bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
AKT activator SC79 protects hepatocytes from TNF-α-mediated apoptosis and alleviates d-Gal/LPS-induced liver injury
Authors: Jing Zhen-Tang , Liu Wei , Xue Chao-Rong , Wu Shu-Xiang , Chen Wan-Nan , Lin Xin-Jian , Lin Xu 
Published: January 2019

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a highly pleiotropic cytokine executing biological functions as diverse as cell proliferation, metabolic activation, inflammatory responses, and cell death. TNF-α can induce multiple mechanisms to initiate apoptosis in hepatocytes leading to the subsequent liver injury. Since the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway is known to have a protective role in death factor-mediated apoptosis, it is our hypothesis that activation of Akt may represent a therapeutic strategy to alleviate TNF-α-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury. We report here that the Akt activator SC79 protects hepatocytes from TNF-α-induced apoptosis and protects mice from d-galactosamine (d-Gal)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-α-mediated liver injury and damage. SC79 not only enhances the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) prosurvival signaling in response to TNF-α stimulation, but also increases the expression of cellular FLICE (FADD-like IL-1β-converting enzyme)-inhibitory protein L and S (FLIPL/S), which consequently inhibits the activation of procaspase-8. Furthermore, pretreatment of the PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002 reverses all the SC79-induced hepatoprotective effects. These results strongly indicate that SC79 protects against TNF-α-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and suggests that SC79 is likely a promising therapeutic agent for ameliorating the development of liver injury. NEW & NOTEWORTHY SC79 protects hepatocytes from TNF-α-mediated apoptosis and mice from Gal/LPS-induced liver injury and damage. Cytoprotective effects of SC79 against TNF-α act through both AKT-mediated activation of NF-κB and upregulation of FLIPL/S.
Effect of habitual foot-strike pattern on the gastrocnemius medialis muscle-tendon interaction and muscle force production during running
Authors: Swinnen Wannes , Hoogkamer Wouter , Delabastita Tijs , Aeles Jeroen , De Groote Friedl , Vanwanseele Benedicte 
Published: January 2019

The interaction between gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle and Achilles tendon, i.e., muscle-tendon unit (MTU) interaction, plays an important role in minimizing the metabolic cost of running. Foot-strike pattern (FSP) has been suggested to alter MTU interaction and subsequently the metabolic cost of running. However, metabolic data from experimental studies on FSP are inconsistent, and a comparison of MTU interaction between FSP is still lacking. We, therefore, investigated the effect of habitual rearfoot and mid-/forefoot striking on MTU interaction, ankle joint work, and plantar flexor muscle force production while running at 10 and 14 km/h. GM muscle fascicles of 9 rearfoot and 10 mid-/forefoot strikers were tracked using dynamic ultrasonography during treadmill running. We collected kinetic and kinematic data and used musculoskeletal models to determine joint angles and calculate MTU lengths. In addition, we used dynamic optimization to assess plantar flexor muscle forces. During ground contact, GM fascicle shortening ( P = 0.02) and average contraction velocity ( P = 0.01) were 40–45% greater in rearfoot strikers than mid-/forefoot strikers. Differences in contraction velocity were especially prominent during early ground contact. Moreover, GM ( P = 0.02) muscle force was greater during early ground contact in mid-/forefoot strikers than rearfoot strikers. Interestingly, we did not find differences in stretch or recoil of the series elastic element between FSP. Our results suggest that, for the GM, the reduced muscle energy cost associated with lower fascicle contraction velocity in mid-/forefoot strikers may be counteracted by greater muscle forces during early ground contact. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Kinetic and kinematic differences between foot-strike patterns during running imply (not previously reported) altered muscle-tendon interaction. Here, we studied muscle-tendon interaction using ultrasonography. We found greater fascicle contraction velocities and lower muscle forces in rearfoot compared with mid-/forefoot strikers. Our results suggest that the higher metabolic energy demand due to greater fascicle contraction velocities might offset the lower metabolic energy demand due to lower muscle forces in rearfoot compared with mid-/forefoot strikers.
A Simple Modification for the Usage of Flexible Cystoscope in Modified Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty for Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction with Renal Calculi: A Flexible Guiding Tube
Authors: Hong Peng , Li Ziao , Zhu Dongdong , Zhuang Liyan , Yang Kunlin , Hao Han , Li Xuesong , Zhou Liqun 
Published: January 2019

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> To present our technique of laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) with concomitant pyelolithotomy in ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) complicated by renal calculi and compare outcome with a group of UPJO patients undergoing modified LP without coexistent calculi. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 51 UPJO patients undergoing modified LP from January 2013 to November 2016 at our institution. Sixteen patients were diagnosed as UPJO with coexistent ipsilateral renal calculi and underwent pyelolithotomy using our modified technique at the time of modified LP. The outcome data of this group were compared with those of 16 matched patients undergoing modified LP without calculi. <b><i>Results:</i></b> No conversion to open surgery occurred. The mean operative time for modified LP and pyelolithotomy was 151.6 min, while the mean operative time for modified LP was 137.6 min (<i>p</i> = 0.21). Additionally, no differences in estimated blood loss (<i>p</i> = 0.96) or postoperative complications (<i>p</i> = 1.00) were observed between the 2 groups. The stone-free rate was 100%. During a mean follow-up of 27.1 months, there were no recurrent calculi or secondary UPJO. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The combination of our novel flexible guiding tube and modified suture technique provides a practical and economic approach with satisfying outcome in the treating of UPJO with concomitant renal calculi.
TLR2 Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Chondrogenic Differentiation and Consequent Calcification via the Concerted Actions of Osteoprotegerin Suppression and IL-6–Mediated RANKL Induction
Authors: Lee Guan-Lin , Yeh Chang-Ching , Wu Jing-Yiing , Lin Hui-Chen , Wang Yi-Fu , Kuo Ya-Yi , Hsieh Yi-Ting , Hsu Yu-Juei , Kuo Cheng-Chin 
Published: January 2019

Objective—
Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) transformation to an osteochondrogenic phenotype is an initial step toward arterial calcification, which is highly correlated with cardiovascular disease–related morbidity and mortality. TLR2 (Toll-like receptor 2) plays a pathogenic role in the development of vascular diseases, but its regulation in calcification of arteries and VSMCs remains unclear. We postulate that TLR2-mediated inflammation participates in mediating atherosclerotic arterial calcification and VSMC calcification.

Approach and Results—

We found that
ApoE
−/−
Tlr2
−/−
genotype in mice suppressed high-fat diet–induced atherosclerotic plaques formation during initiation but progressively lost its preventative capacity, compared with
ApoE
−/−
mice. However, TLR2 deficiency prohibited high-fat diet–induced advanced atherosclerotic calcification, chondrogenic metaplasia, and OPG (osteoprotegerin) downregulation in the calcified lesions. Incubation of VSMCs in a calcifying medium revealed that TLR2 agonists significantly increased VSMC calcification and chondrogenic differentiation. Furthermore, TLR2 deficiency suppressed TLR2 agonist–mediated VSMC chondrogenic differentiation and consequent calcification, which were triggered via the concerted actions of IL (interleukin)-6–mediated RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand) induction and OPG suppression. Inhibition experiments with pharmacological inhibitors demonstrated that IL-6–mediated RANKL induction is signaled by p38 and ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2) pathways, whereas the OPG is suppressed via NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) dependent signaling mediated by ERK1/2.

Conclusions—
We concluded that on ligand binding, TLR2 activates p38 and ERK1/2 signaling to selectively modulate the upregulation of IL-6–mediated RANKL and downregulation of OPG. These signaling pathways act in concert to induce chondrogenic transdifferentiation of VSMCs, which in turn leads to vascular calcification during the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Ventricular Fibrillation Waveform Analysis During Chest Compressions to Predict Survival From Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Coult Jason , Blackwood Jennifer , Sherman Lawrence , Rea Thomas D. , Kudenchuk Peter J. , Kwok Heemun 
Published: January 2019

Background:
Quantitative measures of the ventricular fibrillation (VF) ECG waveform can assess myocardial physiology and predict cardiac arrest outcomes, making these measures a candidate to help guide resuscitation. Chest compressions are typically paused for waveform measure calculation because compressions cause ECG artifact. However, such pauses contradict resuscitation guideline recommendations to minimize cardiopulmonary resuscitation interruptions. We evaluated a comprehensive group of VF measures with and without ongoing compressions to determine their performance under both conditions for predicting functionally-intact survival, the study’s primary outcome.

Methods:
Five-second VF ECG segments were collected with and without chest compressions before 2755 defibrillation shocks from 1151 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Twenty-four individual measures and 3 combination measures were implemented. Measures were optimized to predict functionally-intact survival (Cerebral Performance Category score ≤2) using 460 training cases, and their performance evaluated using 691 independent test cases.

