bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Haemodynamic effects of levosimendan in advanced but stable chronic heart failure
Authors: Najjar Emil , Stålhberg Marcus , Hage Camilla , Ottenblad Erica , Manouras Aristomenis , Haugen Löfman Ida , Lund Lars H. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAimsLevosimendan improves haemodynamics in acute decompensated heart failure (HF). However, it is increasingly used for repetitive or intermittent infusions in advanced but stable chronic HF, without clear indication, selection criteria, or effect. We tested the hypotheses that (1) levosimendan improves haemodynamics in stable chronic HF and (2) that the response is dependent on baseline clinical and haemodynamic factors.Methods and resultsTwenty‐three patients [median age 56 (49–64) years, four (17%) women] with stable New York Heart Association (NYHA) III and IV HF received a single 24 h levosimendan infusion. Non‐invasive haemodynamics (inert gas re‐breathing technique), estimated glomerular filtration rate, and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide were assessed before and after infusion. Levosimendan had the following effects (median change): a significant increase in cardiac output (+9.8 ± 21.6%; P = 0.026) and decrease in N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (−28.1 ± 16.3%, P < 0.001), estimated total peripheral resistance (−16.9 ± 18.3%, P = 0.005), and mean arterial pressure (−5.9 ± 8.2%, P = 0.007), but no change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (+0.89 ± 14.0%, P = 0.955). There were no significant associations between baseline clinical and/or haemodynamic factors and the levosimendan effect on cardiac output.ConclusionsLevosimendan was associated with improved haemodynamics in patients with stable chronic HF, but we could not identify any predictors of the magnitude of haemodynamic response.
Dual Signal Amplification Electrochemical Biosensor for Lead Cation
Authors: Zhang Jing , Lin Yan , Peng Hong , Hong Nian , Cheng Lin , Wei Guobing , Fan Hao 
Published: February 2018

AbstractHerein, a sensitive electrochemical Pb2+ sensor was developed which based on DNA‐functionalized Au nanoparticles(AuNPs) and nanocomposite modified electrode. The DNA‐functionalized AuNPs includes two types of DNA, namely a Pb2+‐mediated DNAzyme comprising a biotin labeled‐enzyme DNA and a substrate strand DNA with a typical stem‐loop structure, and a ferrocene‐labeled linear signal DNA. Without Pb2+, the hairpin loop impeded biotin binding to avidin on the electrode. However,when the goal Pb2+ exists, the substratum strand was divided into two fragments that lead to the enzyme strand was substratumed on the electrode and biotin was admited by avidin, bringing about DNA‐functionalized AuNP(AuNPs) deposition on the electrode surface.The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to measure electrochemical response signals connect to signal DNA.For the amplification characters of the DNA‐functionalized AuNPs and nanocomposite, the electrochemical detection signal of Pb2+ was greatly improved and revealed high specificity. Under optimum conditions, the resultant biosensor bringed out a high sensitivity and selectivity for the determination of Pb2+. The proposed method was able to detect as low as picomolar Pb2+ concentrations.
