bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Kolkata,
India: Prevalence, Pathogenesis and Potential Disease Biomarkers
Authors: Basu Jayita , Datta Chhanda , Chowdhury Subhankar , Mandal Debasmita , Mondal Nandan Kumar , Ghosh Amlan 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
Aims Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may vary
across a country like India. Risk factors and disease-pathogenesis were also
not fully elucidated. This study aimed to examine prevalence of GDM among
pregnant women visiting antenatal clinic of a tertiary-care hospital of
Kolkata, India; possible mechanism of disease pathogenesis and potency of
associated parameters as disease biomarkers were also explored.
Methods 735 pregnant women were screened for GDM according to DIPSI
(Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India) guideline and risk-factors were
analyzed. Case-control study was conducted with 114 GDM and 114 matched
non-GDM control. Blood sample was collected before glucose load for complete
blood count, measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and assessment of
DNA damage.
Results Prevalence of GDM was found to be
17.2%(127/735). Maternal age, diabetic family history and
acanthosis nigricans seemed to be important risk factors. Total ROS,
lymphocyte DNA damage (measured by comet-assay) and some inflammatory
hematological parameters were significantly higher in GDM compared to
control. ROS, comet-tail DNA%, WBC, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio
(NLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) were established as independent
determinants of disease condition after adjustment for pre-gestational body
mass index. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, ROS>155.7
arbitrary fluorescent unit, NLR>2.12 and
MPV>11.05 fL showed 82.5 & 98.2%, 71.9
& 84.2% and 71.9 & 82.5% sensitivity
& specificity respectively in disease prediction.
Conclusions Prevalence of GDM seemed to be high in Kolkata on Indian
scenario. Oxidative-stress, related DNA-damage and inflammation seemed to
have important contribution in pathogenesis of GDM independent of obesity.
ROS, NLR and MPV with respective cut-off scores might be used as diagnostic
and prognostic biomarkers for better management of the disease.
German Heart Surgery Report 2017: The Annual Updated Registry of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Authors: Meyer Renate , Lewandowski Jana , Frie Michael , Markewitz Andreas , Harringer Wolfgang , Beckmann Andreas 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBased on a longtime voluntary registry, founded by the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (GSTCVS), well-defined data of all cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery procedures performed in 78 German heart surgery departments during the year 2017 are analyzed. In 2017, a total of 179,337 procedures were submitted to the registry, and 101,728 were summarized as heart surgery procedures in the narrower sense. About 16.8% of these patients were at least 80 years old, resulting in an increase of 1.1% compared with the data of 2016. The 36,273 isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures (relationship on-/off-pump 4.2:1) were associated with an unadjusted in-hospital survival rate of 97.3%. Concerning the 34,394 isolated heart valve procedures (including 12,965 transcatheter interventions), the unadjusted in-hospital survival rate was 96.0%.This annual updated registry of the GSTCVS represents voluntary public reporting by accumulating actual information for nearly all heart surgical procedures in Germany, describes advancements in heart medicine, and is a basis for in- and external quality assurance for all participating institutions. In addition, the registry demonstrates that the provision of cardiac surgery in Germany is appropriate, and nationwide patient treatment is guaranteed at any time.
Empiric Antibiotic Treatment Thresholds for Serious Bacterial Infections: A Scenario-based Survey Study
Authors: Cressman Alex M , MacFadden Derek R , Verma Amol A , Razak Fahad , Daneman Nick 
Published: December 2018

Abstract

Background
Physicians face competing demands of maximizing pathogen coverage while minimizing unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics when managing sepsis. We sought to identify physicians’ perceived likelihood of coverage achieved by their usual empiric antibiotic regimen, along with minimum thresholds of coverage they would be willing to accept when managing these patients.

Methods
We conducted a scenario-based survey of internal medicine physicians from across Canada using a 2 × 2 factorial design, varied by infection source (undifferentiated vs genitourinary) and severity (mild vs severe) denoted by the Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score. For each scenario, participants selected their preferred empiric antibiotic regimen, estimated the likelihood of coverage achieved by that regimen, and considered their minimum threshold of coverage.

