bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heat shock protein 47 as indispensible participant in liver fibrosis: Possible protective effect of lactoferrin
Authors: Rizk Fatma H. , Sarhan Naglaa I. , Soliman Nema A. , Ibrahim Marwa A. A. , Abd‐Elsalam Marwa , Abd‐Elsalam Sherief 
Published: August 2018

AbstractLactoferrin (LF) was previously suggested to have a protective effect against liver fibrosis by preventing hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. The effect of LF on heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) has not yet been studied so this study was designed to investigate LF effect on HSP47 as a potential target for management of liver fibrosis and comparing it with silymarin (SM) in a thioacetamide (TAA)‐induced liver fibrosis model. Rats were divided into four groups; normal control, TAA (TAA‐treated), LF (LF + TAA‐treated), and SM (SM + TAA‐treated). After 6 weeks, both LF and SM improved the grade of cirrhosis, reduced collagen fibers deposition, inactivated HSCs, significantly decreased elevated liver enzymes, HSP47, hydroxyproline content, transforming growth factor‐beta 1, matrix metalloproteinase‐2, 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide levels and the percentage of alpha smooth muscle actin positive HSCs compared with TAA group. Moreover, LF significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity compared with TAA group. It could be concluded that LF is a promising antifibrotic drug and could be considered as one of the HSP47 inhibitors but SM is still more potent. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(8):795–805, 2018
Dynamic discrete copula models for high‐frequency stock price changes
Authors: Koopman Siem Jan , Lit Rutger , Lucas André , Opschoor Anne 
Published: August 2018

SummaryWe develop a dynamic model for the intraday dependence between discrete stock price changes. The conditional copula mass function for the integer tick‐size price changes has time‐varying parameters that are driven by the score of the predictive likelihood function. The marginal distributions are Skellam and also have score‐driven time‐varying parameters. We show that the integration steps in the copula mass function for large dimensions can be accurately approximated via numerical integration. The resulting computational gains lead to a methodology that can treat high‐dimensional applications. Its accuracy is shown by an extensive simulation study. In our empirical application of 10 US bank stocks, we reveal strong evidence of time‐varying intraday dependence patterns: Dependence starts at a low level but generally rises during the day. Based on one‐step‐ahead out‐of‐sample density forecasting, we find that our new model outperforms benchmarks for intraday dependence such as the cubic spline model, the fixed correlation model, or the rolling average realized correlation.
Nanoentrapped polyphenol coating for sustained drug release from a balloon catheter
Authors: Dugas Tammy R. , Brewer Gabrielle , Longwell Madison , Fradella Taylor , Braun Jacob , Astete Carlos E. , Jennings Merilyn H. , Sabliov Cristina M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractPeripheral artery disease is a cardiovascular disease characterized by a narrowing of arteries that supply blood to the extremities, particularly, the legs. When surgical intervention is warranted, the primary approach is balloon angioplasty. Drug coated balloons (DCB) designed to release antimitogenic agents to the site of the blockage are a relatively new product aimed at reducing artery re‐narrowing, or restenosis, after intervention. However, first generation DCB utilize mainly direct application of the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel, along with hydrophilic excipients to facilitate uptake into the tissue, and the majority of drug is released from the DCB systemically. We thus designed a drug‐eluting nanoparticle delivery system for firm attachment to the balloon surface and only slow release of its entrapped drugs within a fluid environment. We furthermore chose the relatively nontoxic polyphenols resveratrol and quercetin as active agents we've shown reduce smooth muscle cell proliferation and inflammatory cell and platelet activation, all contributing events in restenosis. A polymeric nanoparticle (pNP) system based on poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid but possessing a positive charge was designed for firm attachment to the balloon matrix, followed by adhesion to the negatively charged bilayer of the vascular wall. As a first step toward testing its biologic properties, drug elution into a simulated blood fluid was determined, as well as the fold enrichment of cells with drug after exposure to the drug‐entrapped pNPs compared to drugs only. Cytotoxicity to vascular smooth muscle cells was assessed, along with their biocompatibility, determined as their ability to promote red blood cell lysis. The drug‐entrapped pNP system showed excellent biocompatibility with limited cytotoxicity. In addition, the pNPs released the two drugs only very slowly over 10 days. Development of a spray process for delivering the drug‐entrapped pNPs to a balloon surface and in vivo testing in small animals appears warranted. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 00B: 000–000, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 646–651, 2019.