The effects of parental carbamazepine and gemfibrozil exposure on sexual differentiation in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Hammill Kristine M. , Fraz Shamaila , Lee Abigail H. , Wilson Joanna Y. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract

The effects of parental exposure to pharmaceuticals on sexual differentiation in F1 offspring were examined in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Adult zebrafish were exposed to 0 or 10 μg/L of carbamazepine or gemfibrozil for 6 wk and bred in pairwise crosses to generate 7 distinct lineages. Lineages were formed with both parents from the same treatment group or with only one parent exposed, to delineate between maternal and paternal effects. The F1 offspring from each lineage were reared in clean water and sampled at 45 and 60 d post fertilization (dpf). Gonadal differentiation was assessed by histology. The morphological stages of the gonads were converted to a quantitative day-equivalent based on data from offspring of untreated parents sampled from 15 to 75 dpf, which enabled a quantitative statistical analysis on the timing of sexual differentiation. Paternal, but not maternal, exposure to carbamazepine resulted in significantly faster sexual differentiation and a male-biased sex ratio; these effects were not observed when both parents were exposed. Combined paternal and maternal exposure to gemfibrozil resulted in significantly faster sexual differentiation, and paternal, but not maternal, exposure to gemfibrozil led to male-biased sex ratios. The present study demonstrates the ability of parental exposure to pharmaceuticals to disrupt sexual differentiation in the F1 offspring and also shows that effects may be uniquely influenced by which parent was exposed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1696–1706. © 2018 SETAC
Local functional connectivity suggests functional immaturity in children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Marcos‐Vidal Luis , Martínez‐García Magdalena , Pretus Clara , Garcia‐Garcia David , Martínez Kenia , Janssen Joost , Vilarroya Oscar , Castellanos Francisco X. , Desco Manuel , Sepulcre Jorge , Carmona Susanna 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPrevious studies have associated Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with a maturational lag of brain functional networks. Functional connectivity of the human brain changes from primarily local to more distant connectivity patterns during typical development. Under the maturational lag hypothesis, we expect children with ADHD to exhibit increased local connectivity and decreased distant connectivity compared with neurotypically developing (ND) children. We applied a graph‐theory method to compute local and distant connectivity levels and cross‐sectionally compared them in a sample of 120 children with ADHD and 120 age‐matched ND children (age range = 7–17 years). In addition, we measured if potential group differences in local and distant connectivity were stable across the age range considered. Finally, we assessed the clinical relevance of observed group differences by correlating the connectivity levels and ADHD symptoms severity separately for each group. Children with ADHD exhibited more local connectivity than age‐matched ND children in multiple brain regions, mainly overlapping with default mode, fronto‐parietal and ventral attentional functional networks (p < .05‐ threshold free‐cluster enhancement–family‐wise error). We detected an atypical developmental pattern of local connectivity in somatomotor regions, that is, decreases with age in ND children, and increases with age in children with ADHD. Furthermore, local connectivity within somatomotor areas correlated positively with clinical severity of ADHD symptoms, both in ADHD and ND children. Results suggest an immature functional state of multiple brain networks in children with ADHD. Whereas the ADHD diagnosis is associated with the integrity of the system comprising the fronto‐parietal, default mode and ventral attentional networks, the severity of clinical symptoms is related to atypical functional connectivity within somatomotor areas. Additionally, our findings are in line with the view of ADHD as a disorder of deviated maturational trajectories, mainly affecting somatomotor areas, rather than delays that normalize with age.
Behavioral preference in sequential decision‐making and its association with anxiety
Authors: Zhang Dandan , Gu Ruolei 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn daily life, people often make consecutive decisions before the ultimate goal is reached (i.e., sequential decision‐making). However, this kind of decision‐making has been largely overlooked in the literature. The current study investigated whether behavioral preference would change during sequential decisions, and the neural processes underlying the potential changes. For this purpose, we revised the classic balloon analogue risk task and recorded the electroencephalograph (EEG) signals associated with each step of decision‐making. Independent component analysis performed on EEG data revealed that four EEG components elicited by periodic feedback in the current step predicted participants’ decisions (gamble vs. no gamble) in the next step. In order of time sequence, these components were: bilateral occipital alpha rhythm, bilateral frontal theta rhythm, middle frontal theta rhythm, and bilateral sensorimotor mu rhythm. According to the information flows between these EEG oscillations, we proposed a brain model that describes the temporal dynamics of sequential decision‐making. Finally, we found that the tendency to gamble (as well as the power intensity of bilateral frontal theta rhythms) was sensitive to the individual level of trait anxiety in certain steps, which may help understand the role of emotion in decision‐making.
