bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Screening an elderly hearing impaired population for mild cognitive impairment using Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Authors: Lim Magdalene Yeok Leng , Loo Jenny Hooi Yin 
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesTo determine if there is an association between hearing loss and poorer cognitive scores on Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and to determine if poor hearing acuity affects scoring on the cognitive screening tests of MMSE and MoCA.MethodsOne hundred fourteen elderly patients (Singapore residents) aged between 55 and 86 years were sampled. Participants completed a brief history questionnaire, pure tone audiometry, and 2 cognitive screening tests—the MMSE and MoCA. Average hearing thresholds of the better ear in the frequencies of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz were used for data analysis.ResultsHearing loss was significantly associated with poorer cognitive scores in Poisson regression models adjusted for age. Mini‐Mental State Examination scores were shown to decrease by 2.8% (P = .029), and MoCA scores by 3.5% (P = .013) for every 10 dB of hearing loss. Analysis of hearing‐sensitive components of “Registration” and “Recall” in MMSE and MoCA using chi‐square tests showed significantly poorer performance in the hearing loss group as compared to the normal hearing group. Phonetic analysis of target words with high error rates shows that the poor performance was likely contributed by decreased hearing acuity, on top of a possible true deficit in cognition in the hearing impaired.ConclusionsHearing loss is associated with poorer cognitive scores on MMSE and MoCA, and cognitive scoring is likely confounded by poor hearing ability. This highlights an important, often overlooked aspect of sensory impairment during cognitive screening. Provisions should be made when testing for cognition in the hearing‐impaired population to avoid over‐referral and subsequent misdiagnoses of cognitive impairment.
Orbito‐frontal cortex mechanism of inhibition of return in current and remitted depression
Authors: Dai Qin , Yin Xuntao , Li Hong , Feng Zhengzhi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDeficient inhibition of return (IOR) for emotional materials is an important cognitive biomarker of depression. However, its neural mechanism and role in depression remission remain largely unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this study observed the neural foundation of inhibition of return in individuals with current (n = 30) and remitted (n = 27) depression and in healthy controls (n = 33), by using a cue‐target task. The results showed that individuals with remitted depression (RMD) possessed a nonavoidant attention model for sad faces, which indicated a cue validity and was correlated with enhanced task‐ and resting‐state activation and function connectivity in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). The patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), in contrast, displayed an IOR effect for all faces, which indicated a strategy of attention avoidance due to the high cognitive burden in the cue‐target task, and was correlated with decreased resting‐state activation and function connectivity in OFC. Moreover, the hippocampus, a less‐known cortex in IOR, showed a contrary model, that is, lower activation in depression remission and higher task‐ and resting‐state activation in depressive episodes. The results suggest the OFC mechanism of the IOR effect in remitted depression and the hippocampus mechanism of the IOR effect in depressive episodes, which offer potential biomarkers for the clinical treatment of depression.
Photo‐Driven Hydrogen Evolution by an Artificial Hydrogenase Utilizing the Biotin‐Streptavidin Technology
Authors: Keller Sascha G. , Probst Benjamin , Heinisch Tillmann , Alberto Roger , Ward Thomas R. 
Published: March 2018

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by an artificial hydrogenase based on the biotin‐streptavidin technology is reported. A biotinylated cobalt pentapyridyl‐based hydrogen evolution catalyst (HEC) was incorporated into different mutants of streptavidin. Catalysis with [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 as a photosensitizer (PS) and ascorbate as sacrificial electron donor (SED) at different pH values highlighted the impact of close lying amino acids that may act as a proton relay under the reaction conditions (Asp, Arg, Lys). In the presence of a close‐lying lysine residue, both, the rates were improved, and the reaction was initiated much faster. The X‐ray crystal structure of the artificial hydrogenase reveals a distance of 8.8 Å between the closest lying Co‐moieties. We thus suggest that the hydrogen evolution mechanism proceeds via a single Co centre. Our findings highlight that streptavidin is a versatile host protein for the assembly of artificial hydrogenases and their activity can be fine‐tuned via mutagenesis.
