bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of preservation of the latissimus dorsi muscle through a left anteroaxillary thoracotomy on spinal cord protection in descending thoracic and thoraco-abdominal aortic operations†
Authors: Fujiyoshi Toshiki , Nishibe Toshiya , Koizumi Nobusato , Kano Masaki , Suzuki Shun , Iwahori Akinari , Maruno Keta , Kawago Koji , Takahashi Satoshi , Iwahashi Toru , Kamiya Kentarou , Ogino Hitoshi 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The presence of collateral network circulation to the spinal cord, which is reflected in the repair of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (dAo) and a thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAo), has been demonstrated in clinical and animal experimental data. The latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) including the thoracodorsal artery might be one of the major sources of this collateral network. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact on spinal cord safety of a left anteroaxillary thoracotomy with minimal muscle division including preservation of the LDM in surgery for dAo and TAAo.

METHODS
Sixty-nine patients [64 (23–85) years old; 56 men] who underwent surgical repair for dAo and TAAo were divided into 2 groups: 29 [65 (23–84) years old] with an anteroaxillary thoracotomy with LDM preservation (PL group) and 40 [61 (28–85) years old] with a lateral thoracotomy without LDM preservation (NL group).

RESULTS
Aortic repairs were performed at the dAo in 30 patients including 14 in the PL group vs 16 in the NL group and at the TAAo in 39 patients including 15 in the PL group vs 24 in the NL group. There were 2 (2.9%) 30-day deaths; 2 (7.9%) in the PL group vs none in the NL group (P = 0.173). No strokes occurred. In patients with a femoro-femoral partial cardiopulmonary bypass with mild hypothermia, the incidence of loss of signal of motor-evoked potentials (>50%) was significantly lower in the PL group; 5.6% vs 31.8% (P = 0.039). The frequency of signal reduction of the remaining motor-evoked potential after surgery was also significantly lower in the PL group: 3.7% vs 25% (P = 0.040). Subsequently, the rate of spinal cord complications were lower in the PL group: 3.4% vs 12.5% (P = 0.188).

CONCLUSIONS
The left anteroaxillary thoracotomy with minimal incision of the muscles including the LDM might have potential advantages for spinal cord protection via preserved intramuscular collateral circulations to the spinal cord in dAo/TAAo open repairs.
The Role of Departure States in Combating Irregular Emigration in International Law: An Historical Perspective
Authors: Wolman Andrew 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
This article examines the evolution over time of attempts to establish an international law principle that States have a legal responsibility, at least under certain circumstances, to combat irregular emigration, defined as the exit of individuals who would be arriving at their destination in a manner that is not compliant with the destination country’s immigration laws. Through examination of contemporaneous statements and the travaux préparatoires relating to six separate negotiations, light is shed on the attempts to develop such a norm since the beginning of the 20th century, along with the evolving set of legal and ethical justifications that were used in these processes. The different practical and principled objections employed by States and civil society actors to oppose the development of such a legal norm are also examined. The article concludes that this historical perspective challenges current perceptions that home State controls are of recent origin, and that in fact international migration law is inherently progressive.
Azole resistance and cyp51A mutation screening in Aspergillus fumigatus in Mexico
Authors: Gonzalez-Lara Maria F , Roman-Montes Carla M , Diaz-Lomeli Paulette , Rangel-Cordero Andrea , Valenzuela Maria O , Ponce-de-Leon Alfredo , Sifuentes-Osornio Jose , Ostrosky-Zeichner Luis , Martinez-Gamboa Areli 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundFungicide exposure in the environment has driven the emergence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus worldwide. A screening test allows identification of resistant isolates.ObjectivesWe screened clinical samples for azole-resistant Aspergillus through azole-containing agar plates and identified mutations in the cyp51A gene of A. fumigatus.MethodsAspergillus isolates from clinical samples collected in a tertiary care centre from 2014 to 2017 were screened for azole resistance. Samples were subcultured in azole-containing agar plates. Isolates with a positive screening test were subject to DNA extraction, DNA amplification and sequencing of the cyp51A gene (coding and promoter regions). Clinical data were obtained from medical records.ResultsWe screened 43 Aspergillus isolates from 39 patients for azole resistance. Three isolates from three patients grew on azole-containing agar plates: two A. fumigatus and one Aspergillus flavus. PCR analysis and cyp51A sequencing identified the TR34/L98H mutation in both A. fumigatus isolates. The prevalence of cyp51A mutations among A. fumigatus was 8.3% (2/24). Both patients with TR34/L98H mutants were azole naive and presented with invasive aspergillosis; one had multiple myeloma and the other was a liver retransplant recipient. They suffered progressive disease and failed voriconazole therapy.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of azole-resistant A. fumigatus with the TR34/L98H mutation in two azole-naive patients with refractory invasive aspergillosis in Mexico.
Use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer in Japan: analysis using a national database
Authors: Rikitake Ryoko , Tsukada Yoichiro , Ando Mizuo , Yoshida Masafumi , Iwamoto Momoko , Yamasoba Tatsuya , Higashi Takahiro 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) yields better outcomes and fewer toxicities for radiation therapy (RT) of head and neck cancers (HNCs), including nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). IMRT is the standard RT treatment and has been widely adopted in Western countries to treat HNCs. However, its uptake in clinical practice among NPC patients has never been studied.

Methods
We investigated the use of IMRT for NPC using data from a nationwide cancer registry to describe the use of IMRT among NPC patients in Japan. We analyzed the data of patients with HNC, including NPC, who underwent IMRT between 2012 and 2014, as recorded in the hospital-based cancer registries linked with insurance claims. We calculated the proportion of patients with NPC who underwent IMRT at each hospital. To evaluate the use of IMRT for NPC, the IMRT use for NPC was compared with the proportion of patients with prostate cancer who underwent IMRT.

Results
Among 508 patients with NPC who underwent RT at one of 87 hospitals, 348 (69%) underwent IMRT. This proportion gradually increased between 2012 and 2014 (62%, 64% and 77%). Meanwhile, 4790 patients with prostate cancer (90%) underwent IMRT. Although some hospitals where IMRT was performed treated many patients with NPC, the proportion of patients with NPC who were treated with IMRT was low.

Conclusions
IMRT has not been widely adopted in Japan for treating NPC. Barriers for adopting its use should be identified to close the gap between the standard and actual medical practice in Japan.
Thermodynamics of rapid solidification and crystal growth kinetics in glass-forming alloys
Authors: Galenko P. K. , Ankudinov V. , Reuther K. , Rettenmayr M. , Salhoumi A. , Kharanzhevskiy E. V. 
Published: March 2019

Thermodynamic driving forces and growth rates in rapid solidification are analysed. Taking into account the relaxation time of the solute diffusion flux in the model equations, the present theory uses, in a first case, the deviation from local chemical equilibrium, and ergodicity breaking. The second case of ergodicity breaking may exist in crystal growth kinetics of rapidly solidifying glass-forming metals and alloys. In this case, a theoretical analysis of dendritic solidification is given for congruently melting alloys in which chemical segregation does not occur. Within this theory, a deviation from thermodynamic equilibrium is introduced for high undercoolings via gradient flow relaxation of the phase field. A comparison of the present derivations with previously verified theoretical predictions and experimental data is given.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Heterogeneous materials: metastable and non- ergodic internal structures’.
Mechanical properties of magnetic gels containing rod-like composite particles
Authors: Abrougui Mariem M. , Lopez-Lopez Modesto T. , Duran Juan D. G. 
Published: March 2019

Magnetic gels (ferrogels) are heterogeneous systems structured at the nanoscale that contains magnetic particles dispersed in three-dimensional networks of polymer chains. In the present work, the magnetic particles were synthesized with a core–shell structure, consisting of sepiolite particles covered by magnetite nanoparticles. These composite particles had a rod-like shape with a high aspect ratio. The obtained sepiolite–magnetite particles showed a high enough susceptibility and saturation magnetization. The magneto-rheological (MR) properties, and the intensity of the MR effect, of aqueous suspensions of the synthesized particles were studied. The particles, functionalized by adsorption of alginate molecules, were imbedded in alginate hydrogels to get homogeneous soft materials. The particles were linked to the polymer chains as the knots in a network and dominated in a great extent the mechanical properties of the materials. After determining the optimal compositions of the ferrogels, their viscoelastic properties were measured in the absence/presence of magnetic fields. The results pointed out that the MR effect provided by the clay–magnetite particles was considerably more intense than those achieved in ferrogels that contain spherical magnetic microparticles. Therefore, the imbedding of rod-shaped magnetic particles in hydrogels allows controlling the mechanical properties in a wider range than in conventional ferrogels.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Heterogeneous materials: metastable and non-ergodic internal structures’.
Post-transcriptional regulation of Nrf2-mRNA by the mRNA-binding proteins HuR and AUF1
Authors: Poganik Jesse R. , Long Marcus J. C. , Disare Michael T. , Liu Xuyu , Chang Sung-Hee , Hla Timothy , Aye Yimon 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe Nrf2-driven antioxidant response (AR) is a target of covalent drugs and bioactive native electrophiles. However, much of our understanding of AR has centered on protein-level regulation of Nrf2. Here we report a post-transcriptional modality to directly regulate Nrf2-mRNA. Our initial studies focused on the effects of the key mRNA-binding protein (mRBP) HuR on global transcriptomic changes incurred upon oxidant or electrophile stimulation. These data led us to discover a novel role of HuR in regulating Nrf2/AR, and in the process we further identified the related mRBP AUF1 as an additional novel Nrf2/AR regulator. Both mRBPs regulate AR by direct interaction with the Nrf2 transcript. Our data showed that HuR enhances Nrf2-mRNA maturation and promotes its nuclear export; whereas AUF1 stabilizes Nrf2-mRNA. Both mRBPs target the 3′–UTR of Nrf2-mRNA. Using an AR-reporter zebrafish strain, we document that this post-transcriptional control of AR is conserved at the whole-vertebrate level.
Constraint-based analysis for causal discovery in population-based biobanks
Authors: Amar David , Ashley Euan , Rivas Manuel A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAvailability of large genetic databases has led to the development of powerful causal inference methods that use genetic variables as instruments to estimate causal effects. Such methods typically make many assumptions about the underlying causal graphical model, are limited in the patterns they search for in the data, and there is no guide for systematic analysis of a large database. Here, we present cGAUGE, a new pipeline for causal Graphical Analysis Using GEnetics that utilizes large changes in the significance of local conditional independencies between the genetic instruments and the phenotypes. We detect cases where causal inference can be performed with minimal risk of horizontal pleiotropy. Moreover, we search for new graphical patterns to reveal novel information about the underlying causal diagram that is not covered by extant methods, including new direct links, colliders, and evidence for confounding. We present theoretical justification, simulations, and apply our pipeline to 70 complex phenotypes from 337,198 subjects from the UK Biobank. Our results cover 102 detected causal relationships, of which some are new and many are expected. For example, we detect a direct causal link from high cholesterol to angina and a feedback loop between angina and myocardial infarction. We also corroborate a recent observational link between asthma and Crohn’s disease. Finally, we detect important features of the causal network structure including several causal hubs such as intelligence and waist circumference.
EpiAlign: an alignment-based bioinformatic tool for comparing chromatin state sequences
Authors: Ge Xinzhou , Zhang Haowen , Xie Lingjue , Li Wei Vivian , Kwon Soo Bin , Li Jingyi Jessica 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThe availability of genome-wide epigenomic datasets enables in-depth studies of epigenetic modifications and their relationships with chromatin structures and gene expression. Various alignment tools have been developed to align nucleotide or protein sequences in order to identify structurally similar regions. However, there are currently no alignment methods specifically designed for comparing multi-track epigenomic signals and detecting common patterns that may explain functional or evolutionary similarities. We propose a new local alignment algorithm, EpiAlign, designed to compare chromatin state sequences learned from multi-track epigenomic signals and to identify locally aligned chromatin regions. EpiAlign is a dynamic programming algorithm that novelly incorporates varying lengths and frequencies of chromatin states. We demonstrate the effcacy of EpiAlign through extensive simulations and studies on the real data from the NIH Roadmap Epigenomics project. EpiAlign is able to extract recurrent chromatin state patterns along a single epigenome, and many of these patterns carry cell-type-specific characteristics. EpiAlign can also detect common chromatin state patterns across multiple epigenomes, and it will serve as a useful tool to group and distinguish epigenomic samples based on genome-wide or local chromatin state patterns.
Differentialin vivobiodistribution of131I-labeled exosomes from diverse cellular origins and its implication in the theranostic application
Authors: Rashid Mohammad H. , Borin Thaiz F. , Ara Roxan , Angara Kartik , Cai Jingwen , Achyut Bhagelu R. , Liu Yutao , Arbab Ali S. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractExosomes are critical mediators of intercellular crosstalk and regulator of cellular/tumor microenvironment. Exosomes have great prospects for clinical application as theranostic and prognostic probe. Nevertheless, the advancement of the exosomes research has been thwarted by limited knowledge elucidating the most efficient isolation method and theirin vivotrafficking. Here we have showed that combination of two size-based methods using 0.20 µm syringe filter and 100k centrifuge membrane filter followed by ultracentrifugation method yields a greater number of uniform exosomes. We also demonstrated the visual representation and quantification of differentialin vivodistribution of radioisotope131I-labelled exosomes from diverse cellular origins, e.g., tumor cells with or without treatments (HET0016 and GW2580), myeloid-derived suppressor cells and endothelial progenitor cells. We also determined that the distribution was dependent on the protein/cytokine contents of the exosomes. The appliedin vivoimaging modalities can be utilized to monitor disease progression, metastasis, and exosome-based targeted therapy.AbbreviationsbFGFbasic fibroblast growth factorCSF1Rcolony stimulating factor 1 receptorCTcomputed tomographyCTLA4cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4EGFepidermal growth factorEMTepithelial to mesenchymal transitionEVsextracellular vesiclesEPCsendothelial progenitor cellsFasLFas ligandG-CSFgranulocyte-colony stimulating factorGM-CSFgranulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factorHGFhepatocyte growth factorHSPheat shock proteinICAM-1intercellular adhesion molecule 1IFN-gammainterferon gammaIL – 1betainterleukin-1 betaIL – 1rainterleukin-1 receptor antagonistIL – 2interleukin-2IL – 4interleukin-4IL – 6interleukin-6IL – 7interleukin-7IL – 10interleukin-10IL – 12interleukin-12IL – 13interleukin-13IL – 17interleukin-17KCkeratinocyte-derived chemokineLIXlipopolysaccharide-induced CXC chemokineM-CSFmacrophage colony-stimulating factorMCP-1monocyte chemoattractant protein 1MDCmacrophage-derived chemokineMDSCsmyeloid derived suppressor cellsMFPmammary fat padMIP-1αmacrophage-inflammatory protein-1alphaMMP-2matrix metalloproteinase-2MRImagnetic resonance imagingNISsodium iodide symporterNTAnanoparticle tracking analysisPETpositron emission tomographyPF-4platelet factor 4RANTESregulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secretedROIsregion of interestSDF-1αstromal cell-derived factor-1SEMstandard error of the meanSPECTsingle-photon emission computed tomographySCFstem cell factorTAMstumor-associated macrophagesTEMtransmission electron microscopyTIMP 2tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 2TLPCthin layer paper chromatographyTMEtumor microenvironmentTNF-αtumor necrosis factor-αTSLPthymic stromal lymphopoietinUCultracentrifugationVEGF-Avascular endothelial growth factor AVEGFR2vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2.
Contribution of Apical and Basal Dendrites of L2/3 Pyramidal Neurons to Orientation Encoding in Mouse V1
Authors: Park Jiyoung , Papoutsi Athanasia , Ash Ryan T. , Marin Miguel A. , Poirazi Panayiota , Smirnakis Stelios M. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPyramidal neurons integrate synaptic inputs from basal and apical dendrites to generate stimulus-specific responses. It has been proposed that feed-forward inputs to basal dendrites drive a neuron’s stimulus preference, while feedback inputs to apical dendrites sharpen selectivity. However, how a neuron’s dendritic domains relate to its functional selectivity has not been demonstrated experimentally. We performed 2-photon dendritic micro-dissection on layer-2/3 pyramidal neurons in mouse primary visual cortex. We found that removing the apical dendritic tuft did not alter orientation-tuning. Furthermore, orientation-tuning curves were remarkably robust to the removal of basal dendrites: ablation of 2-3 basal dendrites was needed to cause a small shift in orientation preference, without significantly altering tuning width. Computational modeling corroborated our results and put limits on how orientation preferences among basal dendrites differ in order to reproduce the post-ablation data. In conclusion, neuronal orientation-tuning appears remarkably robust to loss of dendritic input.
TmDOTP : An NMR- based Thermometer for Magic Angle Spinning NMR Experiments
Authors: Zhang Dongyu , Itin Boris , McDermott Ann E. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSolid state NMR is a powerful tool to probe membrane protein structure and motions in native lipid structures. Sample heating, caused by magic angle spinning and radio frequency irradiation in solid state NMR, produces uncertainties in sample temperature and thermal broadening caused by temperature distributions, which can also lead to sample deterioration. To measure the sample temperature in real time, and to quantify thermal gradients and their dependence on radio frequency irradiation or spinning frequency, we use the chemical shift thermometer TmDOTP, a lanthanide complex. Compared to other NMR thermometers (e.g., the proton NMR signal of water), the proton spectrum of TmDOTP exhibits higher thermal sensitivity and resolution. In addition, the H6 proton in TmDOTP has a large chemical shift (−175 ppm at 275 K) and is well resolved from the rest of the proton spectrum. We identified two populations of TmDOTP, with differing temperatures and dependency on the radio frequency irradiation power, within proteoliposome samples. We interpret these populations as arising from the supernatant and the pellet, which is sedimented from the sample spinning. Our results indicate that TmDOTP is an excellent internal standard for monitoring temperatures of biophysically relevant samples without distorting their properties.
B-1 cell-mediated modulation of m1-macrophage profile can ameliorate microbicidal functions and disrupt the evasion mechanisms ofEncephalitozoon cuniculi
Authors: Pereira Adriano , Alvares-Saraiva Anuska Marcelino , de Camargo Konno Fabiana Toshie , Spadacci-Morena Diva Denelle , Perez Elizabeth Cristina , Mariano Mario , Lallo Maria Anete 
Published: March 2019