Expression Quantitative Trait Locus Study of Bone Mineral Density GWAS Variants in Human Osteoclasts
Authors: Mullin Benjamin H , Zhu Kun , Xu Jiake , Brown Suzanne J , Mullin Shelby , Tickner Jennifer , Pavlos Nathan J , Dudbridge Frank , Walsh John P , Wilson Scott G 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis is a complex disease with a strong genetic component. Genomewide association studies (GWAS) have been very successful at identifying common genetic variants associated with bone parameters. A recently published study documented the results of the largest GWAS for bone mineral density (BMD) performed to date (n = 142,487), identifying 307 conditionally independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as associated with estimated BMD (eBMD) at the genomewide significance level. The vast majority of these variants are non-coding SNPs. Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) studies using disease-specific cell types have increasingly been integrated with the results from GWAS to identify genes through which the observed GWAS associations are likely mediated. We generated a unique human osteoclast-specific eQTL data set using cells differentiated in vitro from 158 participants. We then used this resource to characterize the 307 recently identified BMD GWAS SNPs for association with nearby genes (±500 kb). After correction for multiple testing, 24 variants were found to be significantly associated with the expression of 32 genes in the osteoclast-like cells. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that these variants and those in strong linkage disequilibrium with them are enriched in regulatory regions. Several of the eQTL associations identified are relevant to genes that present strongly as having a role in bone, particularly IQGAP1, CYP19A1, CTNNB1, and COL6A3. Supporting evidence for many of the associations was obtained from publicly available eQTL data sets. We have also generated strong evidence for the presence of a regulatory region on chromosome 15q21.2 relevant to both the GLDN and CYP19A1 genes. In conclusion, we have generated a unique osteoclast-specific eQTL resource and have used this to identify 32 eQTL associations for recently identified BMD GWAS loci, which should inform functional studies of osteoclast biology. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
On the number of SQSs, latin hypercubes and MDS codes
Authors: Potapov Vladimir N. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe establish that the logarithm of the number of latin d‐cubes of order n is and the logarithm of the number of sets of t ( is fixed) orthogonal latin squares of order n is . Similar estimations are obtained for systems of mutually strongly orthogonal latin d‐cubes. As a consequence, we construct a set of Steiner quadruple systems of order n such that the logarithm of its cardinality is as and .
Intracranial vessel wall lesions in patients with systematic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Ide Satoru , Kakeda Shingo , Miyata Mari , Iwata Shigeru , Ohkubo Naoaki , Nakayamada Shingo , Futatsuya Koichiro , Watanabe Keita , Moriya Junji , Fujino Yoshihisa , Tanaka Yoshiya , Korogi Yukunori 
Published: February 2018

BACKGROUNDSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is related to vasculitis, which causes brain infarctions; however, the pathology of large cerebral vessels has not been fully established.PURPOSETo demonstrate the prevalence of vessel wall lesions (VWLs) in SLE patients using 3D vessel wall imaging and to assess the relationship between VWLs and brain infarctions.STUDY TYPERetrospective.SUBJECTSSixty SLE patients and 50 healthy subjects (HS).FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCEEach subject underwent 3T MRI, which included 3D FSE PDWI (CUBE).ASSESSMENTFor each of the 33 segments of the intracranial artery (internal carotid artery ∼ M3 segment of middle cerebral artery [MCA]), the VWLs were scored as either positive or negative, and the VWL score was calculated as the sum of the segments with VWLs. We also evaluated brain lesions on conventional MRI.STATISTICAL TESTSWe used logistic regression analyses to determine the clinical (serological test and cardiovascular risk factors) and imaging characteristics associated with infarctions in SLE patients.RESULTSFor the peripheral vessels such as MCA, VWLs were more common for SLE patients than for HS (43.3% versus 16.7% in M1 segment, 60.4% versus 16.7% in M2 segment, both P < 0.01). There were 21 infarctions in 13 patients (21.7%), and the median VWL score was larger in the patients with infarctions than in those without (13 versus 6, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed a high VWL score ( ≥ 9) to be the only factor independently associated with the presence of infarctions (odds ratio: 10.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–101; P < 0.049).DATA CONCLUSIONWe demonstrated a substantially high prevalence of VWLs among SLE patients, which were associated with brain infarctions.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1237–1246.
