta Elisabeth M. , March Anika , Sayegh Christopher , Li Gen , Love Michelle , Badalato Gina M. , Ferdschneider Marcy , Cooper Kimberly L. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTAimsRecommendations for the management of women with suspected uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections (UTIs) include presumptive antibiotics with or without obtaining a urine culture (UCx). However, with increasing antibiotic resistance, efforts to decrease antibiotic usage are vital. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if the presumptive treatment of women with suspected uncomplicated UTIs is contributing to unnecessary antibiotic usage.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed all nonpregnant female patients presenting to our student health services clinic with UTI symptoms from December 2016 to May 2017 who had UCx sent. Clinical information, symptoms, office urine dip, and UCx results were reviewed. Patients with positive and negative UCx were compared.ResultsA total of 67 patients were included for analysis. Presenting symptoms included dysuria (59/60, 98%), frequency (41/45, 91%), and urgency (27/27, 100%). Office urine dip was performed on 33 of 67 (49%) patients. Dips were positive for leukocytes (88%), blood (79%), and nitrites (18%). All patients in the study were prescribed antibiotics, most commonly nitrofurantoin (82%). Culture results were negative in 29 of 67 (43%). There were no significant differences in duration of symptoms, presenting symptoms, or urine dip results between patients with a negative UCx and those with a positive UCx.ConclusionsIn our study, we found a significant negative UCx rate in women with symptoms of uncomplicated UTI, representing a cohort of patients who were exposed to antibiotics unnecessarily. In addition, we found no difference in presenting symptoms or urine dip results to help distinguish patients with a positive UCx.
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Bias in Participants with Severe Obesity Regardless of Deindexation
Authors: Guebre‐Egziabher Fitsum , Brunelle Charlotte , Thomas Jouve , Pelletier Caroline C. , Normand Gabrielle , Juillard Laurent , Dubourg Laurence , Lemoine Sandrine 
Published: October 2019

ObjectiveMorbid obesity is associated with a higher independent risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has been evaluated in a limited number of study participants with severe obesity.MethodsA total of 706 measured GFR (mGFR) results from 598 participants with obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) were retrospectively collected. The performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation, Chronic Kidney Disease‐Epidemiology (CKD‐EPI) equation, and deindexed eGFR were compared with mGFR from the gold standard technique (inuline or iohexol), adjusted (mGFRr) or nonadjusted (mGFR) to body surface area. Absolute bias, precision, and accuracy were calculated.ResultsMean mGFRr (58 ± 31 mL/min/1.73 m2) was significantly different from CKD‐EPI and MDRD (P < 0.001). Mean mGFR (nonindexed) (70 ± 40 mL/min) was significantly higher than mGFRr (P < 0.001). eGFR showed important biases and low accuracies for CKD‐EPI and MDRD (10.7 ± 10.7 and 12.2 ± 13.7 mL/min/1.73 m2; 78% vs. 75% respectively). Deindexation worsened bias and accuracy 30% (percentage of GFR estimates within 30% of mGFRr or mGFR) between eGFR and mGFR.ConclusionseGFR overestimates mGFR and is associated with important biases and inaccuracies in patients with severe obesity, and deindexing eGFR worsens the overestimation. These findings may have important implications in examining kidney function in patients with obesity.
Inflammatory macrophages switch to CCL17‐expressing phenotype and promote peritoneal fibrosis
Authors: Chen Yi‐Ting , Hsu Hao , Lin Chi‐Chun , Pan Szu‐Yu , Liu Shin‐Yun , Wu Ching‐Fang , Tsai Pei‐Zhen , Liao Chia‐Te , Cheng Hui‐Teng , Chiang Wen‐Chih , Chen Yung‐Ming , Chu Tzong‐Shinn , Lin Shuei‐Liong 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPeritoneal fibrosis remains a problem in kidney failure patients treated with peritoneal dialysis. Severe peritoneal fibrosis with encapsulation or encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis is devastating and life‐threatening. Although submesothelial fibroblasts as the major precursor of scar‐producing myofibroblasts in animal models and M2 macrophage (Mϕ)‐derived chemokines in peritoneal effluents of patients before diagnosis of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis have been identified, attenuation of peritoneal fibrosis is an unmet medical need partly because the mechanism for cross talk between Mϕs and fibroblasts remains unclear. We use a sodium hypochlorite‐induced mouse model akin to clinical encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis to study how the peritoneal Mϕs activate fibroblasts and fibrosis. Sodium hypochlorite induces the disappearance of CD11bhighF4/80high resident Mϕs but accumulation of CD11bintF4/80int inflammatory Mϕs (InfMϕs) through recruiting blood monocytes and activating local cell proliferation. InfMϕs switch to express chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 17 (CCL17), CCL22, and arginase‐1 from day 2 after hypochlorite injury. More than 75% of InfMϕs undergo genetic recombination by Csf1r‐driven Cre recombinase, providing the possibility to reduce myofibroblasts and fibrosis by diphtheria toxin‐induced Mϕ ablation from day 2 after injury. Furthermore, administration of antibody against CCL17 can reduce Mϕs, myofibroblasts, fibrosis, and improve peritoneal function after injury. Mechanistically, CCL17 stimulates migration and collagen production of submesothelial fibroblasts in culture. By breeding mice that are induced to express red fluorescent protein in Mϕs and green fluorescence protein (GFP) in Col1a1‐expressing cells, we confirmed that Mϕs do not produce collagen in peritoneum before and after injury. However, small numbers of fibrocytes are found in fibrotic peritoneum of chimeric mice with bone marrow from Col1a1‐GFP reporter mice, but they do not contribute to myofibroblasts. These data demonstrate that InfMϕs switch to pro‐fibrotic phenotype and activate peritoneal fibroblasts through CCL17 after injury. CCL17 blockade in patients with peritoneal fibrosis may provide a novel therapy. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.