Evaluation of resorbable polydioxanone and polyglycolic acid meshes in a rat model of ventral hernia repair
Authors: Fatkhudinov Timur , Tsedik Larisa , Arutyunyan Irina , Lokhonina Anastasia , Makarov Andrey , Korshunov Aleksey , Elchaninov Andrey , Kananykhina Evgeniya , Vasyukova Olesya , Usman Natalia , Uvarova Elena , Chuprynin Vladimir , Eremina Irina , Degtyarev Dmitry , Sukhikh Gennady 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate physical, mechanical, and biological properties of the polydioxanone (PDO) monofilament meshes and polyglycolide (PGA) polyfilament meshes in comparison with Permacol® implants. In rat experimental model, a 1.5 × 2.0 cm defect in abdominal wall was reconstructed by using the Permacol surgical implant or knitted meshes produced from either PDO monofilament, or PGA multifilament. The implant sites were assessed for the tensile strength and the extents of material resorption, host inflammatory response and host tissue replacement on days 3, 10, 30, or 60 after the surgery. The PDO and PGA meshes were rapidly pervaded by the host connective tissue with elements of skeletal muscle histogenesis. The degree of adhesions was significantly higher in the Permacol group. All of the prostheses underwent resorption, which correlated with gradual decreases in the overall tensile strength of the site and the Col1a1 gene expression level. Elevated expression of Fgf2 gene maintained longer in the PDO group, and the Mmp9 gene expression level in this group was higher than in the other groups. Gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines were higher in the Permacol group. The foreign body giant cell numbers were lower in the PDO and Permacol groups than in the PGA group. Minimal macrophage infiltration with predominance of M2 cells was observed in the PDO group. Overall, the PDO prosthesis turned out to be significantly better than the PGA or Permacol prostheses by a number of indicators of biocompatibility and efficacy. © 2018 The Authors Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 00B: 000–000, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 652–663, 2019.
Tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) growth decreases with population density, but increases with habitat quality
Authors: Paterson James E. , Blouin‐Demers Gabriel 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHabitat selection models can explain spatial patterns in the relative abundance of animals in different habitats based on the assumption that fitness declines as density in a habitat increases. Ectotherms, such as lizards, may not follow predictions of density‐dependent habitat selection models because temperature, which is unaffected by density, strongly influences their habitat selection. If competition for limited resources decreases fitness, then crowding should cause a decrease in body size and growth rates. We used skeletochronology and body size data from tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus) at six sites that each spanned two habitats varying in quality to test the hypothesis that habitat selection is density dependent because growth is limited by competition for resources and by habitat quality. First, we tested that the maximum body size of lizards decreased with higher densities in a habitat by comparing growth between sites. Second, we tested whether body size and growth were higher in the habitat with more resources by controlling for density in a habitat and comparing growth between habitats in different sites. We found evidence of density‐dependent growth in females, but not in males. Females in more crowded sites reached a smaller maximum size. Females in the higher quality habitat also grew larger than females in the lower quality habitat after controlling for differences in density between the habitats. Therefore, we found partial support for our hypothesis that competition for resources limits growth and causes density‐dependent habitat selection.
Lenalidomide, a blockbuster drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma: Semipreparative separation through supercritical fluid chromatography and vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy
Authors: Yan Yilun , Fan Jun , Guo Dong , Lin Yuemei , Lai Yecai , Wang Tai , Gao Hao , Yao Xinsheng , Zhang Weiguang 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSemipreparative separation of lenalidomide has been performed through supercritical fluid chromatography. In regard to retention and resolution of lenalidomide, effects of chromatographic conditions, such as chiral stationary phases, organic co‐solvents, mobile phases, and column temperature, have been studied in detail. Amylose tris(3, 5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐coated and the single‐urea‐bound β‐cyclodextrin chiral stationary phases exhibited good separation performances for lenalidomide in the CO2/methanol mixture. Then, a comparative study of semipreparative separation of lenalidomide has been carried out on these two chiral stationary phases. As indicated, separation of lenalidomide on the β‐cyclodextrin‐bound column was much better than the other. Under the optimized conditions, the loading per injection was 30 mg, the cycle time was 5 min, and the recoveries of two enantiomers were about 81.7 and 79.5%, respectively. Moreover, the vibrational circular dichroism spectrum of the first‐eluted enantiomer in d6‐dimethylsulfoxide solution was consistent with the calculated pattern based on the S configuration, revealing that it should be (S)‐(−)‐lenalidomide. Briefly, this separation method through supercritical fluid chromatography might provide favorable information for rapid separation, enantioselective assessment, and absolute configurations of chiral pharmaceuticals.
Evaluating conservation effectiveness in a Tanzanian community wildlife management area
Authors: Lee Derek E. 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTIn Tanzania, community‐based natural resource management (CBNRM) of wildlife occurs through wildlife management areas (WMAs). The WMAs consist of multiple villages designating land and managing it for wildlife conservation in return for a portion of subsequent tourism revenues. The ecological success or failure of WMAs for wildlife conservation is rarely quantified but is important for evaluating the efficacy of specific projects and the general concept of CBNRM. I used 3 analyses to evaluate the ecological effectiveness of wildlife conservation actions in the Burunge WMA. I compared wildlife and livestock densities inside and outside a WMA using 1 year of distance sampling data and compared wild and domestic ungulate densities before and after the implementation of management changes that increased wildlife protections within a subsection of Burunge WMA using 6 years of distance sampling surveys. I also compared giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) survival and population growth rate before and after the implementation of management changes that increased wildlife protections in a subsection of Burunge WMA using 5 years of photographic capture‐recapture data. I found greater densities of wildlife and lower densities of livestock inside the WMA compared with outside. After the management changes, I documented significantly higher densities of several wild ungulate species and lower densities of domestic ungulates in the WMA. I found giraffe survival and population growth rate both increased in response to the management changes. Results indicated the WMA is effectively providing habitat and protection for wild ungulates while generally excluding domestic livestock. Ungulate densities, and giraffe survival and population growth rate over time indicated the management changes enacted in 2014–2015 resulted in positive effects for wild ungulates. These combined results indicate the ecological effectiveness of Burunge WMA and provide evidence that CBNRM can have positive effects on wildlife populations, particularly when support to grassroots law enforcement is provided. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Treatment Patterns in Veterans with Laryngeal and Oropharyngeal Cancer and Impact on Survival
Authors: Richardson Peter A. , Kansara Sagar , Chen George G. , Sabichi Anita , Sikora Andrew G. , Parke Robert B. , Donovan Donald T. , Chiao Elizabeth , Sandulache Vlad C. 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesVeterans with laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer remain an understudied patient population despite a high incidence of disease and decreased survival compared to the general population. Our objective was to evaluate treatment patterns for laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer in patients treated at one of the Veterans Health Administration's busiest cancer centers in order to generate some basic benchmarks for treatment delivery in the veteran population.MethodsWe reviewed 338 patients treated at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 2000 and 2012.ResultsOropharyngeal site and advanced age were associated with worse overall and disease‐free survival. Treatment periods (mean) were as follows: 1) referral‐diagnosis, 26 days; 2) diagnosis‐surgery, 29 days; and 3) diagnosis‐radiation, 58 days. Adjuvant radiation was initiated within 6 weeks of surgery in 42% of patients and 68% of patients had a total treatment package time ≤100 days. Time from diagnosis to treatment initiation, surgery to adjuvant radiation interval and total treatment package time did not impact survival.ConclusionsThis study establishes basic benchmarks for laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer treatment delivery in veterans. Additional efforts are warranted to improve consistency and provide treatment in line with NCCN recommendations and literature consensus.Level of Evidence2b
Cognitive Functions in Adult Cochlear Implant Users, Cochlear Implant Candidates, and Normal‐Hearing Listeners
Authors: Kramer Scott , Vasil Kara J. , Adunka Oliver F. , Pisoni David B. , Moberly Aaron C. 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesIncreasing evidence suggests that hearing loss may be linked to cognitive decline, and that cochlear implantation may lead to improvements in cognition. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of severe‐to‐profound hearing loss and cochlear implantation in post‐lingually deafened adults, compared with age‐matched normal‐hearing (NH) peers. Participants were tested on several non‐auditory measures of cognition: working memory (WM) (digit span, object span, symbol span), non‐verbal reasoning (Raven's progressive matrices), information‐processing speed and inhibitory control (Stroop test), speed of phonological and lexical access (Test of Word Reading Efficiency), and verbal learning and memory (California Verbal Learning Test). Demographic measures were also collected.MethodsCohort study at tertiary neurotology center. Forty‐three post‐lingually deafened experienced CI users, 19 post‐lingually deafened CI candidates, and 40 age‐matched NH controls with no cognitive impairment were enrolled. Comparisons among the groups on the cognitive measures were performed.ResultsAdult CI users and CI candidates demonstrated worse (or a trend towards worse) performance as compared with NH peers on non‐verbal reasoning, information‐processing speed, speed of lexical access, and verbal learning and memory. However, after controlling for gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and vocabulary knowledge among groups, some of these differences were no longer significant. Similarly, large differences were not found in most cognitive abilities between experienced CI users and CI candidates.ConclusionsAdult CI users, CI candidates, and NH peers generally demonstrated equivalent non‐auditory cognitive abilities, after controlling for gender, SES, and vocabulary knowledge. These findings provide support for a link between cognitive decline and hearing loss, but this association may be partly attributable to group differences in SES and vocabulary knowledge.Level of Evidence2b.