Results
We had 238 respondents: 87 (36.6%) residents and 151 attending physicians (63.4%). The perceived likelihood of antibiotic coverage and minimum thresholds of coverage (with interquartile range) for each scenario were as follows: (1) severe undifferentiated, 90% (89.5%–95.0%) and 90% (80%–95%), respectively; (2) mild undifferentiated, 89% (80%–95%) and 80% (70%–89.5%); (3) severe genitourinary, 91% (87.3%–95.0%) and 90% (80.0%–90.0%); and (4) mild genitourinary, 90% (81.8%–91.3%) and 80% (71.8%–90%). Illness severity and infectious disease specialty predicted higher thresholds of coverage whereas less clinical experience and lower self-reported prescribing intensity predicted lower thresholds of coverage.

Conclusions
Pathogen coverage of 80% and 90% are physician-acceptable thresholds for managing patients with mild and severe sepsis from bacterial infections. These data may inform clinical guidelines and decision-support tools to improve empiric antibiotic prescribing.
Multi-scale analysis of schizophrenia risk genes, brain structure, and clinical symptoms reveals integrative clues for subtyping schizophrenia patients
Authors: Ma Liang , Rolls Edmund T , Liu Xiuqin , Liu Yuting , Jiao Zeyu , Wang Yue , Gong Weikang , Ma Zhiming , Gong Fuzhou , Wan Lin 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAnalysis linking directly genomics, neuroimaging phenotypes and clinical measurements is crucial for understanding psychiatric disorders, but remains rare. Here, we describe a multi-scale analysis using genome-wide SNPs, gene expression, grey matter volume (GMV), and the positive and negative syndrome scale scores (PANSS) to explore the etiology of schizophrenia. With 72 drug-naive schizophrenic first episode patients (FEPs) and 73 matched heathy controls, we identified 108 genes, from schizophrenia risk genes, that correlated significantly with GMV, which are highly co-expressed in the brain during development. Among these 108 candidates, 19 distinct genes were found associated with 16 brain regions referred to as hot clusters (HCs), primarily in the frontal cortex, sensory-motor regions and temporal and parietal regions. The patients were subtyped into three groups with distinguishable PANSS scores by the GMV of the identified HCs. Furthermore, we found that HCs with common GMV among patient groups are related to genes that mostly mapped to pathways relevant to neural signaling, which are associated with the risk for schizophrenia. Our results provide an integrated view of how genetic variants may affect brain structures that lead to distinct disease phenotypes. The method of multi-scale analysis that was described in this research, may help to advance the understanding of the etiology of schizophrenia.
Digital humanities and new directions in South Korea
Authors: Lee Jisu , Lee Hye-Eun 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
The course of reprocessing knowledge and information about social sciences and humanities using digital technology is taking root as a new field of academia called the ‘digital humanities’ (DH). While the social sciences and humanities in South Korea have shown a marked reluctance toward the integration of digital technology, the perception of its necessity as a new methodology for developing these fields in the digital age is growing. Until recently, analytical studies on the status and contents of DH were conducted on data from the western world. Despite their late start, however, Asian countries have begun conducting research on DH with enthusiasm. In order for DH to be properly established in each country, it is essential to set the direction by investigating the pre-requisites for DH studies in that country, as well as the current and future demands. As such, this study discusses the current status and issues regarding DH in South Korea by analyzing the trends of DH research published in South Korea, as well as by examining the status and perception of DH among actual scholars. Based on this study’s findings, we present strategies for improving education programs on DH in South Korea and promulgate the necessity of using DH methodologies in the study of social sciences and humanities to develop global networks and academic communication.
Preliminary Clinical Microneurosurgical Experience With the 4K3-Dimensional Microvideoscope (ORBEYE) System for Microneurological Surgery: Observation Study
Authors: Murai Yasuo , Sato Shun , Yui Kanako , Morimoto Daijiro , Ozeki Tomohiro , Yamaguchi Masahiro , Tateyama Kojiro , Nozaki Toshiki , Tahara Shigeyuki , Yamaguchi Fumio , Morita Akio 
Published: December 2018

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The exoscope has been reported as a novel neurosurgical instrumentation in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possibility that ORBEYE (OE), a novel instrument that excludes eyepiece lenses and allows for microsurgery by observation of the 4K3D monitor, could replace microscopes.