Results:

Measures predicted functionally-intact survival on test data with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranging from 0.56 to 0.75 (median, 0.73) without chest compressions and from 0.53 to 0.75 (median, 0.69) with compressions (
P
<0.001 for difference). Of all measures evaluated, the support vector machine model ranked highest both without chest compressions (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.73–0.78) and with compressions (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.72–0.78;
P
=0.75 for difference).

Conclusions:
VF waveform measures predict functionally-intact survival when calculated during chest compressions, but prognostic performance is generally reduced compared with compression-free analysis. However, support vector machine models exhibited similar performance with and without compressions while also achieving the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Such machine learning models may, therefore, offer means to guide resuscitation during uninterrupted cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Do Clinicians Overestimate the Severity of Intracerebral Hemorrhage?
Authors: Tilling Elliot J. , El Tawil Salwa , Muir Keith W. 
Published: January 2019

Background and Purpose—
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has a poorer prognosis than acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, clinician perception of prognosis may influence treatment decisions and adversely affect outcome. On acute CT, the conspicuity of ICH compared with AIS may lead clinicians to overestimate severity and influence prognostic evaluation. We investigated whether clinicians’ estimates of volume, severity, and prognosis from acute imaging differed between ICH and AIS.

Methods—
CT scans from participants with acute ICH or ischemic stroke were reviewed. Volume was calculated using the ABC/2 method and automated volumetric analysis via specialized imaging software. ICH cases were matched with AIS cases for lesion volume, based on acute (<6 hours) CT for ICH, and 24-hour CT for AIS. Blind to clinical information, clinicians estimated lesion volume to the nearest 5 mL, graded lesion severity from 1 (mild) to 5 (very severe), and estimated 30-day prognosis using the modified Rankin Scale.

Results—

We compared 33 ICH cases with 33 volume-matched AIS cases. Clinicians overestimated ICH volume and underestimated AIS volumes: mean differences (estimated−actual volume) were +8 mL (±30) for ICH and −8 mL (±27) for AIS (
P
<0.001). Observers rated ICH to be of greater severity and poorer prognosis compared with AIS cases: 109 of 265 (41%) ICH cases rated severity categories 4 or 5 compared with 36 of 257 (14%) AIS,
P
<0.001; estimated modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 2 in 125 of 265 (47%) ICH compared with 190 of 257 (74%) AIS,
P
<0.001. Results were unaffected by presence of intraventricular blood. Estimated severity and prognosis for ICH remained significantly worse compared with AIS after adjustment for estimated volumes.

Conclusions—
Clinicians overestimated ICH volume and severity compared with AIS of equivalent volume and also assigned significantly worse prognosis independent of volume estimates.
Effect of Glyceryl Trinitrate on Hemodynamics in Acute Stroke
Authors: Appleton Jason P. , Woodhouse Lisa J. , Bereczki Daniel , Berge Eivind , Christensen Hanne K. , Collins Rónán , Gommans John , Ntaios George , Ozturk Serefnur , Szatmari Szabolcs , Wardlaw Joanna M. , Sprigg Nikola , Rothwell Peter M. , Bath Philip M. ,   for the ENOS Investigators
Published: January 2019

Background and Purpose—
Increased blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and their derivatives (variability, pulse pressure, rate-pressure product) are associated with poor clinical outcome in acute stroke. We assessed the effects of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) on hemodynamic parameters and these on outcome in participants in the ENOS trial (Efficacy of Nitric Oxide in Stroke).

Methods—
Four thousand and eleven patients with acute stroke and raised BP were randomized within 48 hours of onset to transdermal GTN or no GTN for 7 days. Peripheral hemodynamics were measured at baseline (3 measures) and daily (2 measures) during treatment. Between-visit BP variability over days 1 to 7 (as SD) was assessed in quintiles. Functional outcome was assessed as modified Rankin Scale and cognition as telephone mini-mental state examination at day 90. Analyses were adjusted for baseline prognostic variables. Data are mean difference or odds ratios with 95% CI.

Results—
Increased baseline BP (diastolic, variability), heart rate, and rate-pressure product were each associated with unfavorable functional outcome at day 90. Increased between-visit systolic BP variability was associated with an unfavourable shift in modified Rankin Scale (highest quintile adjusted odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.37–1.99), worse cognitive scores (telephone mini-mental state examination: highest quintile adjusted mean difference, −2.03; 95% CI, −2.84 to −1.22), and increased odds of death at day 90 (highest quintile adjusted odds ratio, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.12–2.19). GTN lowered BP and rate-pressure product and increased heart rate at day 1 and reduced between-visit systolic BP variability.

Conclusions—
Increased between-visit BP variability was associated with poor functional and cognitive outcomes and increased death 90 days after acute stroke. In addition to lowering BP and rate-pressure product, GTN reduced between-visit systolic BP variability. Agents that lower BP variability in acute stroke require further study.
Inverse Association Between HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol and Stroke Risk Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Shen Yun , Shi Lizheng , Nauman Elizabeth , Katzmarzyk Peter T. , Price-Haywood Eboni G. , Bazzano Alessandra N. , Nigam Somesh , Hu Gang 
Published: January 2019

Background and Purpose—
Few studies have assessed the association of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol with stroke risk among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We aimed to investigate the association of HDL cholesterol with total and type-specific stroke risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods—
We performed a retrospective cohort study of 27 113 blacks and 40 431 whites with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of different levels of HDL cholesterol with stroke risk.

Results—

During a mean follow-up period of 3.0 years, 8496 patients developed stroke (8048 ischemic and 448 hemorrhagic). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios across levels of HDL at baseline (<30 [reference group], 30–39.9, 40–49.9, 50–59.9, 60–69.9, 70–79.9, and ≥80 mg/dL) were 1.00, 0.86, 0.77, 0.71, 0.71, 0.77, and 0.69 (
P
trend
<0.001) for total stroke, 1.00, 0.89, 0.82, 0.75, 0.78, 0.76, and 0.75 (
P
trend
<0.001) for ischemic stroke, and 1.00, 0.89, 0.69, 0.66, 0.47, and 0.94 (
P
trend
=0.021) for hemorrhagic stroke, respectively. When we used an updated mean value of HDL cholesterol, the inverse association of HDL cholesterol with stroke risk did not change. This inverse association was consistent among patients of different ages, races, sexes, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c levels, never and past or current smokers, and patients with and without using glucose-lowering, cholesterol-lowering, or antihypertensive agents.

Conclusions—
The present study found consistent inverse associations between HDL cholesterol and the risk of total, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
TÜRKİYE’NİN İTHALAT TALEP FONKSİYONUNUN YAPISAL KIRILMALI EŞBÜTÜNLEŞME ANALİZİ İLE TAHMİNİ
Authors: ALAKBAROV Naib , ÖZKAYA Merhmet Hilmi , GÜNDÜZ Murat , ŞAŞMAZ Mahmut Ünsal 
Published: January 2019

Bu çalışmanın amacı
2001-2015 dönemine ilişkin Türkiye’nin ithalat talep fonksiyonunu yapısal
kırılmalı eşbütünleşme analizi ile tahmin etmek ve tahmin sonuçlarına bağlı
olarak politika önermektir. Bu kapsamda Maki (2012) eşbütünleşme testi yöntemi
kullanılmış ve çoklu yapısal kırılmalı eşbütünleşme ilişkisinin geçerli olduğu
görülmüştür. Türkiye’nin ithalat talebinde özellikle 2006 yılı ikinci çeyreği,
2008 yılı ikinci çeyreği, 2011yılı ikinci çeyreği ve 2014 yılı ikinci
çeyreğinde yapısal kırılma yaşandığı görülmektedir. Bunun yanında, OLS, FMOLS,
DOLS ve CCR yöntemleri kullanılarak hata düzeltme mekanizması ile hem uzun
dönem hem de kısa dönem ithalat gelir ve fiyat esneklikleri tahmin edilmiştir.
Araştırmanın bulguları Türkiye’nin ithalat talebinin gelir esnekliğinin fiyat
esnekliğinden daha yüksek olduğunu göstermektedir. Bunun yanı sıra Türkiye’nin
ithalat talebinin 2008 küresel krizinden sonra çok sayıda yapısal kırılma
yaşadığı görülmektedir. Bu açıdan değerlendirildiğinde, Türkiye’nin ithalat
talebinin gelir değişmelerinden daha fazla etkilendiği sonucuna ulaşmak
mümkündür.
SAHİPLİK YAPISI VE SERMAYE KARARLARI ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN İNCELENMESİ: BİST İMALAT SEKTÖRÜ ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: TEMİZ Hüseyin , DALKILIÇ Elçin 
Published: January 2019