Comparison of PI3K Pathway in HPV‐Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer With and Without Tobacco Exposure
Authors: Kiessling Si‐Young , Broglie Martina Anja , Soltermann Alex , Huber Gerhard Frank , Stoeckli Sandro Johannes 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to evaluate whether HPV associated OPSCC with tobacco exposure follows a different carcinogenic pathway compared to HPV associated OPSCC without tobacco exposure and to investigate its prognostic significance. The question was addressed with focus on components of the PI3K pathway.Methods184 patients with newly diagnosed OPSCC treated with curative intent were consecutively enrolled. The expression level of p16, p53, PI3K, mTOR, and PTEN was assessed by immunohistochemistry and analyzed in relation to the risk factors HPV status and tobacco exposure.Results94 of 184 (51%) patients were p16 positive, p53 overexpression was detected in 48 of 184 (26%) cases. PI3K overexpression with 70 of 184 (38%) cases was significantly higher in p16 positive tumors. mTOR overexpression was present in 90 of 184 (49%) cases and significantly higher in p16 negative tumors. PTEN loss was found in 42 of 184 (23%) cases without association to p16 expression. p16 positive OPSCC showed lower rates of p53 expression and mTOR expression as well as higher rates of PI3K expression irrespective of tobacco exposure. Survival analysis showed a distinct intermediate survival rate of p16 positive smokers. The markers PI3K, mTOR, and PTEN did not have a significant impact on survival.ConclusionHPV associated OPSCC with tobacco exposure follows the same expression level of the PI3K pathway as HPV associated OPSCC without tobacco exposure. The impaired survival rate of the intermediate risk group cannot be explained by different expression patterns of PI3K, mTOR, and PTEN.Level of Evidence2b
Utilizing resources of neuropsychopharmacology to address the opioid overdose crisis
Authors: Phillips Anthony G. , Krausz Michael R. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundNorth America is facing a severe public health crisis in the form of excessive numbers of deaths due to overdose from self‐administration of opioids by individuals who are dependent on these substances.AimsThere are many factors that must be addressed in order to gain control over this tragedy. Of particular relevance to neuropsychopharmacology is the fact that the problem is due in part to misuse of pharmaceuticals and especially the illicit production of the powerful synthetic opioids, fentanyl, and carfentanil.MethodThe development and adoption of appropriate pharmacotherapies are of critical importance. We discuss specific options to deal effectively with both withdrawal from opioid dependence and substitution of clinically approved drugs in place of illicit substances.ConclusionHopefully, this crisis will reinvigorate both basic and clinical neuropsychopharmacological research leading to the develop new and more effective options for dealing with the many and varied elements of the current opioid crisis as described in the present commentary.
Maternal plasma metabolic fingerprint indicative for fetal Down syndrome
Authors: Parfieniuk Ewa , Samczuk Paulina , Kowalczyk Tomasz , Pietrowska Karolina , Niemira Magdalena , Paczkowska‐Abdulsalam Magdalena , Wolczynski Slawomir , Kretowski Adam , Ciborowski Michal , Zbucka‐Kretowska Monika 
Published: August 2018

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of the study was to perform maternal plasma metabolic fingerprinting to evaluate differences in plasma metabolites between healthy and Down syndrome (DS) pregnancies and to indicate novel non‐invasive markers for DS prenatal diagnostics.MethodsThis was a case‐control study of pregnancies between 15th and 18th gestational week. LC‐MS–based metabolic fingerprinting of plasma samples was performed.ResultsLevels of five metabolites were significantly lower in the plasma of DS pregnancies. The majority of the statistically significant metabolites may be connected with fetal brain and central nervous system development (eg, fatty acid amides). According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC), the combination of linoleamide and piperine has the highest diagnostic potential: area under the curve (AUC) = 0.878, sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 73.3%.ConclusionsThe study indicates disturbances in maternal metabolic pathways evoked by fetal DS. Novel potential maternal plasma metabolomic markers for non‐invasive prenatal diagnostics of fetal DS are proposed.
Controlled ionic complexation of positively charged phenylene‐based conjugated polymers by modulated backbone structures
Authors: Manandhar Prakash , Vokatá Tereza , Lee Sunyoung , Lee Yejin , Jung Hyun Min , Shim Sangdeok , Moon Joong Ho 
Published: August 2018

AbstractUnderstanding the role of the polymer backbone structure on the aggregation of conjugated polymers in an aqueous environment is of prime interest as the physical, photophysical and biophysical properties required for many applications are closely related to the nature of aggregation structures. We report unique and ordered aggregation behaviours of four positively charged conjugated polymers, which differ in backbone chemical structure and connectivity, upon complexation with a linear polyanion hyaluronic acid. Opposite signals of induced circular dichroism were observed from achiral poly(phenyleneethynylene) (PPE) and flexible linker containing poly(phenylenebutadiynylene) (PPB) with the same side chain structure, implying the formation of highly ordered ionic complexes. The intrinsic difference in the interpolymer interaction between PPE and PPB is probably the contributing factor for different aggregation structures upon complexation with hyaluronic acid. The structure–property relationship can be useful to design and fabricate highly ordered macromolecular materials exhibiting unique electrical, photophysical or biophysical properties. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry