bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigating Cortical Inhibition in First-Degree Relatives and Probands in Schizophrenia
Authors: Radhu Natasha , Dominguez Luis Garcia , Greenwood Tiffany A. , Farzan Faranak , Semeralul Mawahib O. , Richter Margaret A. , Kennedy James L. , Blumberger Daniel M. , Chen Robert , Fitzgerald Paul B. , Daskalakis Zafiris J. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractDeficits in GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmission are a reliable finding in schizophrenia (SCZ) patients. Previous studies have reported that unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with SCZ demonstrate neurophysiological abnormalities that are intermediate between probands and healthy controls. In this study, first-degree relatives of patients with SCZ and their related probands were investigated to assess frontal cortical inhibition. Long-interval cortical inhibition (LICI) was measured from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG). The study presents an extended sample of 129 subjects (66 subjects have been previously reported): 19 patients with SCZ or schizoaffective disorder, 30 unaffected first-degree relatives of these SCZ patients, 13 obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, 18 unaffected first-degree relatives of these OCD patients and 49 healthy subjects. In the DLPFC, cortical inhibition was significantly decreased in patients with SCZ compared to healthy subjects. First-degree relatives of patients with SCZ showed significantly more cortical inhibition than their SCZ probands. No differences were demonstrated between first-degree relatives of SCZ patients and healthy subjects. Taken together, these findings show that more studies are needed to establish an objective biological marker for potential diagnostic usage in severe psychiatric disorders.
Quantum synchronization in disordered superconducting metamaterials
Authors: Fistul M. V. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractI report a theoretical study of collective coherent quantum-mechanical oscillations in disordered superconducting quantum metamaterials (SQMs), i.e. artificial arrays of interacting qubits (two-levels system). An unavoidable disorder in qubits parameters results in a substantial spread of qubits frequencies, and in the absence of electromagnetic interaction between qubits these individual quantum-mechanical oscillations of single qubits manifest themselves by a large number of small resonant dips in the frequency dependent transmission of electromagnetic waves, |S21(ω)|2. We show that even a weak electromagnetic interaction between adjacent qubits can overcome the disorder and establish completely or partially synchronized quantum-mechanical dynamic state in the disordered SQM. In such a state a large amount of qubits displays the collective quantum mechanical oscillations, and this collective behavior manifests itself by a few giant resonant dips in the |S21(ω)|2 dependence. The size of a system r0 showing the collective (synchronized) quantum-mechanical behavior is determined in the one-dimensional SQMs as r0 ≃ a [K/δΔ]2, where K, δΔ, a are the effective energy of nearest-neighbor interaction, the spread of qubits energy splitting, and the distance between qubits, accordingly. We show that this phenomenon is mapped to the Anderson localization of spinon-type excitations arising in the SQM.
Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells promote angiogenesis and accelerate wound closure in a murine excisional wound healing model
Authors: Clayton Zoë E. , Tan Richard P. , Miravet Maria M. , Lennartsson Katarina , Cooke John P. , Bursill Christina A. , Wise Steven G. , Patel Sanjay 
Published: July 2018

Chronic wounds are a major complication in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Cell therapies have shown potential to stimulate wound healing, but clinical trials using adult stem cells have been tempered by limited numbers of cells and invasive procurement procedures. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have several advantages of other cell types, for example they can be generated in abundance from patients’ somatic cells (autologous) or those from a matched donor. iPSCs can be efficiently differentiated to functional endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs). Here, we used a murine excisional wound model to test the pro-angiogenic properties of iPSC-ECs in wound healing. Two full-thickness wounds were made on the dorsum of NOD-SCID mice and splinted. iPSC-ECs (5 × 105) were topically applied to one wound, with the other serving as a control. Treatment with iPSC-ECs significantly increased wound perfusion and accelerated wound closure. Expression of endothelial cell (EC) surface marker, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) (CD31), and pro-angiogenic EC receptor, Tie1, mRNA was up-regulated in iPSC-EC treated wounds at 7 days post-wounding. Histological analysis of wound sections showed increased capillary density in iPSC-EC wounds at days 7 and 14 post-wounding, and increased collagen content at day 14. Anti-GFP fluorescence confirmed presence of iPSC-ECs in the wounds. Bioluminescent imaging (BLI) showed progressive decline of iPSC-ECs over time, suggesting that iPSC-ECs are acting primarily through short-term paracrine effects. These results highlight the pro-regenerative effects of iPSC-ECs and demonstrate that they are a promising potential therapy for intractable wounds.
Chemistry in disks
Authors: Semenov D. , Favre C. , Fedele D. , Guilloteau S. , Teague R. , Henning Th. , Dutrey A. , Chapillon E. , Hersant F. , Piétu V. 
Published: July 2018

Context. Several sulfur-bearing molecules are observed in the interstellar medium and in comets, in strong contrast to protoplanetary disks where only CS, H2CS, and SO have been detected so far.
Aims. We combine observations and chemical models to constrain the sulfur abundances and their sensitivity to physical and chemical conditions in the DM Tau protoplanetary disk.
Methods. We obtained 0.5′′ Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations of DM Tau in Bands 4 and 6 in lines of CS, SO, SO2, OCS, CCS, H2CS, and H2S, achieving a ~5 mJy sensitivity. Using the non-Local Thermodynamical Equilibrium radiative transfer code RADEX and the forward-modeling tool DiskFit, disk-averaged CS column densities and upper limits for the other species were derived.
Results. Only CS was detected with a derived column density of ~2−6 × 1012 cm−2. We report a first tentative detection of SO2 in DM Tau. The upper limits range between ~1011 and 1014 cm−2 for the other S-bearing species. The best-fit chemical model matching these values requires a gas-phase C/O ratio of ≳1 at r ≳ 50−100 au. With chemical modeling we demonstrate that sulfur-bearing species could be robust tracers of the gas-phase C/O ratio, surface reaction rates, grain size and UV intensities.
Conclusions. The lack of detections of a variety of sulfur-bearing molecules in DM Tau other than CS implies a dearth of reactive sulfur in the gas phase, either through efficient freeze-out or because most of the elemental sulfur is in other large species, as found in comets. The inferred high CS/SO and CS/SO2 ratios require a non-solar C/O gas-phase ratio of ≳1, consistent with the recent observations of hydrocarbon rings in DM Tau. The stronger depletion of oxygen-bearing S-species compared to CS is likely linked to the low observed abundances of gaseous water in DM Tau and points to a removal mechanism of oxygen from the gas.
Ultrasound Markers in Fetal Hydronephrosis to Predict Postnatal Surgery
Authors: Kiener Teresa Antonia , Wohlmuth Christoph , Schimke Christa , Brandtner Martha Georgina , Wertaschnigg Dagmar 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Purpose Parents confronted with the finding of antenatal hydronephrosis (ANH) are particularly interested in whether their baby will need postnatal surgery. The objective of this study was to predict ANH requiring surgery on the basis of the fetal anteroposterior renal pelvic diameter (APRPD) and the Society for Fetal Urology (SFU) grading system.
Materials and Methods The medical records of 179 patients with the finding of ANH were reviewed retrospectively. ANH was graded according to the SFU grading system. Prenatal ultrasound examinations were correlated to postnatal outcome, which was divided into three groups: prenatal resolution, conservative management and surgical treatment.
Results 58 (32.4 %) cases were classified as prenatal resolution, 89 (49.7 %) babies were assigned to the conservative outcome group and 32 (17.9 %) patients needed surgical repair. Postnatal surgery was best predicted in the second trimester (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve: 0.839) by an APRPD cut-off of 8.3 mm (sensitivity: 77.8 %; specificity: 85.7 %; PPV of 53.9 %, NPV of 94.7 %). The combination of the parameters “progression of SFU grade” and SFU grade 3 or 4 achieved a sensitivity of 84.4 % and a specificity of 80.3 % for the prediction of surgery.
Conclusion Second-trimester APRPD is a useful parameter for predicting the risk for postnatal surgery. The SFU grade should be assessed in every prenatal ultrasound examination as some further risk estimates can be made based on its dynamics over time.
Can Ultrasound Alone Predict Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis? A Retrospective Analysis of 13 Cases, Focusing on the Stromal Area
Authors: Tajiri Kumiko , Hirokawa Mitsuyoshi , Suzuki Ayana , Takada Nami , Ota Hisashi , Oshita Maki , Fukushima Mitsuhiro , Kobayashi Kaoru , Miyauchi Akira 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPapillary thyroid carcinoma with desmoid-type fibromatosis (PTC-DTF) is extremely rare. So far, only 4 cases describing the ultrasound findings of this variant have been reported. Here, we describe the ultrasound findings of 13 cases of PTC-DTF, focusing especially on the DTF area.We retrospectively analyzed the clinical reports, ultrasound reports, and ultrasound photographs obtained from medical records at Kuma Hospital. The patients included 8 women and 5 men with a mean age of 47.9 years. The widest dimension of the nodules ranged from 16 to 79 mm (mean: 37.5 mm). The original ultrasound reports classified the nodules as either intermediate suspicion or high suspicion. A diagnosis of PTC was suspected in 12 nodules, and anaplastic carcinoma was suspected in 1 nodule. PTC-DTF presented with an irregularly shaped nodule (100%), taller-than-wide sign (84.6%), heterogeneous echogenicity (100%), no microcalcification (76.9%), and no or mild flow signal on Doppler (75.0%). The DTF area was identified in the ultrasound photographs of 8 nodules. DTF areas were generally heterogeneous (62.5%) and more hypoechoic (71.4%) than PTC areas. Microcalcification was not observed in the DTF areas. All of the DTF areas revealed no or mild flow signal. On ultrasound elastography, the DTF areas were not stiff, and they were more elastic than the PTC areas. It is difficult to predict PTC-DTF using ultrasound alone, and B-mode ultrasonography is more reliable than ultrasound elastography in the ultrasound diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules.
Influencing Factors of 2D Shear Wave Elastography of the Muscle – An Ex Vivo Animal Study
Authors: Rominger Marga , Kälin Pascal , Mastalerz Monika , Martini Katharina , Klingmüller Volker , Sanabria Sergio , Frauenfelder Thomas 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTo evaluate measurement confounders on 2D shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) elastography of muscle.
Ex vivo, porcine muscle was examined with a GE LOGIQ E9 ultrasound machine with a 9 L linear (9 MHz) and C1-6 convex probe (operating at 2.5 or 6 MHz). The influence of different confounders on mean shear wave velocity (SWVmean) was analyzed: probes, pressure applied by probe, muscle orientation, together with the impact of different machine settings such as frequency, placement depth and size of region of interest (ROI). The mean of twelve repeated SWVmean measurements (m/s) and coefficient of variation (CV; standard deviation/mean in %) were assessed for each test configuration. Reproducibility (CV) and maximum possible tissue depth of the linear probe were inferior to the convex probe. With the linear probe, there was a linear decrease of SWVmean with placement depth from 4.56 m/s to 1.81 m/s. A significant increase of SWVmean (p<0.001) was observed for larger ROI widths (range 3.96 m/s to 6.8 m/s). A change in the machine operation mode ('penetration' instead of 'general') led to a significant increase of SWVmean (p=0.04). SWVmean in the longitudinal direction of muscle was significantly higher than in cross section (p<0.001) (e. g. 4.56 m/s versus 3.42 m/s). An increase of linear probe pressure significantly increased muscle SWVmean from 5.29 m/s to 7.21 m/s (p<0.001).
2D-SWE of muscle is influenced by a wealth of parameters. Therefore, standardization of measurement is advisable before application in clinical research studies and routine patient assessment.
Distribution of the Recombinant Coagulation Factor 125I-rFVIIa in Rats
Authors: Beeby T L , Chasseaud L F , Taylor T , Thomsen M K 
Published: July 2018

SummaryRecombinant human factor VIIa (rFVIIa; NovoSeven®) is a two-chain activated clotting factor that is used in the treatment of haemophilia. The distribution of radioactivity in male and pregnant and non-pregnant female rats has been examined by whole-body autoradiography (WBA) after single intravenous doses of 125I-radiolabelled rFVIIa at a dosage level of ca. 0.1 mg/kg.Concentrations of radioactivity were highest in the blood and the highly perfused major thoracic and visceral organs and gonads. This distribution of radioactivity was generally similar in pregnant and non-pregnant females, and although radioactivity was concentrated in the foetal thyroid, it was present in other foetal tissues only at trace levels. Radioactivity in thyroid, urinary bladder and gastrointestinal tract of all rats was apparently associated with detached 125I-iodide. At early sacrifice times (up to 2 h), radioactivity was present in the bone marrow, but at later times (6-24 h) it was apparently associated with the mineralised bone structures.The quantitative distribution of total and trichloroacetic acid precipitable radioactivity in the tissues of rats also was studied after single intravenous doses of 125I-rFVIIa and 125I-rFVII, the non-activated single chain precursor of FVIIa, which is normally present in the circulation. These studies confirmed the WBA findings and showed that the tissue distribution of 125I-rFVII and 125I-rFVIIa was similar, indicating that the distribution of rFVIIa during therapy would be similar to that produced from endogenous FVII as a physiological response to vascular injury.
Incidence and Course of Symptomatic Deep Venous Thrombosis of the Lower Extremities in a Black Caribbean Population
Authors: Nossent J C , Egelie N.C W.M 
Published: July 2018

SummaryDuring a 5-year period 131 patients with symptomatic deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities (DVT) were identified in a black Caribbean population. Eighty-one patients (61%) had objective evidence (ascending venography), while in 39% the diagnosis was based on clinical findings only. The overall annual incidence rate for definite DVT was 11 per 100,000 person years; there was a steep increase with age in both sexes. Proximal DVT was present in 69% of patients. Swelling (92%), pain on palpation (89%) and tenderness (87%) were the most frequent symptoms, while immobilization (43%) and varicosities (42%) were the most frequent risk factors; DVT was rare during pregnancy (1 in 15,000 deliveries). Seventeen patients (21%) developed pulmonary embolism and five patients (6.2%) died during the hospital stay (four of fatal pulmonary embolism, one due to toxic epidermolysis after venography). We conclude, that symptomatic DVT of the lower extremities has a low incidence in this black Caribbean population, but is nonetheless associated with considerable morbidity and mortality due to pulmonary embolism.
Standard and Method Independent Units for Heparin Anticoagulant Activities
Authors: Hemker H C , Béguin S 
Published: July 2018

SummaryIt is discussed why the current USP unit of heparin anticoagulant activity necessarily will render inaccurately the anticoagulant activities of low molecular weight heparins. It is shown that the outcome is bound to vary with the method used for comparison of the sample and the standard and with the nature of the standard used. As an alternative we define a unit of heparin in terms of anti-factor Xa- and antithrombin-activity that is independent of the heparin standard and of the assay method, but that is based upon a quantitative description of the catalytic effect of heparin on AT III mediated thrombin- and factor Xa breakdown. Expression of the results of existing anti-factor Xa- and antithrombin tests in terms of these units will allow to express heparin levels in plasma in terms of concentrations of active anticoagulant material. This approach makes it possible to separate heparin pharmacodynamics from heparin pharmacokinetics. Introduction of this unit does not require adaptation of current laboratory practice but changes the way in which the results obtained are expressed.
Facilitation of Plasminogen Activation by a Plasmin Substrate Containing a Lysyl Residue
Authors: Machovich Raymund , Owen Whyte G 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe plasmin substrate, H-D-norleucyl-hexahydrotyrosyl lysine-p-nitroanilide (Spectrozyme-PL), was found to be equiva lent to 6-aminohexanoate as an enhancer of porcine and human plasminogen activation by urokinase and of removal of the 1-77 peptide of plasminogen by plasmin. Activation of plasminogen lacking kringles 1-4, on the other hand, was not influenced by Spectrozyme PL. Although the rate of activation of human plasminogen and the modification of human plasminogen by plasmin are faster by an order of magnitude than that of the activation and modification of porcine plasminogen, both reactions in the human zymogen, the hydrolysis at arg561-val562 and at lys77lys78, are accelerated by Spectrozyme PL. The findings indicate that kinetic interpretation of plasminogen activation in solutions containing substrates, where the substrate has been incorporated to inhibit feedback proteolysis by plasmin, must account for the cofactor activity as well as the inhibitory activity of the substrate.
Plasmin Potency Estimates: Influence of the Substrate Used in Assay
Authors: Philo Roger D , Gaffney Patrick J 
Published: July 2018

SummaryA urokinase-activated plasmin (UK-plasmin) preparation was assayed against the International Reference Preparation for Plasmin (IRP-plasmin) using caseinolytic, fibrinolytic, fibrinogenolytic and chromogenic assay methods. The relative potency (using multi-dose bioassays) was estimated by the fibrinolytic method to be about twice that obtained by the caseinolytic, fibrinolytic and chromogenic assay methods. It was found that the UK-plasmin binds to fibrin to a greater extent than does the IRP-plasmin and this is advanced as an explanation for the discrepancy between assay methods. This difference in the binding of the two plasmins to fibrin may mean that it will be difficult to compare the fibrinolytic activities of various plasmin preparations.It is also shown that, during thermal degradation, the IRP-plasmin loses fibrinolytic activity more rapidly than amidolytic activity.