Time–space fractional governing equations of transient groundwater flow in confined aquifers: Numerical investigation
Authors: Tu Tongbi , Ercan Ali , Levent Kavvas M. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn order to model non‐Fickian transport behaviour in groundwater aquifers, various forms of the time–space fractional advection–dispersion equation have been developed and used by several researchers in the last decade. The solute transport in groundwater aquifers in fractional time–space takes place by means of an underlying groundwater flow field. However, the governing equations for such groundwater flow in fractional time–space are yet to be developed in a comprehensive framework. In this study, a finite difference numerical scheme based on Caputo fractional derivative is proposed to investigate the properties of a newly developed time–space fractional governing equations of transient groundwater flow in confined aquifers in terms of the time–space fractional mass conservation equation and the time–space fractional water flux equation. Here, we apply these time–space fractional governing equations numerically to transient groundwater flow in a confined aquifer for different boundary conditions to explore their behaviour in modelling groundwater flow in fractional time–space. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed time–space fractional governing equation for groundwater flow in confined aquifers may provide a new perspective on modelling groundwater flow and on interpreting the dynamics of groundwater level fluctuations. Additionally, the numerical results may imply that the newly derived fractional groundwater governing equation may help explain the observed heavy‐tailed solute transport behaviour in groundwater flow by incorporating nonlocal or long‐range dependence of the underlying groundwater flow field.
Benefits of antifungal therapy in asthma patients with airway mycosis: A retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Li Evan , Tsai Chu‐Lin , Maskatia Zahida K. , Kakkar Ekta , Porter Paul , Rossen Roger D. , Perusich Sarah , Knight John M. , Kheradmand Farrah , Corry David B. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIntroductionFungal airway infection (airway mycosis) is increasingly recognized as a cause of asthma and related disorders. However, prior controlled studies of patients treated with antifungal antibiotics have produced conflicting results. Our objective is to measure the effect of antifungal therapy in moderate to severe adult asthmatics with positive fungal sputum cultures in a single center referral‐based academic practice.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 41 patients with asthma and culture‐proven airway mycosis treated with either terbinafine, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, or posaconazole for 4 to >12 weeks together with standard bronchodilator and anti‐inflammatory agents. Asthma control (1 = very poorly controlled; 2 = not well controlled; and 3 = well controlled), peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR), serum total IgE, and absolute blood eosinophil counts before and after antifungal therapy were assessed. In comparison, we also studied nine patients with airway mycosis and moderate to severe asthma who received standard therapy but no antifungals.ResultsTreatment with azole‐based and allylamine antifungals was associated with improved asthma control (mean change in asthma control 1.72–2.25; p = 0.004), increased PEFR (69.4% predicted to 79.3% predicted, p = 0.0011) and markedly reduced serum IgE levels (1,075 kU/L to 463 kU/L, p = 0.0005) and blood eosinophil counts (Mean absolute count 530–275, p = 0.0095). Reduction in symptoms, medication use, and relapse rates decreased as duration of therapy increased. Asthmatics on standard therapy who did not receive antifungals showed no improvement in asthma symptoms or PEFR. Antifungals were usually well tolerated, but discontinuation (12.2%) and relapse (50%) rates were relatively high.ConclusionAntifungals help control symptoms in a subset of asthmatics with culture‐proven airway mycosis. Additional randomized clinical trials are warranted to extend and validate these findings.