Radiomic features on MRI enable risk categorization of prostate cancer patients on active surveillance: Preliminary findings
Authors: Algohary Ahmad , Viswanath Satish , Shiradkar Rakesh , Ghose Soumya , Pahwa Shivani , Moses Daniel , Jambor Ivan , Shnier Ronald , Böhm Maret , Haynes Anne‐Maree , Brenner Phillip , Delprado Warick , Thompson James , Pulbrock Marley , Purysko Andrei S , Verma Sadhna , Ponsky Lee , Stricker Phillip , Madabhushi Anant 
Published: February 2018

BackgroundRadiomic analysis is defined as computationally extracting features from radiographic images for quantitatively characterizing disease patterns. There has been recent interest in examining the use of MRI for identifying prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness in patients on active surveillance (AS).PurposeTo evaluate the performance of MRI‐based radiomic features in identifying the presence or absence of clinically significant PCa in AS patients.Study TypeRetrospective.Subjects ModelMRI/TRUS (transperineal grid ultrasound) fusion‐guided biopsy was performed for 56 PCa patients on AS who had undergone prebiopsy.Field Strength/Sequence3T, T2‐weighted (T2w) and diffusion‐weighted (DW) MRI.AssessmentA pathologist histopathologically defined the presence of clinically significant disease. A radiologist manually delineated lesions on T2w‐MRs. Then three radiologists assessed MRIs using PIRADS v2.0 guidelines. Tumors were categorized into four groups: MRI‐negative–biopsy‐negative (Group 1, N = 15), MRI‐positive–biopsy‐positive (Group 2, N = 16), MRI‐negative–biopsy‐positive (Group 3, N = 10), and MRI‐positive–biopsy‐negative (Group 4, N = 15). In all, 308 radiomic features (First‐order statistics, Gabor, Laws Energy, and Haralick) were extracted from within the annotated lesions on T2w images and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. The top 10 features associated with clinically significant tumors were identified using minimum‐redundancy–maximum‐relevance and used to construct three machine‐learning models that were independently evaluated for their ability to identify the presence and absence of clinically significant disease.Statistical TestsWilcoxon rank‐sum tests with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsSeven T2w‐based (First‐order Statistics, Haralick, Laws, and Gabor) and three ADC‐based radiomic features (Laws, Gradient and Sobel) exhibited statistically significant differences (P < 0.001) between malignant and normal regions in the training groups. The three constructed models yielded overall accuracy improvement of 33, 60, 80% and 30, 40, 60% for patients in testing groups, when compared to PIRADS v2.0 alone.Data ConclusionRadiomic features could help in identifying the presence and absence of clinically significant disease in AS patients when PIRADS v2.0 assessment on MRI contradicted pathology findings of MRI‐TRUS prostate biopsies.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:818–828.
Exposure to far‐infrared ray attenuates methamphetamine‐induced impairment in recognition memory through inhibition of protein kinase C δ in male mice: Comparison with the antipsychotic clozapine
Authors: Mai Huynh Nhu , Sharma Naveen , Shin Eun‐Joo , Nguyen Bao Trong , Nguyen Phuong Tram , Jeong Ji Hoon , Cho Eun‐Hee , Lee Yu Jeung , Kim Nam Hun , Jang Choon‐Gon , Nabeshima Toshitaka , Kim Hyoung‐Chun 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe have previously demonstrated that repeated treatment with methamphetamine (MA) results in a recognition memory impairment via upregulation of protein kinase C (PKC) δ and downregulation of the glutathione peroxidase‐1 (GPx‐1)‐dependent antioxidant system. We also demonstrated that far‐infrared ray (FIR) attenuates acute restraint stress via induction of the GPx‐1 gene. Herein, we investigated whether exposure to FIR modulates MA‐induced recognition memory impairment in male mice, and whether cognitive potentials mediated by FIR require modulation of the PKCδ gene, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and glutathione‐dependent system. Repeated treatment with MA significantly increased PKCδ expression and its phosphorylation out of PKC isoenzymes (i.e., PKCα, PKCβI, PKCβII, PKCζ, and PKCδ expression) in the prefrontal cortex of mice. Exposure to FIR significantly attenuated MA‐induced increase in phospho‐PKCδ and decrease in phospho‐ERK 1/2. In addition, FIR further facilitated the nuclear factor E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)‐dependent glutathione synthetic system. Moreover, L‐buthionine‐(S, R)‐sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, counteracted the FIR‐mediated phospho‐ERK 1/2 induction and memory‐enhancing activity against MA insult. More important, positive effects of FIR are comparable to those of genetic depletion of PKCδ or the antipsychotic clozapine. Our results indicate that FIR protects against MA‐induced memory impairment via activations of the Nrf2‐dependent glutathione synthetic system, and ERK 1/2 signaling by inhibition of the PKCδ gene.