METHODS
We report 22 clinical cases by 5 experienced neurosurgeons and the comparative results of training 10 residents. An observation study with questionnaire survey was conducted on usability. Twelve items including image quality, eyestrain, and function of the arm were evaluated.

RESULTS
The following 22 clinical procedures were conducted: surgery for intracranial hemorrhage (n = 2) and brain tumor (n = 8), laminectomy (n = 3), aneurysm clipping (n = 3), vascular anastomosis (n = 2), carotid endarterectomy (n = 2), and nerve decompression (n = 1). No complications were observed. The fluorescent study, including indocyanine-green and 5-aminolevunic acid, allowed for clear depiction on the 4K monitor. The surgeon could operate in a comfortable posture. Similar to the microscope, it was possible to change the optical and viewing axes with the OE, but the OE was switched to the microscope or endoscope in hematoma removal and pituitary surgery. Residents judged that eyestrain was strong (P = .0096). Experienced neurosurgeons acting as assistants judged that the scope arm's range of movement was narrow (P = .0204). Sixty percent of residents judged that the OE was superior to the microscope.

CONCLUSION
Although based on limited experience, it was not possible to substitute the microscope with the OE in all operations; however, the OE surpasses the microscope in terms of ergonomic features.
Technical Aspects and Operative Nuances Using a High-Definition 3-Dimensional Exoscope for Cerebral Bypass Surgery
Authors: Nossek Erez , Schneider Julia R , Kwan Kevin , Kulason Kay O , Du Victor , Chakraborty Shamik , Rahme Ralph , Faltings Lukas , Ellis Jason , Ortiz Rafael , Boockvar John A , Langer David J 
Published: December 2018

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Cerebral bypass operation is a technically challenging operation that requires excellent surgical visibility and efficient ergonomics to minimize complications and maximize successful revascularization. Despite the operative microscope's utilization for the past two generations, there remains a need for continued improvement in operative visualization and surgical ergonomics.

OBJECTIVE
To report the positives and negatives of our initial experience using a novel 4 K high-definition (4K-HD) 3-dimensional (3D) exoscope (EX) for cranial bypass surgery.

METHODS
A retrospective review over 6 mo was performed of all patients who have undergone cerebral bypass surgery at a single institution using the 4K-HD 3D EX. Advantages and disadvantages of the EX and clinical outcome of the patients were assessed.

RESULTS
A total of 5 patients underwent cerebral EC-IC bypass surgery with no EX-related complications and successful revascularization. The lightweight design of the EX allowed for easy instrument maneuverability as well as uncomplicated surgical set up in the operating room. The assistance of the cosurgeon was significantly more efficient compared to that of the operating microscope. The large monitor allowed for an immersive, collaborative, and valuable educational surgical experience.