Prevalence and predictive factors of early postpartum diabetes among women with gestational diabetes in a single‐center cohort
Authors: Coetzee Ankia , Mason Deidre , Hall David R. , Conradie Magda 
Published: March 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of diabetes at 6–12 weeks postpartum among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and to identify prenatal postpartum diabetes predictors.MethodsIn the present prospective cohort study, glucose statuses of consecutive women newly diagnosed with hyperglycemia during pregnancy were evaluated at 6–12 weeks postpartum between November 1, 2015, and November 1, 2016, at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Women with known diabetes were excluded.ResultsThere were 78 patients included; 36 (46%) patients had abnormal postpartum glucose values (21 [27%] diabetes; 15 [19%] pre‐diabetes) and 29 (37%) had overt diabetes in pregnancy. In univariate analyses, GDM diagnosis before 24 weeks of pregnancy (P<0.001), degree of hyperglycemia at diagnosis (P=0.001), need for insulin (P=0.001), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the month preceding delivery (P=0.006), older than 36 years (P=0.039), family history of diabetes (P=0.048), and preterm labor (P=0.039) were risk factors for postpartum diabetes. Multivariate analyses confirmed family history of diabetes (OR 7.45, 95% CI 1.05–52.76; P=0.044), HbA1c at diagnosis (OR 5.33, 95% CI 2.25–12.60; P<0.001), and age (OR 8.8, 95% CI 1.35–58.45; P=0.023), as robust predictors of diabetes after GDM.ConclusionThe high prevalence of diabetes supports early postpartum oral glucose tolerance testing. Several women had undiagnosed diabetes. The risk factors identified could be useful for prenatal risk stratification.
Risk Propagation in Spate Irrigation Systems: A Case Study from Sudan
Authors: Fadul E. , De Fraiture C. , Masih I. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractFarmers in flood‐based irrigation systems face great uncertainties with respect to water supply. Using the Source–Pathways–Receptor and Consequence (SPRC) framework, this paper explores the sources of risks, propagation pathways, risk perceptions and consequences for the farmers, water users’ associations (WUAs) and water managers in the Gash Agricultural Scheme in Sudan. The main source of risk is the extreme variability of rainfall, causing unpredictable flows regarding volume, timing and duration. The farmers, WUAs and system managers perceive the risks from floods differently. The farmers are primarily concerned by low floods, while the WUAs are more disturbed by untimely floods. The system managers are most troubled by high and potentially destructive floods. The poor state of the infrastructure, lack of proper maintenance and suboptimal operation aggravate the consequences of unpredictable flows. Consequently, the result is low and highly variable crop production. Besides paying attention to infrastructure improvement and regular operation and maintenance activities, more efforts in institutional arrangements and policy support could play an important role in coping with the risks indicated. The SPRC appeared to be a useful framework for analysing risks at different spatial scales and for different stakeholders in the spate irrigation system studied. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Construction of polyacrylamide/graphene oxide/gelatin/sodium alginate composite hydrogel with bioactivity for promoting Schwann cells growth
Authors: Zhao Yinxin , Wang Yingjie , Niu Changmei , Zhang Luzhong , Li Guicai , Yang Yumin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractVarious hydrogels made from natural or synthetic polymers have been widely used in biologic tissues, drug delivery, and artificial implants due to their good biocompatibility, indicating a promising perspective in regenerative medicine. In the present study, a composite hydrogel named polyacrylamide/graphene oxide/gelatin/sodium alginate (PAM/GO/Gel/SA) for accelerating peripheral nerve regeneration was fabricated through in situ free radical polymerization for the first time. A series of physicochemical properties including morphology, porosity, swelling behaviors, component, mechanical properties, and in vitro degradation behavior of the prepared composite hydrogel were characterized. The effects of the composite hydrogel on Schwann cells growth were evaluated and the related molecular mechanism was further penetrated. The results showed that the prepared PAM/GO/Gel/SA composite hydrogels displayed different color appearance as the function of component variations. The surface morphology, components, swelling ratio, mechanical properties, and porosity were all changed with the concentration alteration of each ingredient, while no obvious degradation behavior was observed, indicating a controllable physicochemical property. The culture of cells exhibited that the composite hydrogels could well support the attachment and proliferation of Schwann cells. The gene expression levels of Sox10, GAP43, and myelin basic protein (MBP) in PGG0.5SYR1 and PGG1SYR0.5 were higher than those of NC. This study may provide important theoretical and experimental basis for the design and development of hydrogel scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering application. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1951–1964, 2018.
Gelatin/nano‐hydroxyapatite hydrogel scaffold prepared by sol‐gel technology as filler to repair bone defects
Authors: Raucci Maria Grazia , Demitri Christian , Soriente Alessandra , Fasolino Ines , Sannino Alessandro , Ambrosio Luigi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study reports on the development of a scaffold with a gradient of bioactive solid signal embedded in the biodegradable polymer matrix by combining a sol–gel approach and freeze‐drying technology. The chemical approach based on the sol–gel transition of calcium phosphates ensures the particles dispersion into the gelatin matrix and a direct control of interaction among COOHgelatin/Ca2+ions. Morphological analysis demonstrated that on the basis of the amount of inorganic component and by using specific process conditions, it is possible to control the spatial distribution of nanoparticles around the gelatin helix. In fact, methodology and formulations were able to discriminate between the different hydroxyapatite concentrations and their respective morphology. The good biological response represented by good cell attachment, proliferation and increased levels of alkaline phosphatase as an indicator of osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells toward the osteogenic lineage, demonstrating the effect of bioactive solid signals on cellular behavior. Furthermore, the inhibition of reactive oxygen species production by composite materials predicted potential anti‐inflammatory properties of scaffolds thus confirming their biocompatibility. Indeed, these interesting biological results suggest good potential application of this scaffold as filler to repair bone defects. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 2007–2019, 2018.
Bone marrow or adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells: Comparison of the therapeutic potentials in mice model of acute liver failure
Authors: Zare Hossein , Jamshidi Shahram , Dehghan Mohammad M. , Saheli Mona , Piryaei Abbas 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAcute liver failure (ALF) is a lethal disease with limited life‐saving therapy. Because lack of whole organ donors for liver transplantation, a substitute treatment strategy is needed for these patients. Preclinical and clinical findings have proved that treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is beneficial for recovery from ALF. In this approach, however, the appropriate sources of these cells are unclear. In the present study, we investigated and compared the therapeutic potentials of bone marrow‐mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSC) with those of adipose tissue (AT‐MSC) in carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)‐induced acute liver failure in mice. Murine BM‐ and AT‐MSCs obtained from normal mice were cultured and labelled. The cells were transplanted to CCL4‐induced ALF mice models intravenously. After cell transplantation, blood samples and liver tissues were collected daily for 72 h to analyze liver enzymes and liver histopathology, respectively. We found that survival rate of AT‐MSC transplanted (AT‐TR) mice was significantly higher than that of control (ALF) group. Liver histopathology was superior in the AT‐TR mice, but not significantly, compared to that in BM‐MSC transplanted (BM‐TR) ones. Furthermore, in the AT‐TR mice the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), in some time points were significantly less than those of BM‐TR. Taken together, these data suggest that in comparison to BM‐MSC, AT‐MSCs is an appropriate choice for cell therapy in the case of acute liver failure.
Additive and synergistic inhibition of mantle cell lymphoma cell growth by combining olaparib with ibrutinib
Authors: Curtis Adam , Rueter Jens , Rajan Shelia , Zhang Rong , Shopland Lindsay 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMantle cell lymphoma (MCL) presents a therapeutic challenge. The B cell targeting agent, ibrutinib, is currently one of the most effective second‐line therapies for MCL, but frequently leads to development of drug resistance, and short overall survival time upon relapse. Olaparib targets tumor cells with deficiencies in single‐strand DNA break repair and thus may slow the development of genetic drug resistance. We found that the olaparib‐ibrutinib combination significantly inhibits cell culture growth compared to either drug alone in two genetically distinct MCL cell lines. Moreover, these inhibitory effects are either additive or synergistic, depending on genetic background. Culture growth is inhibited due to increases in apoptosis, cell death, and cell cycle arrest, and the magnitude of each is cell line dependent. The additive and synergistic inhibition of this combination additionally supports a therapeutic strategy involving lower dosing of each drug to reduce potential side effects.