Graphene oxide composites for magnetic solid‐phase extraction of trace cytokinins in plant samples followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Cheng Zhenfang , Du Fuyou , Qin Qun , Sun Lingshun , Zeng Qiulian , Ruan Guihua , Li Jianping 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn this work, an easy, effective, and sensitive method based on graphene oxide@silica@magnetite composites as adsorbent of magnetic solid‐phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry, was established and validated for the trace analysis of cytokinins in different plants. The prepared magnetic composite was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, and magnetic hysteresis. Under the optimized conditions, good linearities in the range of 0.5–100 ng/mL were obtained with the corresponding linear correlation coefficient >0.9989 for the investigated four cytokinins, and good sensitivity levels were achieved with low detection limits ranging from 93 to 120 pg/mL. The established magnetic solid‐phase extraction with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry method has been validated in the separation and analysis of four cytokinins in plant samples with good recoveries between 78.9 and 97.3% for four cytokinins with the relative standard deviations lower than 13.5%.
Diagnosis of Fetal Structural Anomalies at 11 to 14 Weeks
Authors: Vayna Ana Maria , Veduta Alina , Duta Simona , Panaitescu Anca Maria , Stoica Sabrina , Buinoiu Natalia , Nedelea Florina , Peltecu Gheorghe 
Published: February 2018

ObjectivesTo assess the performance of first‐trimester ultrasound (US) in identifying major fetal structural abnormalities in an unselected population.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of all pregnancies that underwent the 11‐ to 14‐week scan in the Fetal Medicine Department of Filantropia Hospital in Bucharest, which were prospectively examined within our screening program. The purpose of the first‐trimester US was to evaluate the risk for chromosomal abnormalities and to conduct fetal anatomic examination using a detailed protocol.ResultsOur population consisted of 7480 pregnant patients (7576 fetuses). The follow‐up was completed for 6045 patients (6114 fetuses). The prevalence of major structural anomalies was 1.89%. In the first trimester, we identified 79% of all major structural anomalies. The highest detection rates were achieved for abdominal wall defects (100%), major central nervous system anomalies (88%), cardiac defects (74%), and skeletal anomalies (71%). The nuchal translucency was increased in 35% of the cases with structural anomalies, and 95% of these were diagnosed in the first trimester. Seventy percent of the patients who presented with structural anomalies and a normal nuchal translucency were diagnosed in the first trimester.ConclusionsOur results emphasize the importance of performing a detailed US examination at 11 to 14 weeks' gestation in identification of fetal structural defects.
Significance and Outcomes of Fetal Growth Restriction Below the 5th Percentile Compared to the 5th to 10th Percentiles on Midgestation Growth Ultrasonography
Authors: Zhang‐Rutledge Kathy , Mack Lauren M. , Mastrobattista Joan M. , Gandhi Manisha 
Published: February 2018

ObjectiveTo determine whether there are differences in neonatal and pregnancy outcomes in pregnancies complicated by severe fetal growth restriction, defined as estimated fetal weight below the 5th percentile, compared with estimated fetal weight in the 5th to 10th percentiles at midgestation.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of singleton nonanomalous gestations with estimated fetal weight at or below the 10th percentile (Hadlock et al. Radiology 1991; 181:129–133) at 18 to 24 weeks' gestation. The cohort was divided into fetuses with estimated fetal weight below the 5th percentile and estimated fetal weight in the 5th to 10th percentiles. Antenatal and neonatal outcomes were compared across the groups.ResultsOf the 254 growth‐restricted fetuses, 91 had estimated fetal weight below the 5th percentile, and 163 were in the 5th to 10th percentiles. Fetuses below the 5th percentile were 2.82 times more likely to be born small for gestational age compared to fetuses at the 5th to 10th percentiles (P = .001). Fetuses with estimated fetal weight below the 5th percentile had higher rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (relative risk [RR], 1.79; P = .04), abnormal umbilical artery Doppler waveforms (RR, 6.27; P = .01), labor induction (RR, 1.45; P = .002), neonatal intensive care unit admission (RR, 1.73; P = .02), and Apgar scores of less than 7 at 1 minute (RR, 2.05; P = .04).ConclusionsSeverely growth‐restricted fetuses with an estimated fetal weight below the 5th percentile at 18 to 24 weeks are born smaller and have worse antepartum and neonatal outcomes than those with an estimated fetal weight in the 5th to 10th percentiles. These findings suggest that severely growth‐restricted fetuses at midgestation should be treated and counseled differently than those in the 5th to 10th percentiles.