bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A possible association between fructose consumption and pulmonary emphysema
Authors: Suehiro Camila Liyoko , Toledo-Arruda Alessandra Choqueta de , Vieira Rodolfo de Paula , Almeida Francine Maria de , Olivo Clarice Rosa , Martins Milton de Arruda , Lin Chin Jia 
Published: June 2019

AbstractChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a syndrome that comprises several distinct and overlapping phenotypes. In addition to persistent airflow limitation and respiratory symptoms, COPD is also characterized by chronic systemic inflammation. Epidemiological studies have shown that dietary fibers, fruits and vegetables intake protects against the COPD development, while fructose-loading is associated with increased risk of asthma and chronic bronchitis. Since dietary factors might affect susceptibility to COPD by modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, we evaluated how fructose feeding might affect the smoking-induced emphysema in mice. We found that chronic fructose intake induced destruction and remodeling of lung parenchyma and impairment of respiratory mechanics, which are associated with distinctive cytokine profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, blood plasma and skeletal muscle. The combined effects of chronic fructose intake and cigarette smoking on destruction of lung parenchyma are more pronounced than the effects of either alone. Excessive intake of fructose might directly cause pulmonary emphysema in mice rather than just altering its natural history by facilitating the installation of a low-grade systemic inflammatory milieu.
Biochar effects on phosphorus availability in agricultural soils: A meta-analysis
Authors: Glaser Bruno , Lehr Verena-Isabell 
Published: June 2019

AbstractPhosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient for plants and an essential element for all life on Earth. As the resources of phosphate rock are depleting, new management tools for environmentally friendly P fertilizers are needed. In order to achieve this, recent studies have proposed to use biochar, a carbon-rich solid product of thermochemical conversion of biomass with minimal or zero oxygen supply, as slow-release P fertilizer. However, the effects of biochar on plant-available P in soils have been reported to be variable. Therefore, we quantitatively evaluated existing peer-reviewed data using meta-analysis to draw general conclusions. In the present study, we evaluated 108 pairwise comparisons to their response of biochar application on P availability in soils. Our results indicate that biochar can act as a short-, mid-, and long-term P fertilizer with its effect depending on feedstock, pyrolysis temperature and application amount. Overall, the addition of biochar significantly increased the P availability in agricultural soil by a factor of 4.6 (95% confidence interval 3.4–5.9), independent of the used feedstock for biochar production. Only biochar application amounts above 10 Mg ha−1 and biochar produced at temperatures lower than 600 °C significantly increased the P availability of agricultural soils. The application of biochar to acid (pH < 6.5) and neutral soils (pH 6.5–7.5) significantly increased plant-P availability by a factor of 5.1 and 2.4, respectively (95% confidence interval 3.5–6.7 and 1.4–3.4, respectively), while there was no significant effect in alkaline soils (pH > 7.5). Taken together, this meta-analysis shows that biochar significantly enhances plant-available P in biochar-amended soils at least for five years.
Hair-follicle-associated pluripotent stem cells derived from cryopreserved intact human hair follicles sustain multilineage differentiation potential
Authors: Obara Koya , Tohgi Natsuko , Mii Sumiyuki , Hamada Yuko , Arakawa Nobuko , Aki Ryoichi , Singh Shree Ram , Hoffman Robert M. , Amoh Yasuyuki 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe bulge area of the hair follicle contains hair-follicle-associated pluripotent (HAP) stem cells. Here, we present effective cryopreservation procedures of the human hair follicle that preserve the differentiation potential of HAP stem cells. Whole hair follicles isolated from human scalp were cryopreserved by a slow-rate cooling medium and stored in liquid nitrogen. A careful thawing method was used to collect the upper parts of the human hair follicles which were cultured for four weeks in a Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium with fetal bovine serum (FBS). Proliferating hair follicle cells were then shifted to DMEM/Ham’s Nutrient Mixture F-12 medium without FBS and allowed to grow for one week. These proliferating cells were able to produce HAP stem cell colonies with multilineage differentiation capacity. They produced keratinocytes, smooth muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, neurons and glial cells. Interestingly, these cryopreserved hair follicles produced pluripotent HAP stem cell colonies similar to fresh follicles. These findings suggest that the cryopreserved whole human hair follicle preserves the ability to produce HAP stem cells, which will enable any individual to preserve a bank of these stem cells for personalized regenerative medicine.
Checking for voice disorders without clinical intervention: The Greek and global VHI thresholds for voice disordered patients
Authors: Tafiadis Dionysios , Chronopoulos Spyridon K. , Helidoni Meropi E. , Kosma Evangelia I. , Voniati Louiza , Papadopoulos Periklis , Murry Thomas , Ziavra Nafsika , Velegrakis George A. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractVoice disorders often remain undiagnosed. Many self-perceived questionnaires exist for various medical conditions. Here, we used the Greek Voice Handicap Index (VHI) to address the aforementioned problem. Everyone can fill in the VHI questionnaire and rate their symptoms easily. The innovative feature of this research is the global cut-off score calculated for the VHI. Therefore, the VHI is now capable of helping clinicians establish a more customizable treatment plan with the cut-off point identifying patients without normal phonation. For the purpose of finding the global cut-off point, a group of 180 participants was recruited in Greece (90 non-dysphonic participants and 90 with different types of dysphonia). The voice disordered group had higher VHI scores than those of the control group. In contrast to previous studies, we provided and validated for the first time the cut-off points for all VHI domains and, finally, a global cut-off point through ROC and precision-recall analysis in a voice disordered population. In practice, a score higher than the well-estimated global score indicates (without intervention) a possible voice disorder. Nevertheless, if the score is near the threshold, then the patient should definitely follow preventive measures.
Effects of Kinect-based exergaming on frailty status and physical performance in prefrail and frail elderly: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Liao Ying-Yi , Chen I.-Hsuan , Wang Ray-Yau 
Published: June 2019

AbstractFrailty status can be improved by intervention. Both exergaming and combined exercise have been proposed for improving physical performance in community-dwelling elderly. However, whether frailty status can be improved by exergaming is unclear. Moreover, whether Kinect-based exergaming training can exert a stronger effect on improving frailty status than combined exercise needs to be established. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Kinect-based exergaming on improving frailty status and physical performance in the prefrail and frail elderly by comparing its effects with those of combined exercise. Fifty-two prefrail and frail elderly were recruited and randomized to the Kinect-based exergaming group (EXER group) or combined exercise group (CE group), emphasizing resistance, aerobic, and balance training for 36 sessions over 12 weeks. Our results showed that both groups improved the frailty status (EXER group: p = 0.016, effect size = 2.29; and CE group: p = 0.031, effect size = 2.67). Three out of 5 physical characteristics of the frailty phenotype, namely, weakness, slow walking speed, and low activity level, were significantly reversed by both exergaming and combined exercise. However, the exergaming training also significantly reversed exhaustion. Furthermore, compared with the CE group, the EXER group showed greater improvement in dynamic balance control, as indicated by the forward reaching test (p = 0.0013, effect size = 0.40) and single leg stance test (p = 0.049, effect size = 0.42). Thus, Kinect-based exergaming exerted effects that were at least as beneficial as those of combined exercise in improving frailty status and the frailty phenotype. We recommend the use of exergaming aided by Kinect in the prefrail and frail elderly.
Deciphering the genetic basis of root morphology, nutrient uptake, yield, and yield-related traits in rice under dry direct-seeded cultivation systems
Authors: Sandhu Nitika , Subedi Sushil Raj , Singh Vikas Kumar , Sinha Pallavi , Kumar Santosh , Singh S. P. , Ghimire Surya Kant , Pandey Madhav , Yadaw Ram Baran , Varshney Rajeev K. , Kumar Arvind 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn the face of global water scarcity, a successful transition of rice cultivation from puddled to dry direct-seeded rice (DDSR) is a future need. A genome-wide association study was performed on a complex mapping population for 39 traits: 9 seedling-establishment traits, 14 root and nutrient-uptake traits, 5 plant morphological traits, 4 lodging resistance traits, and 7 yield and yield-contributing traits. A total of 10 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) were found along with 25 QTLs associated with 25 traits. The percent phenotypic variance explained by SNPs ranged from 8% to 84%. Grain yield was found to be significantly and positively correlated with seedling-establishment traits, root morphological traits, nutrient uptake-related traits, and grain yield-contributing traits. The genomic colocation of different root morphological traits, nutrient uptake-related traits, and grain-yield-contributing traits further supports the role of root morphological traits in improving nutrient uptake and grain yield under DDSR. The QTLs/candidate genes underlying the significant MTAs were identified. The identified promising progenies carrying these QTLs may serve as potential donors to be exploited in genomics-assisted breeding programs for improving grain yield and adaptability under DDSR.
Effect of myofibril passive elastic properties on the mechanical communication between motor proteins on adjacent sarcomeres
Authors: Washio Takumi , Shintani Seine A. , Higuchi Hideo , Sugiura Seiryo , Hisada Toshiaki 
Published: June 2019

AbstractRapid sarcomere lengthening waves propagate along a single muscle myofibril during spontaneous oscillatory contraction (SPOC). In asynchronous insect flight muscles, SPOC is thought to be almost completely synchronized over the entire myofibril. This phenomenon does not require Ca2+ regulation of the dynamics of the motor proteins, and cannot be explained simply by the longitudinal mechanical equilibrium among sarcomeres in the myofibril. In the present study, we rationalize these phenomena by considering the lateral mechanical equilibrium, in which two tensions originating from the inverse relationship between sarcomere length and lattice spacing, along with the lattice alignment, play important roles in the mechanical communication between motor proteins on adjacent filaments via the Z-disc. The proposed model is capable of explaining various SPOC phenomena based on the stochastic power-stroke mechanism of motor proteins, which responds to temporal changes in longitudinal mechanical load.
Facilitation and inhibition of firing activity and N-methyl-D-aspartate-evoked responses of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells by alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor selective compounds in vivo
Authors: Bali Zsolt Kristóf , Nagy Lili Veronika , Budai Dénes , Hernádi István 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAlpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are promising novel targets for the treatment of neurocognitive disorders. Although the cognitive enhancer potential of alpha7 nAChR agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) has been confirmed in several preclinical animal models, there are only sparse in vivo electrophysiological data on their effects on the firing activity and excitability of neurons. The present study investigated and compared local effects of alpha7 nAChR agonist PHA-543613 and PAMs PNU-120596 and NS-1738 on the spontaneous and N-methyl-D-aspartate-evoked (NMDA-evoked) firing rate of rat CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells, in vivo. Furthermore, effects of alpha7 nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) and GABA were also tested. Results showed substantially different effects of the alpha7 nAChR agonist and PAMs. While PNU-120596 and NS-1738 predominantly and significantly increased both spontaneous and NMDA-evoked firing rate of the neurons, application of PHA-543613 resulted in almost equal distribution of facilitatory and inhibitory effects. The increase of the NMDA-evoked firing rate exerted by NS-1738 was superadditive over the sum of the single effects of NMDA and NS-1738. The simultaneous application of alpha7 nAChR agonist PHA-543613 and PAM NS-1738 resulted in additive increase of both spontaneous and NMDA-evoked firing rate. However, NS-1738 counteracted inhibitory effects of PHA-543613 in 5 out of 6 neurons, resulting in a synergistic potentiation of their firing responses to NMDA. Our results suggest that alpha7 nAChR PAMs increase neuronal excitability more potently than agonists, while the remarkable occurrence of inhibitory effects of PHA-543613 (possibly originating from receptor desensitization) implies that agonists may exert neuroprotective effects.
GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphisms in outcomes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with cisplatin chemoradiation
Authors: Pincinato Eder C. , Costa Ericka F. D. , Lopes-Aguiar Leisa , Nogueira Guilherme A. S. , Lima Tathiane R. P. , Visacri Marília B. , Costa Anna P. L. , Lourenço Gustavo J. , Calonga Luciane , Mariano Fernanda V. , Altemani Albina M. A. M. , Coutinho-Camillo Cláudia , Chone Carlos T. , Ramos Celso D. , Altemani João M. C. , Moriel Patrícia , Lima Carmen S. P. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractCisplatin (CDDP) combined with radiotherapy (RT) is employed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with variable toxicities and clinical response. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) participate in CDDP excretion from cells, and genes encoding GSTs,GSTM1,GSTT1andGSTP1, are polymorphic in humans. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the roles ofGSTM1,GSTT1, andGSTP1Ile105Val polymorphisms in outcomes of HNSCC patients treated with CDDP chemoradiation. Ninety patients were genotyped by multiplex PCR. Urinary CDDP measurements were performed by HPLC. Treatment side effects and response were analysed by conventional criteria. Patients withGSTT1genes showed 7.23- and 5.37-fold higher likelihood of presenting vomiting and ototoxicity, lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and lower elimination of CDDP in urine relative to patients with deleted genes. Patients harbouring theGSTP1IleVal or ValVal genotypes showed 4.28-fold higher likelihood of presenting grade 2 or 3 vomiting and lower GFR with treatment than those harbouring the IleIle genotype. In multivariate Cox analysis, patients with theGSTP1105ValVal genotype had 3.87 more chance of presenting disease progression than those with the IleIle or IleVal genotype (p < 0.01). Our findings provide preliminary evidence that inherited abnormalities in CDDP metabolism, related toGSTT1andGSTP1Ile105Val polymorphisms, alter outcomes of HNSCC patients treated with CDDP and RT.
Validation of the Fetal Lamb Model of Spina Bifida
Authors: Joyeux Luc , Engels Alexander C. , Van Der Merwe Johannes , Aertsen Michael , Patel Premal A. , Deprez Marjolijn , Khatoun Ahmad , Pranpanus Savitree , da Cunha Marina Gabriela Monteiro Carvalho M , De Vleeschauwer Stephanie , Parra Johanna , Apelt Katerina , Laughlin Myles Mc , Van Calenbergh Frank , Radaelli Enrico , Deprest Jan 
Published: June 2019

AbstractA randomized trial demonstrated that fetal spina bifida (SB) repair is safe and effective yet invasive. New less invasive techniques are proposed but are not supported by adequate experimental studies. A validated animal model is needed to bridge the translational gap to the clinic and should mimic the human condition. Introducing a standardized method, we comprehensively and reliably characterize the SB phenotype in two lamb surgical models with and without myelotomy as compared to normal lambs. Hindbrain herniation measured on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included gross examination with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage test, neurological examination with locomotor assessment, whole-body MRI, motor and somatosensory evoked potentials; brain, spinal cord, hindlimb muscles, bladder and rectum histology and/or immunohistochemistry. We show that the myelotomy model best phenocopies the anatomy, etiopathophysiology and symptomatology of non-cystic SB. This encompasses hindbrain herniation, ventriculomegaly, posterior fossa anomalies, loss of brain neurons; lumbar CSF leakage, hindlimb somatosensory-motor deficit with absence of motor and somatosensory evoked potentials due to loss of spinal cord neurons, astroglial cells and myelin; urinary incontinence. This model obtains the highest validity score for SB animal models and is adequate to assess the efficacy of novel fetal therapies.
Pulmonary rehabilitation improves survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis undergoing lung transplantation
Authors: Florian Juliessa , Watte Guilherme , Teixeira Paulo José Zimermann , Altmayer Stephan , Schio Sadi Marcelo , Sanchez Letícia Beatriz , Nascimento Douglas Zaione , Camargo Spencer Marcantonio , Perin Fabiola Adélia , Camargo José de Jesus , Felicetti José Carlos , Moreira José da Silva 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThis study was conducted to evaluate whether a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) is independently associated with survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) undergoing lung transplant (LTx). This quasi-experimental study included 89 patients who underwent LTx due to IPF. Thirty-two completed all 36 sessions in a PRP while on the waiting list for LTx (PRP group), and 53 completed fewer than 36 sessions (controls). Survival after LTx was the main outcome; invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), length of stay (LOS) in intensive care unit (ICU) and in hospital were secondary outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were used in survival analyses. Cox regression models showed that the PRP group had a reduced 54.0% (hazard ratio = 0.464, 95% confidence interval 0.222–0.970, p = 0.041) risk of death. A lower number of patients in the PRP group required IMV for more than 24 hours after LTx (9.0% vs. 41.6% p = 0.001). This group also spent a mean of 5 days less in the ICU (p = 0.004) and 5 days less in hospital (p = 0.046). In conclusion, PRP PRP completion halved the risk of cumulative mortality in patients with IPF undergoing unilateral LTx
Systematic comparison of germline variant calling pipelines cross multiple next-generation sequencers
Authors: Chen Jiayun , Li Xingsong , Zhong Hongbin , Meng Yuhuan , Du Hongli 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe development and innovation of next generation sequencing (NGS) and the subsequent analysis tools have gain popularity in scientific researches and clinical diagnostic applications. Hence, a systematic comparison of the sequencing platforms and variant calling pipelines could provide significant guidance to NGS-based scientific and clinical genomics. In this study, we compared the performance, concordance and operating efficiency of 27 combinations of sequencing platforms and variant calling pipelines, testing three variant calling pipelines—Genome Analysis Tool Kit HaplotypeCaller, Strelka2 and Samtools-Varscan2 for nine data sets for the NA12878 genome sequenced by different platforms including BGISEQ500, MGISEQ2000, HiSeq4000, NovaSeq and HiSeq Xten. For the variants calling performance of 12 combinations in WES datasets, all combinations displayed good performance in calling SNPs, with their F-scores entirely higher than 0.96, and their performance in calling INDELs varies from 0.75 to 0.91. And all 15 combinations in WGS datasets also manifested good performance, with F-scores in calling SNPs were entirely higher than 0.975 and their performance in calling INDELs varies from 0.71 to 0.93. All of these combinations manifested high concordance in variant identification, while the divergence of variants identification in WGS datasets were larger than that in WES datasets. We also down-sampled the original WES and WGS datasets at a series of gradient coverage across multiple platforms, then the variants calling period consumed by the three pipelines at each coverage were counted, respectively. For the GIAB datasets on both BGI and Illumina platforms, Strelka2 manifested its ultra-performance in detecting accuracy and processing efficiency compared with other two pipelines on each sequencing platform, which was recommended in the further promotion and application of next generation sequencing technology. The results of our researches will provide useful and comprehensive guidelines for personal or organizational researchers in reliable and consistent variants identification.
Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion of Liver Grafts from Brain-Dead Donors
Authors: Patrono Damiano , Surra Astrid , Catalano Giorgia , Rizza Giorgia , Berchialla Paola , Martini Silvia , Tandoi Francesco , Lupo Francesco , Mirabella Stefano , Stratta Chiara , Salizzoni Mauro , Romagnoli Renato 
Published: June 2019

AbstractHypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (HOPE) was introduced in liver transplantation (LT) to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury. Available clinical data mainly concern LT with donors after circulatory-determined death, whereas data on brain-dead donors (DBD) are scarce. To assess the impact of end-ischemic HOPE in DBD LT, data on primary adult LTs performed between March 2016 and June 2018 were analyzed. HOPE was used in selected cases of donor age >80 years, apparent severe graft steatosis, or ischemia time ≥10 hours. Outcomes of HOPE-treated cases were compared with those after static cold storage. Propensity score matching (1:2) and Bayesian model averaging were used to overcome selection bias. During the study period, 25 (8.5%) out of 294 grafts were treated with HOPE. After matching, HOPE was associated with a lower severe post-reperfusion syndrome (PRS) rate (4% versus 20%, p = 0.13) and stage 2–3 acute kidney injury (AKI) (16% versus 42%, p = 0.046). Furthermore, Bayesian model averaging showed lower transaminases peak and a lower early allograft dysfunction (EAD) rate after HOPE. A steeper decline in arterial graft resistance throughout perfusion was associated with lower EAD rate. HOPE determines a significant reduction of ischemia reperfusion injury in DBD LT.
An integrated transcriptional switch at the β-selection checkpoint determines T cell survival, development and leukaemogenesis
Authors: Chann Anchi S. , Russell Sarah M. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn T cell development, a pivotal decision-making stage, termed β-selection, integrates a TCRβ checkpoint to coordinate survival, proliferation and differentiation to an αβ T cell. Here, we review how transcriptional regulation coordinates fate determination in early T cell development to enable β-selection. Errors in this transcription control can trigger T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. We describe how the β-selection checkpoint goes awry in leukaemic transformation.