Exercise decreases CLK2 in the liver of obese mice and prevents hepatic fat accumulation
Authors: Muñoz Vitor R. , Gaspar Rafael C. , Kuga Gabriel K. , Nakandakari Susana C. B. R. , Baptista Igor L. , Mekary Rania A. , da Silva Adelino S. R. , de Moura Leandro P. , Ropelle Eduardo R. , Cintra Dennys E. , Pauli José R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe accumulation of fatty acids in the liver associated with obesity condition is also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The impaired fat oxidation in obesity condition leads to increased hepatic fat accumulation and increased metabolic syndrome risk. On the other hand, physical exercise has been demonstrated as a potent strategy in the prevention of NAFLD. Also, these beneficial effects of exercise occur through different mechanisms. Recently, the Cdc2‐like kinase (CLK2) protein was associated with the suppression of fatty acid oxidation and hepatic ketogenesis. Thus, obese animals demonstrated elevated levels of hepatic CLK2 and decreased fat acid oxidation. Here, we explored the effects of chronic physical exercise in the hepatic metabolism of obese mice. Swiss mice were distributed in Lean, Obese (fed with high‐fat diet during 16 weeks) and Trained Obese group (fed with high‐fat diet during 16 weeks and exercised (at 60% exhaustion velocity during 1 h/5 days/week) during 8 weeks. In our results, the obese animals showed insulin resistance, increased hepatic CLK2 content and increased hepatic fat accumulation compared to the Lean group. Otherwise, the chronic physical exercise improved insulin resistance state, prevented the increased CLK2 in the liver and attenuated hepatic fat accumulation. In summary, these data reveal a new protein involved in the prevention of hepatic fat accumulation after chronic physical exercise. More studies can evidence the negative role of CLK2 in the control of liver metabolism, contributing to the improvement of insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
AG‐1031 induced autophagic cell death and apoptosis in C6 glioma cells associated with Notch‐1 signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Yan , Wang Hui , Ge Hui , Yang Zhuo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractGlioma is the most common primary brain tumor with high morbidity and poor prognosis. The effect of AG‐1031, which is developed as an antineoplastic drug, on C6 glioma cells is still not clear. The aim of this research was to explore the effect of AG‐1031 on C6 cells, and tried to find out its potential mechanism on cytotoxicity of C6 cells. The 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol −2‐yl) −2,5‐ diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that AG‐1031 inhibited cell viability in a concentration‐dependent manner, whereas 3‐methyadenine (3‐MA) reduced this effect. Results from hoechst 33342 staining and Western blot assay indicated that AG‐1031 induced C6 cell apoptosis. Western blot assay presented that AG‐1031 notably increased the LC3‐II/LC3‐I ratio and decreased the expression of P62. Besides, our results showed that bafilomycin A1 increased the expression of LC3‐II in cells treated with AG‐1031, which indicated that AG‐1031 can increase autophagy in C6 cells. Meanwhile, Western blot assay showed that AG‐1031 can inhibit Notch‐1 signaling by testing relative protein expressions. The expression of the intracellular domain of Notch (NICD) also decreased according to immunofluorescence assay. Additionally, the activation of Notch‐1 signaling alleviated AG‐1031‐induced autophagic cell death and apoptosis. Furthermore, phosphorylated Akt and its downstream effector mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) were reduced with AG‐1031. These results suggest that AG‐1031 may induce autophagic cell death through the inhibition of Akt‐mTOR signaling pathway by down‐regulating Notch‐1 signaling pathway and activating apoptosis in C6 cells via Notch‐1 signaling, which develops a new target spot to treat glioma in the future.