Bu
çalışmanın amacı firma sermaye yapısı ile sahiplik yapısı arasındaki
ilişkilerin incelemesidir. Bu amaç doğrultusunda BİST’de işlem gören İmalat Sektörü
firmaları örneklem grubu olarak belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada örneklem firmalarına
ait 2012-2016 yıllarını kapsayan 137 firmaya ait 685 firma-yıl verisi
kullanılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında sermaye yapısı kararları ve sahiplik yapısı
arasındaki ilişkilerin farklı açılardan ele alınması amacıyla altı hipotez test
edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre en büyük ortak oranı, kurumsal ortak ve
yabancı ortak payı ile firmaların borçluluk durumunu gösteren finansal kaldıraç
oranı arasında negatif ve istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ilişkiler tespit
edilmiştir. Diğer taraftan elde edilen bulguların, firmaların halka açıklık
oranının artmasının finansal kaldıraç oranını azalttığı hipotezini
desteklemediği görülmüştür.&nbsp;
Mixing Estimates for Estuaries
Authors: Burchard Hans , Lange Xaver , Klingbeil Knut , MacCready Parker 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe well-known Knudsen relations and the total exchange flow (TEF) analysis framework provide quantifications of exchange flow across an open boundary to the adjacent ocean in terms of bulk values (Knudsen theory: inflow and outflow volume or salinity) or with resolution in salinity space (TEF: profiles of volume and salt flux in salinity coordinates). In the present study, these theories are extended toward mixing of salinity, defined as the decay of salinity variance due to turbulent mixing. In addition to the advective fluxes, diffusive fluxes across the boundary are also considered now. These new Knudsen and TEF relations for mixing are derived by applying Gauss’s theorem to the salinity square and salinity variance equations. As a result of the analysis, four different Knudsen relations for the mixing in estuaries are derived. The first one is exact and considers nonperiodicity as well as nonconstancy of the inflow and outflow salinities. The other three formulations are approximate only, in the sense that either nonperiodicity or nonconstancy or both are relaxed. The simplest of those formulations has recently been derived by MacCready et al. and estimates the estuarine mixing as the product of inflow salinity, outflow salinity, and time-averaged river runoff. These four mixing estimates are systematically assessed by means of a number of idealized estuarine test cases. For periodic tidal flow, the simplest estimate still predicts the effective (physical plus numerical) mixing within an error of about 10%.
Effect of a Crisis Intervention Team for suicide attempt patients in an emergency department in Korea
Authors: Ahn Eusang , Kim Jooyeong , Moon Sungwoo , Ko Young‐hoon , Cho Hanjin , Park Jong‐Hak , Song Ju Hyun , Kim Han Na , Jee Ju Yeon , Han Ra Young 
Published: January 2019

Background:South Korea has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world, which poses an immense socioeconomic burden on the healthcare system.Objectives:We hypothesized that the implementation of a Crisis Intervention Team would lead to an improvement in completion rates of suicide prevention counseling programs.Methods:This is a retrospective before‐and‐after analysis, and was carried out in the emergency department in the city of Ansan, South Korea. The Crisis Intervention Team, funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, counsels suicide attempt patients with the ultimate goal of assuring proper administration of mental healthcare from community suicide support programs. Data on suicide attempt patients were collected using medical records. The primary outcome was defined as completion of the 8‐week follow‐up period for suicide attempt patients with the community suicide support programs.Results:A total of 246 patients from the pre‐intervention period and 296 patients from the post‐intervention period were included in the study. The completion rates of the 8‐week follow‐up period increased significantly after the intervention. During the pre‐intervention period, 9 patients (3.7%) who were referred to the community suicide support program completed the 8 weeks of follow‐up, whereas in the post‐intervention period, 56 patients (18.9%) followed up for 8 weeks or more (p < 0.0001). The secondary outcome, overall linkage rates to community suicide support program, did not change significantly, with a minor increase from 46 (18.7%) to 63 (21.3%) (p = 0.45).Conclusion:The implementation of an in‐hospital Crisis Intervention Team dedicated to active and assertive counseling that begins in the emergency department was correlated with significantly increased completion rates of the 8‐week follow‐up counseling program.