AbstractHere, we have investigated the possible effect of B-1 cells on the activity of peritoneal macrophages inE. cuniculiinfection. In the presence of B-1 cells, peritoneal macrophages had an M1 profile with showed increased phagocytic capacity and index, associated with the intense microbicidal activity, increased proinflammatory cytokines production and a higher percentage of apoptotic death. The absence of B-1 cells was associated with a predominance of the M2 macrophages, indicating reduced phagocytic capacity and index, microbicidal activity, proinflammatory cytokine production, and apoptotic death, but equal death rate. In addition, in the M2 macrophages, spores of phagocyticE. cuniculiwith polar tubular extrusion were observed, which is an important mechanism of evasion of the immune response. The results showed the importance of B-1 cells in the modulation of macrophage function againstE. cuniculiinfection, increasing microbicidal activity, and reducing the fungal mechanisms involved in the evasion of the immune response.HighlightsE. cuniculiphagocytosis and microbicidal activity by macrophages increases in the presence of B-1 cellsM1 macrophage profiles were predominant in the presence of B-1 cellsExtrusion of the polar tubule ofE. cuniculioccur inside M2 macrophages in cultures without B-1 cellsB-1 cells derived phagocytes (B-1CDP) identified with microbicidal activity against spores ofE. cuniculiAuthor SummaryThe adaptive immune response plays a key role againstEncephalitozoon cuniculi, an opportunistic fungus for T cells immunodeficient patients. The role of B cells and antibody play in natural resistance toEncephalitozoon cuniculiremains unresolved. Previously, we demonstrated that B-1 deficient mice (XID), an important component of innate immunity, were more susceptible to encephalitozoonosis, despite the increase in the number of CD4+and CD8+T lymphocytes. Here we observed that the absence of B-1 cells was associated with a larger population of M2 macrophages, an anti-inflammatory profile, which had lower microbicidal activity and phagocyticE. cuniculispores were seen with the extrusion of the polar tubule, which is an important mechanism of evasion of the immune response. The results showed the importance of B-1 cells in the modulation of macrophage function againstE. cuniculiinfection, increasing microbicidal activity, and reducing the fungal mechanisms involved in the evasion of the immune response.