bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Copper‐alumina nanocomposites derived from CuAlO2: Phase transformation and microstructural coarsening
Authors: Kracum Michael Robert , Marvel Christopher J. , Albu Mihaela , Hofer Ferdinand , Harmer Martin P. , Chan Helen M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPartial reduction of bulk CuAlO2 results in hierarchical structures wherein there are copper‐alumina regions with widely differing morphologies and scale. At the finest level, the distribution of the 2 phases is at the nanoscale. By means of atomic resolution STEM and electron diffraction, the nanocomposite regions were shown to consist of a dense array of metallic copper platelets dispersed in a matrix of θ‐Al2O3. The copper nanoplatelets were single crystal, and they all exhibited the same orientation relationship with the matrix, namely [110]Cu//[010]θ‐Al2O3, (111)Cu//()θ‐Al2O3. It was shown that the 2‐phase regions where the copper exhibited a significantly coarser, globular morphology, resulted from discontinuous coarsening. Interestingly, a change in the matrix phase from θ‐ to δ‐alumina was also observed as a result of the coarsening reaction. It is believed that in the nanocomposite regions, the θ‐alumina phase was stabilized by the lower interfacial energy between the copper (110) platelets and the matrix.
Baseline adverse electrical remodeling and the risk for ventricular arrhythmia in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Recipients (MADIT CRT)
Authors: Biton Yitschak , Ng Chee Yuan , Xia Xiaojuan , Baman Jayson R. , Couderc Jean‐Philippe , Moss Arthur J. , Kutyifa Valentina , McNitt Scott , Polonsky Bronislava , Zareba Wojciech 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroductionAdverse electrical remodeling (AER), represented here as the sum absolute QRST integral (SAI QRST), has previously been shown to be directly associated with the risk for ventricular arrhythmia (VA). Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is known to reduce the risk for VA through various mechanisms, including reverse remodeling, and we aimed to evaluate the association between baseline AER and the risk for VA in CRT recipients.Methods and resultsThe study population comprised 961 CRT‐D implanted patients from the MADIT CRT study. The relationship between SAI QRST, VA risk, and VA risk/death was evaluated as a continuous and as a categorical variable–tertiles (T1 ≤ 0.527, T2 0.528–0.766, T3 > 0.766). In a multivariable model, AER was inversely associated with the risk of VA. Each unit increase in SAI QRST was associated with 64% (P = 0.007) and 54% (P = 0.003) decrease in the risk of VA and VA/death, respectively. Patients with high SAI QRST (T3) and medium SAI QRST (T2) had 52% (P < 0.001) and 32% (P = 0.027) reduced risk for VA and 44% (P = 0.002) and 26% (P = 0.055) reduced risk for VA/death as compared with patients with low SAI QRST (T1), respectively.ConclusionIn CRT implanted patients with mild heart failure, baseline AER was inversely associated with the risk for VA and VA/death; this is a finding that contradicts the relationship previously reported in non‐CRT implanted patients. We theorize that CRT may abate the process of AER; however, characterization of this mechanism requires further study.
Ten‐day high‐dose proton pump inhibitor triple therapy versus sequential therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication
Authors: Auesomwang Chonticha , Maneerattanaporn Monthira , Chey William D , Kiratisin Pattarachai , Leelakusolwong Somchai , Tanwandee Tawesak 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackground and AimEradication rates of Helicobacter pylori following standard triple therapy are declining worldwide, but high‐dose proton pump inhibitor‐based triple therapy (HD‐PPI‐TT) and sequential therapy (ST) have demonstrated higher cure rates. We aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of HD‐PPI‐TT and ST in H. pylori‐associated functional dyspepsia (FD).MethodsOne hundred and twenty H. pylori‐associated functional dyspepsia patients were randomized to receive 10‐day HD‐PPI‐TT (60 mg lansoprazole/500 mg clarithromycin/1 g amoxicillin, each administered twice daily for 10 days) or 10‐day ST (30 mg lansoprazole/1 g amoxicillin, each administered twice daily for 5 days followed by 30 mg lansoprazole/500 mg clarithromycin/400 mg metronidazole, each administered twice daily for 5 days). H. pylori status was determined in post‐treatment week 4 by 14C‐urea breath test. Eradication and antibiotic resistance rates, dyspeptic symptoms, drug compliance, and adverse effects were compared.ResultsIntention‐to‐treat eradication rates were similar in the ST and HD‐PPI‐TT groups (85% vs. 80%; P = 0.47). However, the eradication rate was significantly higher following ST compared with HD‐PPI‐TT in per protocol analysis (94.4% vs. 81.4%; P = 0.035). ST achieved higher cure rates than HD‐PPI‐TT in clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori strains (100% vs. 33.3%; P = 0.02). Treatment compliance was similar in the HD‐PPI‐TT and ST groups, although nausea and dizziness were more common in the ST group.ConclusionsSequential therapy achieved better H. pylori eradication than HD‐PPI‐TT in patients with FD. However, the eradication rate for ST fell from 94.4% in per protocol to 85% in intention‐to‐treat analysis. Adverse effects might result in poorer compliance and compromise actual ST efficacy (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01888237).
Subventricular zone lipidomic architecture loss in Huntington's disease
Authors: Hunter Mandana , Demarais Nicholas J. , Faull Richard L. M. , Grey Angus C. , Curtis Maurice A. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe human subventricular zone (SVZ) has a defined cytological and neurochemical architecture, with four constituent laminae that act in concert to support its neurogenic activity. Lipidomic specialisation has previously been demonstrated in the neurologically normal human SVZ, with enrichment of functionally important lipid classes in each lamina. The SVZ is also responsive to neurodegenerative disorders, where thickening of the niche and enhanced proliferation of resident cells were observed in Huntington's disease (HD) brains. In this study, we hypothesised lipidomic changes in the HD SVZ. Using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry, this analysis shows differences in the lipidomic architecture in the post‐mortem Vonsattel grade III cases. Relative to matched, neurologically normal specimens (N = 4), the lipidomic signature of the HD SVZ (N = 4) was characterized by loss of sulfatides and triglycerides in the myelin layer, with an ectopic and focal accumulation of sphingomyelins and ceramide‐1‐phosphate observed in this lamina. A striking loss of lipidomic patterning was also observed in the ependymal layer, where the local abundance of phosphatidylinositols was significantly reduced in HD. This comprehensive spatially resolved lipidomic analysis of the human HD SVZ identifies alterations in lipid architecture that may shed light on the mechanisms of SVZ responses to neurodegeneration in HD.Open PracticesThis article has received a badge for *Open Materials* because it provided all relevant information to reproduce the study in the manuscript. The complete Open Science Disclosure form for this article can be found at the end of the article. More information about the Open Practices badges can be found at https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/.
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A single episode of binge alcohol drinking causes sleep disturbance, disrupts sleep homeostasis, and down‐regulates equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1
Authors: Sharma Rishi , Sahota Pradeep , Thakkar Mahesh M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBinge alcohol drinking, a risky pattern of alcohol consumption, has severe consequences toward health and well‐being of an individual, his family, and society. Although, binge drinking has detrimental effects on sleep, underlying mechanisms are unknown. We used adult male C57BL/6J mice and exposed them to a single, 4‐h session of binge alcohol self‐administration, in stress‐free environment, to examine neuronal mechanisms affecting sleep. We first verified binge pattern of alcohol consumption. When allowed to self‐administer alcohol in a non‐stressful environment, mice consumed alcohol in a binge pattern. Next, effect of binge drinking on sleep–wakefulness was monitored. While sleep–wakefulness remained unchanged during drinking session, significant increase in non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep was observed during 4 h of active period post‐binge, followed by increased wakefulness, reduced sleep during subsequent sleep (light) period; although the timing of sleep onset (at lights‐on) remained unaffected. Next, electrophysiological and biochemical indicators of sleep homeostasis were examined using sleep deprivation‐recovery sleep paradigm. Mice exposed to binge drinking did not show an increase in cortical theta power and basal forebrain adenosine levels during sleep deprivation; NREM sleep and NREM delta power did not increase during recovery sleep suggesting that mice exposed to binge alcohol do not develop sleep pressure. Our final experiment examined expression of genes regulating sleep homeostasis following binge drinking. While binge drinking did not affect adenosine kinase and A1 receptor, expression of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) was significantly reduced. These results suggest that binge alcohol consumption‐induced down‐regulation of ENT1 expression may disrupt sleep homeostasis and cause sleep disturbances.Open Science: This manuscript was awarded with the Open Materials Badge. For more information see: https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/
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Significance of postmenopausal uterine leiomyomas: Focus on variants
Authors: Oi Yuka , Katayama Kayo , Hirata Go , Ishidera Yumi , Yoshida Hiroshi , Shigeta Hiroyuki 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAimTo investigate the differences in leiomyoma pathophysiology by patient age at the time of surgery and the possible significance of postmenopausal uterine leiomyomas, particularly variants.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed data from 471 patients who underwent surgery for uterine leiomyomas and evaluated their clinical data.ResultsOverall, 441 (93.4%) women were premenopausal and 30 (6.4%) were postmenopausal. There were no differences in the frequency of the coexistence of ovarian steroid‐dependent diseases among age groups. Common histopathological features were observed in most cases despite menopausal status; however, the incidence of variants among postmenopausal patients was high compared to that among premenopausal women (23.3% [7/30] vs 3.2% [14/441], respectively). Among the variant leiomyomas in postmenopausal patients, lipoleiomyomas comprised six.ConclusionAlthough progesterone is known to play a vital role in promoting leiomyoma growth, it reportedly performs dual actions and does not always stimulate leiomyoma growth. Our study may support the idea that the dual action of progesterone is the primary reason for the surgical treatment required for uterine leiomyomas in the postmenopausal period. We also found that lipoleiomyoma might be the most common uterine leiomyoma variant requiring surgical treatment among postmenopausal women. Thus, we must consider the diagnosis of uterine lipoleiomyoma in postmenopausal women with uterine leiomyomas.
Addressing diversity in tuberculosis using multidimensional approaches
Authors: Lerm M. , Dockrell H. M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractTuberculosis is a complex disease, which can affect many organs other than the lungs. Initial infection may be cleared without inducing immunological memory, or progress directly to primary disease. Alternatively, the infection may be controlled as latent TB infection, that may progress to active tuberculosis at a later stage. There is now a greater understanding that these infection states are part of a continuum, and studies using PET/CT imaging have shown that individual lung granulomas may respond to infection independently, in an un‐synchronized manner. In addition, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis organisms themselves can exist in different states: as nonculturable forms, as ‘persisters’, as rapidly growing bacteria and a biofilm‐forming cording phenotype. The ‘omics’ approaches of transcriptomics, metabolomics and proteomics can help reveal the mechanisms underlying these different infection states in the host, and identify biosignatures with diagnostic potential, that can predict the development of disease, in ‘progressors’ as early as 12–18 months before it can be detected clinically, or that can monitor the success of anti‐TB therapy. Further insights can be obtained from studies of BCG vaccination and new TB vaccines. For example, epigenetic changes associated with trained immunity and a stronger immune responses following BCG vaccination can be identified. These omics approaches may be particularly valuable when linked to studies of mycobacterial growth inhibition, as a direct read‐out of the ability to control mycobacterial growth. The second generation of omics studies is identifying much smaller signatures based on as few as 3 or 4 genes. Thus, narrowing down omics‐derived biosignatures to a manageable set of markers now opens the way to field‐friendly point of care assays.
Vitamin D and tuberculosis: where next?
Authors: Brighenti S. , Bergman P. , Martineau A. R. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) has troubled mankind for millennia, but current treatment strategies are long and complicated and the disease remains a major global health problem. The risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection or progression of active TB disease is elevated in individuals with vitamin D deficiency. High‐dose vitamin D was used to treat TB in the preantibiotic era, and in vitro experimental data show that vitamin D supports innate immune responses that restrict growth of Mtb. Several randomized controlled trials have tested whether adjunctive vitamin D supplementation enhances the clinical and microbiological response to standard antimicrobial chemotherapy for pulmonary TB. The effects have been modest at best, and attention is turning to the question of whether vitamin D supplementation might have a role in preventing acquisition or reactivation of latent Mtb infection. In this article, we describe the effects of vitamin D on host immune responses to Mtb in vitro and in vivo and review the results of clinical trials in the field. We also reflect on the findings of clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of acute respiratory tract infections, and discuss how these findings might influence the design of future trials to evaluate the role of vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of TB.
Friends and foes of tuberculosis: modulation of protective immunity
Authors: Brighenti S. , Joosten S. A. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractProtective immunity in tuberculosis (TB) is subject of debate in the TB research community, as this is key to fully understand TB pathogenesis and to develop new promising tools for TB diagnosis and prognosis as well as a more efficient TB vaccine. IFN‐γ producing CD4+ T cells are key in TB control, but may not be sufficient to provide protection. Additional subsets have been identified that contribute to protection such as multifunctional and cytolytic T‐cell subsets, including classical and nonclassical T cells as well as novel innate immune cell subsets resulting from trained immunity. However, to define protective immune responses against TB, the complexity of balancing TB immunity also has to be considered. In this review, insights into effector cell immunity and how this is modulated by regulatory cells, associated comorbidities and the host microbiome, is discussed. We systematically map how different suppressive immune cell subsets may affect effector cell responses at the local site of infection. We also dissect how common comorbidities such as HIV, helminths and diabetes may bias protective TB immunity towards pathogenic and regulatory responses. Finally, also the composition and diversity of the microbiome in the lung and gut could affect host TB immunity. Understanding these various aspects of the immunological balance in the human host is fundamental to prevent TB infection and disease.
Sticky flatworms (Platyhelminthes) kill armored harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) but are not immune to the prey′s weapons
Authors: Silva M. S. , Willemart R. H. , Carbayo F. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAsking how prey respond to different species of predators helps understanding the repertoire of defenses prey exhibit. This approach may also add to the knowledge on the efficiency of prey′s defenses against each predator and allows studying the costs of being attacked by different predators. Here, we studied interactions between the predatory terrestrial flatwormCephaloflexa bergiand the harvestmanMischonyx cuspidatus. The flatworm quickly strikes at the prey′s leg with its head, then crawls towards the prey′s body releasing mucus and thus subdues the harvestman. Harvestmen may release defensive chemicals and pinch the flatworm with spines on legsIV, sometimes cutting the predator in two pieces. We also experimentally assessed the benefits of harvestmen′ defense and the cost of being attacked by testing whether the chemical defense of the harvestmen is efficient against the flatworm and whether the harvestmen that had survived a flatworm attack would have their locomotion abilities hampered. Both hypotheses were corroborated. Previous studies on interactions between harvestmen and other predators, such as spiders and scorpions, had shown that defensive secretions and mechanical retaliation were seldom used and were often ineffective. Our results point to the exact opposite and suggest that different predators exert different selective pressures culminating in the array of defenses exhibited by the prey.
Pro‐inflammatory activation of microglia in the brain of patients with sepsis
Authors: Zrzavy T. , Höftberger R. , Berger T. , Rauschka H. , Butovsky O. , Weiner H. , Lassmann H. 
Published: May 2018

AimsExperimental data suggest that systemic immune activation may create a pro‐inflammatory environment with microglia activation in the central nervous system in the absence of overt inflammation, which in turn may be deleterious in conditions of neurodegenerative disease. The extent to which this is relevant for the human brain is unknown. The central aim of this study is to provide an in‐depth characterization of the microglia and macrophage response to systemic inflammation.MethodsWe used recently described markers to characterize the origin and functional states of microglia/macrophages in white and grey matter in patients who died under septic conditions and compared it to those patients without systemic inflammation.ResultsWe found pro‐inflammatory microglia activation in septic patients in the white matter, with very little activation in the grey matter. Using a specific marker for resident microglia (TMEM119), we found that parenchyma microglia were activated and that there was additional recruitment of perivascular macrophages. Pro‐inflammatory microglia activation occurred in the presence of homeostatic microglia cells. In contrast to inflammatory or ischaemic diseases of the brain, the anti‐inflammatory microglia markers CD163 or CD206 were not expressed in acute sepsis. Furthermore, we found pronounced upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase not only in microglia, but also in astrocytes and endothelial cells.ConclusionOur results demonstrate the pronounced effects of systemic inflammation on the human brain and have important implications for the selection of control populations for studies on microglia activation in human brain disease.
Shwachman–Diamond syndrome: Nationwide survey and systematic review in Japan
Authors: Ikuse Tamaki , Kudo Takahiro , Arai Katsuhiro , Fujii Yoshimitsu , Ida Shinobu , Ishii Tomohiro , Mushiake Sotaro , Nagata Kouji , Tamai Hiroshi , Toki Akira , Tomomasa Takeshi , Ushijima Kosuke , Yanagi Tadahiro , Yonekura Takeo , Taguchi Tomoaki , Shimizu Toshiaki 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundShwachman–Diamond syndrome (SDS) is a rare multisystem disorder associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The present study reports the results of a nationwide survey and a systematic review on SDS to develop consensus guidelines for intractable diarrhea including SDS.MethodsQuestionnaires were sent to 616 departments of pediatrics or of pediatric surgery in Japan in a nationwide survey. A second questionnaire was sent to doctors who had treated SDS patients and included questions on clinical information. Additionally, a systematic review was performed using digital literature databases to assess the influence of medical (i.e. non‐surgical) treatment on SDS prognosis.ResultsAnswers were received from 529 institutions (85.9%), which included information on 24 patients with SDS (median age, 10.4 years; male, n = 15) treated from January 2005 to December 2014. Although 75% of patients received pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, there was no significant association between treatment and prognosis. Systematic review identified one clinical practice guideline, two case series, eight case reports and 26 reviews. Patient information from those studies was insufficient for meta‐analysis.ConclusionsThe rarity of SDS makes it difficult to establish evidence‐based treatment for SDS. According to the limited information from patients and published reports, medical treatment for malabsorption due to SDS should be performed to improve fat absorption and stool condition, but it is not clear whether this treatment improves the prognosis of malabsorption.
Regional disparities in obesity/emaciation and income in schoolchildren in Osaka City
Authors: Takaya Junji , Higashino Hirohiko , Ogasawara Hidenori , Konishi Kazutaka , Takaya Ryuzo , Tanoue Jitsuo , Higashide Takashi , Masuda Motoko , Nakao Masatoshi , Shigematsu Shigeto 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundWe assessed the association between socioeconomic status at residential area‐level in the 24 wards of Osaka City, differentiated by indices of mean income‐related deprivation, and inequalities in childhood obesity and emaciation.MethodsData from representative samples of 26 474 schoolchildren (first and fifth grades of elementary school, and third grade of junior high school [i.e. ninth grade of elementary school]) in Osaka City taken from a somatometric check in spring 2016 were analyzed. The cross‐sectional association between socioeconomic factors, that is, the census‐based annual income of each ward, and the prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity and emaciation, was examined.ResultsThe prevalence of overweight/obesity in boys and girls in the first and fifth grades of elementary school and the third grade of junior high school was 3.98% and 4.53%, 10.18% and 8.69%, and 7.02% and 5.55%, respectively. The prevalence of emaciation in boys and girls in the first and fifth grades of elementary school, and the third grade of junior high school was 0.14% and 0.10%, 0.46% and 1.06% and 3.95% and 3.05%, respectively. Mean physical value, expressed as % degree of overweight, had a negative correlation with mean annual income of each ward in girls in the first and fifth grades of elementary school, girls in the third grade of junior high school and boys in the first grade of elementary school.ConclusionsOverweight/obesity at school age is greatly affected by poverty. Efforts should be made to prevent emaciation not only in girls, but also in boys, in junior high school.