CONCLUSION
Using the EX for cerebral bypass surgery, with 3D ultra-high-definition optics, enhancements of ergonomics, and improved training, we believe that the 3D 4K-HD EX may represent the next generation of operative scopes in microneurosurgery.
Predicting organizational readiness to implement HIV prevention with couples using practitioners’ intentions: testing a heuristic
Authors: Witte Susan S , Pinto Rogerio , Choi C Jean , Wall Melanie M 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
Couple-based interventions may play a key role in ending the AIDS epidemic. Progress has been made in demonstrating successful implementation of both manual-based and web-based modalities of couple-based HIV prevention in clinical trials. To ensure real world implementation, however, we need a better understanding of how best to prepare organizations to support such interventions. We sought to examine which domains of staff-reported organizational readiness predicted providers’ intention to deliver a couple-based HIV-prevention intervention. Organizational readiness was assessed at baseline from 253 facilitators enrolled in a randomized clinical trial testing dissemination and implementation of a couple-based HIV prevention program (2007–2012). Consistent with current organizational-readiness theory, we measured general capacities; capacities specific to a couple-based intervention; and staff motivation to implement the intervention. We used multilevel regression models to examine the influence of these capacities on intention to implement at 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-up, adjusting for staff age, education, role, years of service, and randomized condition. Higher perceived organizational resources (B = 0.126, p = .028) and better staff motivation (B = 0.510, p = .009) were significant predictors of increased intention to facilitate Connect. Higher organizational resource availability and stronger motivation to facilitate the intervention are key domains that could inform administrator and staff training to strengthen readiness for couple-based programs. However, further research is needed to clarify the role of these domains regarding actual implementation.
Structure and assembly of aClostridioides difficilespore polar appendage
Authors: Antunes Wilson , Pereira Fátima C. , Feliciano Carolina , Saujet Laure , Vultos Tiago dos , Couture-Tosi Evelyne , Péchiné Severine , Bruxelle Jean-François , Janoir Claire , Melo Luís V. , Brito Patrícia , Martin-Verstraete Isabelle , Serrano Mónica , Dupuy Bruno , Henriques Adriano O. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractClostridioides difficile, a strict anaerobic spore-former, is the main cause of nosocomial disease associated to antibiotic therapy in adults and a growing concern in the community. Spores are the main infectious, persistence and transmission vehicle. Spore germination occurs in the intestine and the resulting vegetative cells will produce the toxins responsible for the disease symptoms, and spores. During sporulation, a wild type population bifurcates into two main spore morphotypes, with or without a thick exosporium. We show that this bifurcation extends to the formation of spores with a robust polar appendage or spores with a short appendage or that lack this structure. The cysteine-rich CdeM protein localizes to the appendage and around the entire surface of the spore, and is a major structural component of the exosporium, which we show is continuous with the appendage. In aCdeMmutant, when present, the polar appendage is short and disorganized. We show that wild type andcdeMspores with a short or no appendage germinate poorly in response to taurocholate, compared to those with an appendage.cdeMspores of the two types, however, germinate faster than their wild type counterparts. Thus, while the absence of CdeM may increase the permeability of spores to taurocholate, proper assembly of the appendage is also important for germination. Consistent with an overall enhancement of germination, acdeMmutant shows increased virulence in a hamster model of disease. For a wild type population, spores with a short or no appendage germinate slower than the appendage-bearing spores. Differences in transmission, persistence and disease severity may result, in part, from their proportion in a spore population.
Dynamic urinary proteomic analysis in a Walker 256 intracerebral tumor model
Authors: Zhang Linpei , Li Yuqiu , Meng Wenshu , Ni Yanying , Gao Youhe 
Published: December 2018

AbstractPatients with primary and metastatic brain cancer have an extremely poor prognosis, mostly due to the late diagnosis of disease. Urine, which lacks homeostatic mechanisms, is an ideal biomarker source that accumulates early and highly sensitive changes to provides information about the early stage of disease. A rat model mimicking the local tumor growth process in the brain was established with intracerebral Walker 256 (W256) cell injection. Urine samples were collected on days 3, 5 and 8 after injection and then analyzed by LC-MS/MS. In the intracerebral W256 model, no obvious clinical manifestations changes or abnormal MRI signals were found on days 3 and 5; at these time points, nine proteins were changed significantly in the urine of all 8 tumor rats. On day 8, when tumors were detected by MRI, twenty-five differential proteins were identified, including 10 proteins that have been reported to be closely related to tumor metastasis or brain tumors. The differential urinary proteomes were compared with those from the subcutaneous W256 model and the intracerebral C6 model. Few differential proteins overlapped. Specific differential protein patterns were observed among the three models, indicating that the urinary proteome can reflect the difference when tumor cells with different growth characteristics are inoculated into the brain and when identical tumor cells are inoculated into different areas, specifically, the subcutis and the brain.
Host diet and evolutionary history explain different aspects of gut microbiome diversity among vertebrate clades
Authors: Youngblut Nicholas D. , Reischer Georg H. , Walters William , Schuster Nathalie , Walzer Chris , Stalder Gabrielle , Ley Ruth E. , Farnleitner Andreas H. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractMultiple factors modulate microbial community assembly in the gut, but the magnitude of each can vary substantially across studies. This may be in part due to a heavy reliance on captive animals, which can have very different gut microbiomes versus their wild counterparts. In order to better resolve the influence of evolution and diet on gut microbiome diversity, we generated a large and highly diverse animal distal gut 16S rRNA microbiome dataset, which comprises 80 % wild animals and includes members of Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia, and Actinopterygii. We decoupled the effects of host evolutionary history and diet on gut microbiome diversity and show that each factor explains different aspects of diversity. Moreover, we resolved particular microbial taxa associated with host phylogeny or diet, and we show that Mammalia have a stronger signal of cophylogeny versus non-mammalian hosts. Additionally, our results from ecophylogenetics and co-occurrence analyses suggest that environmental filtering and microbe-microbe interactions differ among host clades. These findings provide a robust assessment of the processes driving microbial community assembly in the vertebrate intestine.
Rootstock effects on scion phenotypes in a ‘Chambourcin’ experimental vineyard
Authors: Migicovsky Zoë , Harris Zachary N. , Klein Laura L. , Li Mao , McDermaid Adam , Chitwood Daniel H. , Fennell Anne , Kovacs Laszlo G. , Kwasniewski Misha , Londo Jason P. , Ma Qin , Miller Allison J. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractUnderstanding how root systems modulate shoot system phenotypes is a fundamental question in plant biology and will be useful in developing resilient agricultural crops. Grafting is a common horticultural practice that joins the roots (rootstock) of one plant to the shoot (scion) of another, providing an excellent method for investigating how these two organ systems affect each other. In this study, we use the French-American hybrid grapevine ‘Chambourcin’ (Vitis L.) as a model to explore the rootstock-scion relationship. We examined leaf shape, ion concentrations, and gene expression in ‘Chambourcin’ grown own-rooted as well as grafted to three different rootstocks (‘SO4’, ‘1103P’ and ‘3309C’) across two years and three different irrigation treatments. Results described here demonstrate that 1) the largest source of variation in leaf shape stems from the interaction of rootstock by irrigation; 2) leaf position, but also rootstock and rootstock by irrigation interaction, are the primary sources of variation in leaf ion concentrations; and 3) gene expression in scion leaves exhibited significantly different patterns of gene expression from ungrafted vines, and these expression patterns were rootstock-specific. Our work provides an initial description of the subtle and complex effect of grafting on ‘Chambourcin’ leaf morphology, ionomics and gene expression in grapevine scions. Further work across multiple years, environments and additional phenotypes is required in order to determine how the relationship between the rootstock and the scion can best be leveraged for adapting grapevines to a changing climate.
Two Contrasting Classes of Nucleolus-Associated Domains in Mouse Fibroblast Heterochromatin
Authors: Vertii Anastassiia , Ou Jianhong , Yu Jun , Yan Aimin , Pagès Hervé , Liu Haibo , Zhu Lihua Julie , Kaufman Paul D. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIn interphase eukaryotic cells, almost all heterochromatin is located adjacent to the nucleolus or to the nuclear lamina, thus defining Nucleolus-Associated Domains (NADs) and Lamina–Associated Domains (LADs), respectively. Here, we determined the first genome-scale map of murine NADs in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) via deep sequencing of chromatin associated with purified nucleoli. We developed a Bioconductor package called NADfinder and demonstrated that it identifies NADs more accurately than other peak-calling tools, due to its critical feature of chromosome-level local baseline correction. We detected two distinct classes of NADs. Type I NADs associate frequently with both the nucleolar periphery and with the nuclear lamina, and generally display characteristics of constitutive heterochromatin, including late DNA replication, enrichment of H3K9me3 and little gene expression. In contrast, Type II NADs associate with nucleoli but do not overlap with LADs. Type II NADs tend to replicate earlier, display greater gene expression, and are more often enriched in H3K27me3 than Type I NADs. The nucleolar associations of both classes of NADs were confirmed via DNA-FISH, which also detected Type I but not Type II probes enriched at the nuclear lamina. Interestingly, Type II NADs are enriched in distinct gene classes, notably factors important for differentiation and development. In keeping with this, we observed that a Type II NAD is developmentally regulated, present in MEFs but not in undifferentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells.