bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glycan recognition in globally dominant human rotaviruses
Authors: Hu Liya , Sankaran Banumathi , Laucirica Daniel R. , Patil Ketki , Salmen Wilhelm , Ferreon Allan Chris M , Tsoi Phoebe S. , Lasanajak Yi , Smith David F. , Ramani Sasirekha , Atmar Robert L. , Estes Mary K. , Ferreon Josephine C. , Prasad B. V. Venkataram 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRotaviruses (RVs) cause life-threatening diarrhea in infants and children worldwide. Recent biochemical and epidemiological studies underscore the importance of histo-blood group antigens (HBGA) as both cell attachment and susceptibility factors for the globally dominant P[4], P[6], and P[8] genotypes of human RVs. How these genotypes interact with HBGA is not known. Here, our crystal structures of P[4] and a neonate-specific P[6] VP8*s alone and in complex with H-type I HBGA reveal a unique glycan binding site that is conserved in the globally dominant genotypes and allows for the binding of ABH HBGAs, consistent with their prevalence. Remarkably, the VP8* of P[6] RVs isolated from neonates displays subtle structural changes in this binding site that may restrict its ability to bind branched glycans. This provides a structural basis for the age-restricted tropism of some P[6] RVs as developmentally regulated unbranched glycans are more abundant in the neonatal gut.
No intrinsic gender differences in children’s earliest numerical abilities
Authors: Kersey Alyssa J. , Braham Emily J. , Csumitta Kelsey D. , Libertus Melissa E. , Cantlon Jessica F. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRecent public discussions have suggested that the under-representation of women in science and mathematics careers can be traced back to intrinsic differences in aptitude. However, true gender differences are difficult to assess because sociocultural influences enter at an early point in childhood. If these claims of intrinsic differences are true, then gender differences in quantitative and mathematical abilities should emerge early in human development. We examined cross-sectional gender differences in mathematical cognition from over 500 children aged 6 months to 8 years by compiling data from five published studies with unpublished data from longitudinal records. We targeted three key milestones of numerical development: numerosity perception, culturally trained counting, and formal and informal elementary mathematics concepts. In addition to testing for statistical differences between boys’ and girls’ mean performance and variability, we also tested for statistical equivalence between boys’ and girls’ performance. Across all stages of numerical development, analyses consistently revealed that boys and girls do not differ in early quantitative and mathematical ability. These findings indicate that boys and girls are equally equipped to reason about mathematics during early childhood.
Application of Real-time Elastography Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Xu Yanjun , Bai Xiaojun , Chen Yini , Jiang Lixin , Hu Bing , Hu Bin , Yu Li 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe pathological status of axillary lymph nodes (ALN) plays a critical role in the staging and treatment of patients with breast cancer. Therefore, differential diagnosis of metastatic ALN is highly desirable in the clinic. We used real-time elastography (RTE) and gray-scale ultrasound to generate a new scoring system for determining ALN status and estimate their performance of this system. Ninety-seven ALNs were examined by both gray-scale ultrasound and RTE. The performance of gray-scale ultrasound was evaluated by the sum of scores according to its features. RTE images were determined by a modulated scoring system based on the percentage and distribution of hypoechoic cortex regions in the ALNs. Strain ratio was also calculated. Diagnostic performance was obtained by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with pathologic findings used as the reference standard. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 92%, 73% and 83%, respectively, for gray-scale ultrasound; 78%, 93%, 86%, respectively, for RTE; 88%, 96% and 92%, respectively, for the combined evaluation (AUC = 0.963), and 87%, 76% and 81%, respectively, for strain ratio. Gray-scale ultrasonography had a better sensitivity than RTE (92% vs 78%, P = 0.039), while the specificity for RTE was superior to that of gray-scale ultrasonography (93% vs 73%, P = 0.012). In conclusion, RTE showed a high specificity for evaluating the ALN status and may improve the diagnostic accuracy when combined with gray-scale ultrasound.
Effects of Concomitant Administration of a Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Showing Relatively Good Glycemic Control Under Treatment with a Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitor
Authors: Kusunoki Masataka , Natsume Yukie , Miyata Tetsuro , Tsutsumi Kazuhiko , Oshida Yoshiharu 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe conducted this study to determine whether additional administration of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor might provide further improvement of the glycemic control in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients showing relatively good glycemic control under treatment with a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. Five SGLT2 inhibitor (luseogliflozin, dapagliflozin, tofogliflozin, empagliflozin and canagliflozin) preparations and five DPP-4 inhibitor (sitagliptin, vildagliptin, alogliptin, anagliptin and linagliptin) preparations were used. The results showed that monotherapy with SGLT2 inhibitor produced significant decreases of the body weight and BMI, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) also decreased, but not to a significant extent. However, decreases of the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GTP) and uric acid were observed in this group. On the other hand, in type 2 diabetes patients treated concomitantly with a DPP-4 inhibitor and SGLT2 inhibitor, significant decrease of the HbA1c was observed, indicating the favorable effect of the concomitant therapy. The body weight and BMI decreased. As for the serum lipid profile, elevation of the serum HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) was observed. Furthermore, AST, ALT, γ-GTP and uric acid decreased in the combined treatment group. Then, the therapeutic responses to concurrent administration with SGLT2 inhibitor of each of the 5 individual DPP-4 inhibitors used in this study were analyzed. The results showed that concomitant administration of sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, with the SGLT2 inhibitor yielded the best results in terms of the lowering of the HbA1c and improvement of the serum lipid profile.
Notärztliche Strategie beim Hängetrauma
Authors: Lechner Raimund , Staps Enrico , Brugger Hermann , Rauch Simon 
Published: July 2018

ZusammenfassungDas Hängetrauma beschreibt eine durch bewegungsloses, annähernd vertikales freies Hängen in einem Anseilgurt induzierte Kreislaufdepression mit möglicher Todesfolge. Hauptsächlich betroffene Personengruppen sind somit Kletterer, Bergsteiger und seilgesicherte Arbeiter. Die zügige Rettung des Patienten unter Beachtung des Eigenschutzes ist von herausragender Bedeutung. Die Akutbehandlung nach einem Hängetrauma folgt dem Standard-<c>ABCDE-Algorithmus mit initialer Flachlagerung.
Neuro-Endocrine Recovery After Pituitary Apoplexy: Prolactin as a Predictive Factor
Authors: Lammert Alexander , Walter Marc Sebastian , Giordano Frank Anton , Al Zhgloul Mansour , Krämer Bernhard Karl , Nittka Stefanie , Schulte Dirk Michael , Ratliff Miriam , Hänggi Daniel , Seiz-Rosenhagen Marcel 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Objective Pituitary apoplexy is a serious medical complication of a pre-existing pituitary adenoma characterized by a variety of clinical symptoms ranging from mild headache to neurologically impaired and finally comatose patients. Management options are surgery or conservative treatment (e. g., with dexamethasone). Surgery is commonly performed in case of severe acute neurological and visual symptoms. However, prospective studies demonstrating a benefit of surgery over conservative treatment in terms of visual, neurological and even endocrine outcomes are lacking. Decision making is still controversial, and recommendations for surgery are based on low evidence grades and focus on visual impairment. Endocrine function and especially markers identifying patients with potential for pituitary recovery after surgery are not well described in the literature.
Patients and Design We analysed data from 24 patients (m:f/16:8) with a median age of 64 yrs (38 to 83yrs) that underwent surgery for pituitary apoplexy regardless of time from symptom onset. Apoplexies were necrotic in 14 cases and haemorrhagic in 10 cases.
Results Preoperatively, 7 patients (29.2%) showed complete anterior pituitary insufficiency, 16 patients (66.6%) had partial anterior pituitary insufficiency and one patient (4.17%) had normal pituitary functions. Persistent panhypopituitarism was found in 7 patients (29.2%), whereas an overall improvement of pituitary function was noted in 13 (57.1%) patients. Preoperative prolactin (PRL) levels were significantly associated with recovery of endocrine functions, whereas specifically all patients with preoperative PRL levels of at least 8.8 ng/ml recovered partially or fully. Time to surgery (0–7 days vs. 1–4 weeks vs.>4 weeks) was not significantly associated with outcome.
Conclusions Our data emphasize that normal and high preoperative PRL levels are associated with better endocrine outcome after surgery. We conclude that patients benefit from surgical intervention even after delayed diagnosis with the serum PRL levels is being a valid biomarker for clinical decision making.
Effects of Gemfibrozil on Lipids and Haemostasis after Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Andersen P , Smith P , Seljeflot I , Brataker S , Arnesen H 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe effects of gemfibrozil on haemostatic variables were studied in 43 survivors of myocardial infarction with serum triglycerides (TG) ≥2 mmol/1 2 weeks prior to randomization. The study was double-blind, placebo-controlled and stratified for chronic betablockade. Twenty-two individuals were given gemfibrozil 600 mg twice daily and 21 individuals received matching placebo. After 8 weeks the TG level was unchanged in the placebo group, whereas a 44% reduction was noted in the gemfibrozil group (p <0.0001). Fibrinogen increased in both groups, while bleeding time and platelet count were unchanged. Clotting factor VH-phospholipid complex decreased in both groups, but the change was more marked and attained statistical significance only in the gemfibrozil group (60% reduction, p <0.01). By DDAVP-stimulated D-Dimer agglutination test 8 in 21 patients in the placebo group (38%) still had reduced fibrinolytic capacity versus none in the gemfibrozil group (p = 0.001). Thus, in this study, gemfibrozil improved reduced fibrinolytic capacity and may have reduced hypercoagulability by lowering the clotting factor VH-phospholipid complex.
Pharmacological Profile of the Chemically Synthesized Antithrombin III Binding Fragment of Heparin (Pentasaccharide) in Rats
Authors: Hobbelen Paul M J , Dinther Theo G van , Vogel Gerard M T , Boeckel Constant A A van , Moelker Huib C T , Meuleman Dick G 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe antithrombotic and haemostatic effects of a pentasaccharide, the chemically synthesized antithrombin III (AT-III) binding fragment of heparin (PENTA), were investigated in rats in comparison with heparin. PENTA showed a dose-dependent antithrombotic effect in three thrombosis models in which thrombus formation was induced by different triggers. PENTA was consistently less potent than heparin in these models if doses were expressed in anti-Xa U/kg but PENTA showed more or less the same potency as heparin if doses were expressed in mg/kg. The antithrombotic effect of PENTA was strongly related to its anti-Xa activity as judged from its antithrombotic potency in the various models and from the time courses of both activities. PENTA caused a dose-dependent increase in blood loss in a bleeding model but the dose response curve was rather flat; the effect of PENTA on blood loss was small compared to that of heparin. The duration of action of PENTA as measured by the plasma anti-Xa levels was long compared to that of heparin and
the duration of the antithrombotic effect was that expected on the basis of the plasma anti-Xa levels.Finally, PENTA showed comparable antithrombotic activity after s.c. and i.v. administration, as expected because of the approximately 100% bioavailability of the anti-Xa activity after s.c. administration.
Premature Arterial Disease Associated with Familial Antithrombin III Deficiency
Authors: Johnson E J , Prentice C R M , Parapia L A 
Published: July 2018

SummaryAntithrombin III (ATIII) deficiency is one of the few known abnormalities of the coagulation system known to predispose to venous thromboembolism but its relation to arterial disease is not established. We describe two related patients with this disorder, both of whom suffered arterial thrombotic events, at an early age. Both patients had other potential risk factors, though these would normally be considered unlikely to lead to such catastrophic events at such an age. Thrombosis due to ATIII deficiency is potentially preventable, and this diagnosis should be sought more frequently in patients with arterial thromboembolism, particularly if occurring at a young age. In addition, in patients with known ATIII deficiency, other risk factors for arterial disease should be eliminated, if possible. In particular, these patients should be counselled against smoking.
Different Tissue Plasminogen Activator Release in the Arm and Leg during Venous Occlusion Is Equalized after DDAVP Infusion
Authors: Keber Dušan , Stegnar Mojca , Kluft Cornelis 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe mechanism of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) release during arm and leg venous occlusions and DDAVP (1 desamino- 8-D-arginine vasopressin) infusion was studied in 10 healthy males. The following determinations were carried out on venous blood: t-PA antigen (ELISA), t-PA activity, and t-PA inhibitor (PAI) activity (amidolytic assays). Before DDAVP, there was a 270% t-PA antigen increase in the arm at the end of occlusion as opposed to only a 40% increase in the leg. After DDAVP, t-PA antigen at the end of arm and leg occlusion reached an equal level which was significantly higher than in the arm before DDAVP. The study produced no evidence of PAI release during venous occlusion of a limb. It is concluded that DDAVP is able to elicit t-PA release from arm as well as from leg vessels. The poor fibrinolytic response of leg vessels to venous occlusion is not due to a high PAT release or t-PA stores depletion in leg vessels, but rather to low basal t-PA release in leg vessels.
Analysis of Platelet Cytoskeleton Assembly during Platelet Activation in Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome and Thrombasthenia
Authors: Fujimura Kingo , Fujimoto Tetsuro , Takemoto Motoyoshi , Oda Kenji , Shimomura Takeshi , Maehama Shuji , kuramoto Atusushi 
Published: July 2018

SummaryTime course change of the platelet cytoskeletal protein component in the Triton X-100 insoluble fraction after stimulation was analyzed in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome and thrombasthenia.In Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS), a 31 kDa protein, myosin, actin, and a 100 kDa protein assembled as in the normal platelets at the shape change and release reaction phases after ADP or collagen stimulation, suggesting that, the deficient dense granule content do not lead to an abnormal platelet cytoskeletal protein assembly. In thrombasthenia (Type I), myosin increased at the shape change and release reaction phases as it does in normal platelets, but actin and the 100 kDa protein increased only at the initial activation phase, and then subsequently decreased to the level of the resting phase. The actin-binding protein (ABP) and the 31 kDa protein increased a little following stimulation. Similar cytoskeletal protein change after stimulation were found in normal platelets which were prevented from the aggregation process by chelating the external Ca2+ or by using synthetic decapeptide of fibrinogen γ-chain of carboxyl terminus. The decreased platelet cytoskeletal protein assembly in thrombasthenia or in platelets stimulated without aggregation, was derived from a loss of the platelet aggregation process due to the defect of GP Ilb-IIIa complex or an interaction failure between GP IIb-IIIa complex and fibrinogen. The interaction between platelets and either fibrinogen or fibrin can induce a more stable platelet cytoskeletal protein assembly, however, agonistic stimulation without these interactions cannot do it directly.
The Impact of Sequential Quality Assessment Exercises on Laboratory Performance: The Multicentre ECAT Angina Pectoris
Authors: Thompson S G , Calori G , Thomson J M , Haverkate F , Duckert F 
Published: July 2018

SummaryAs an adjunct to a European multicentre prospective study, five quality assessment (QA) exercises, spanning a period of 2.5 years, were undertaken. In these, fifteen laboratories from eight countries each performed ten haemostatic factor assays. The design of the QA exercises allowed the between-dupli cate, between-day and between-laboratory coefficients of variation (CVs) to be calculated. The between-duplicate CV decreased by a factor of one quarter, and the between-day CV by a factor of one third, over the five exercises. The activated-partial thromboplastin time (APTT) assay consistently showed the lowest CVs, while there was notable improvement in the between-day CVs for von Willebrand factor related antigen (vWF R: Ag) and factor VIII clotting activity (VIII:C), However, the between-laboratory CV assessing extent of agreement between the different laboratories, did not apparently improve over the five exercises. Thus, while QA exercises may be very useful in improving the performance of haemostatic assays according to criteria which an individual laboratory can assess, improving agreement on haemostatic assay results between laboratories may be more difficult to achieve.
A New Computerized Impedance Plethysmograph: Accuracy in the Detection of Proximal Deep-Vein Thrombosis in Symptomatic Outpatients
Authors: Prandoni Paolo , Lensing Anthonie W A , Huisman Menno V , Jonker Jan J C , Vigo Mario , Borm Judocus J J , Büller Harry R , Sing A K , Carta Mariarosa , Cate Jan Wouter ten 
Published: July 2018

SummaryBecause of the lack of specificity of the clinical diagnosis it is appropriate in patients with clinically suspected deep-vein thrombosis to apply an objective test before starting anticoagulant treatment. Impedance plethysmography is a highly accurate technique for the detection of proximal-vein thrombosis with a reported sensitivity and specificity of 93 and 97%, respectively. In all previous reported evaluations of impedance plethysmography an apparatus which was developed in 1971 was used.A new computerized impedance plethysmograph, using a novel device to measure impedance, was blindly compared against venography in 443 consecutive outpatients with clinically suspected deep-vein thrombosis. In the first phase of the study the computerized impedance plethysmography test results of 242 symptomatic patients were used to develop a discriminant line. Subsequently, this discriminant line was validated in the second phase of the study in another 201 symptomatic patients. The combined sensitivity and specificity of these two phases for proximal-vein thrombosis was 91% [95% confidence interval (Cl), 86 to 94%] and 94% (95% CI, 90 to 96%), respectively, which compares favourably with impedance plethysmography.It is concluded that computerized impedance plethysmography is a simple, portable, non-invasive technique with a high accuracy for the detection of proximal vein thrombosis. However, before computerized impedance plethysmography can be used as the only test in the diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis, the safety of withholding anticoagulant treatment to patients with repeated normal computerized test results should be assessed during longterm follow-up studies.
A Fibrin Specific Monoclonal Antibody which Interferes with the Fibrinolytic Effect of Tissue Plasminogen Activator
Authors: Gargan P E , Ploplis V A , Scheu J D 
Published: June 2018

SummaryMonoclonal antibodies to human fibrin have been prepared from stable hybridomas, obtained by fusion of a mouse myeloma cell line (NS-1) and spleen cells of Balb/c mice immunized with a suspension of human fibrin. One cell line, DG1, producing a monoclonal antibody of the IgG1 κ subclass, reacted specifically with human fibrin (KD = 1.2 nM). Western blotting analysis indicates that DG1 crossreacts with the fibrin fragment D-dimer. Using both a chromogenic and an 125I-fibrin release assay it was illustrated that in the presence of the fibrin specific antibody the t-PA mediated generation of plasmin was significantly inhibited.An animal model system, developed to monitor thrombosis and induced reactive fibrinolysis, was used to investigate the interference of plasminogen activation, by the antibody, in vivo.This fibrin specific antibody prolonged the onset of reactive fibrinolysis in a dose dependent manner.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator is Endocytosed by Mannose and Galactose Receptors of Rat Liver Cells
Authors: Smedsrød Bård , Einarsson Monica , Pertoft Håkan 
Published: June 2018

SummaryExperiments were carried out to charact erize the specificity of uptake of tPA in rat liver cells. Endocytosis in liver endothelial cells of the native carbohydrate variants of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and tPA inactivated by diisopropyl fluorophosphate was found to be competitive, suggesting that the determinant being recognized by these cells is different from the active site. Fibronectin and urokinase, which show partial homology with tPA, did not compete with tPA for uptake in liver endothelial cells. Hyaluronic acid, collagen, or IgG, which are endocytosed by specific receptors in liver endothelial cells, did not interfere with the uptake.Reduced endocytosis by liver endothelial cells was observed with tPA modified in the carbohydrate side chains, suggesting that these structures are important for uptake. Ovalbumin, mannan, mannose, fructose, and EDTA, but not galactose, effectively inhibited uptake in liver endothelial cells of both native and diisopropyl fluorophosphate-inhibited tPA, but had very little effect on the uptake of tPA modified in the carbohydrate side
chains.Endocytosis of native tPA by parenchymal cells could be inhibited by galactose, ovalbumin, and EDTA, but not by mannose.These results suggest that endocytosis of tPA by liver endothelial cells and parenchymal cells is mediated by the mannose and galactose receptors, respectively.
Fibrin Formed in Plasma is Composed of Fibers More Massive than those Formed from Purified Fibrinogen
Authors: Carr Marcus E 
Published: June 2018

SummaryReports of altered fibrin resulting from interactions with plasma proteins and cellular release products have raised the possibility that plasma fibrin may differ from purified fibrin. To investigate this possibility, the structures of thrombin-induced gels formed from platelet poor plasma and from purified fibrinogen were compared using turbidity and gel perfusion techniques. Plasma gels formed more slowly and were composed of fibers two to four times more massive than gels formed from purified fibrinogen. Increasing calcium concentration, decreasing ionic strength, decreasing thrombin concentration, or increasing fibrinogen concentration resulted in increasing fiber size. Addition of excess thrombin accelerated plasma gel formation and decreased gel fiber size, but did not totally eliminate the structural differences between the two systems. Thus, antithrombin activity, while possibly contributory, is not solely responsible for the altered gel structure. Penetration of plasma gels by fibrinolytic agents, egress to areas of injury by inflammatory cells, and gel removal by plasmin are processes at least partially dependent on gel fiber and pore size.