Heparin-Releasable and Platelet Pools of Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor in Rabbits
Authors: Warn-Cramer Bonnie J , Maki Steven L , Rapaport Samuel I 
Published: July 2018

SummaryEarlier studies from this laboratory have established that tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) functions as a natural anticoagulant protecting rabbits from intravascular coagulation triggered by the exposure of blood to small amounts of tissue factor. In addition to the TFPI circulating in plasma, humans have been shown to have heparin-releasable and platelet pools of TFPI. In order better to extrapolate from studies carried out in rabbits to an understanding of human hemostasis, we have examined the presence and extent of heparin-releasable and platelet pools of TFPI in rabbits. We find that in the rabbit the heparin-releasable pool of TFPI activity, as measured in a capacity assay, may be smaller relative to the plasma pool than in humans; that the platelet pool of TFPI activity is comparable to that of humans; and that rabbit TFPI, unlike human TFPI, has the same apparent molecular mass in all vascular pools. These studies extend our understanding of the properties of TFPI in rabbits and the appropriateness of using the rabbit for studies of TFPI relevant to human hemostasis.
Different Expression of Procoagulant Activity in Human Cancer Cells Cultured “In Vitro” or in Cells Isolated from Human Tumor Tissues
Authors: Zucchella Marisa , Pacchiarini Lucia , Tacconi Fiorenzo , Saporiti Anna , Grignani Guido 
Published: July 2018

SummaryWe studied in a homologous system the procoagulant activity of human tumor cells cultured “in vitro” (1402 primary melanoma, Me 7110/2 metastatic melanoma, Hep G2 hepatoma and GLC1 small cell lung carcinoma) or of cells freshly isolatedfrom different human tumor tissues.Tumor cells cultured “in vitro” possessed and released a factor VII dependent procoagulant activity, which was inhibitedby concanavalin A and unaffected by iodoacetamide or HgCl2. The activity released by the cells of metastatic melanoma was higher than that released by the cells of the primary tumor. On the contrary, cancer cells isolated from tumor tissues possessed and released a factor VII independent activity which was inhibited by iodoacetamide or HgCl2 and was not modified by concanavalin A. Therefore, different methods for the preparation of tumor cell suspensions have to be used for the study of tumor procoagulants, since their expression depends very largely on the source of tumor cells. Furthermore, cultured human tumor cells are not an appropriate model for the “in vivo” procoagulant effect of tumor cells.
Microbubble-Induced Phospholipase C Activation Does not Correlate with Platelet Aggregation
Authors: Malmgren R , Thorsen T , Nordvik A , Holmsen H 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe effect of nitrogen-(N2-)microbubbles on platelets resembles that of common platelet agonists with respect to aggregation and secretion, but is considerably slower and is poorly inhibited by aspirin. This paper reports the effect of microbubbles on platelet phospholipase C activity in gelfiltered human platelets prelabelled with [32P]Pi ([32P]-GFP). The experiments were run in the presence of an ADP scavenging system in order to rule out effects of ADP. Stimulation of [32P]-GFP for 30 min with microbubbles caused a significant reduction in single platelets (p <0.0004) and a significant increase in 32P-activity in the phosphatidic acid (PA) fraction (p <0.02). Epinephrine potentiated the microbubble-induced reduction in single platelets (p <0.05), but did not enhance the amount of 32P in the platelet [32P]PA fraction. The 32P-radioactivity in the PI-fraction increased with time to a similar extent when [32P]-GFP was stirred for 30 min in absence of microbubbles as it did after 30 min of agonist exposure. There were no significant changes in the [32P]PIP and [32P]PIP2 fractions. Aspirin abolished the microbubble-induced increase in 32P-activity in the PA fraction, but had no significant effect on the reduction in single platelets. Aspirin had a small but significant, reducing effect on platelet aggregation induced by a combination of epinephrine and microbubbles (p <0.05). With epinephrine, however, aspirin did not completely abolish the increase in [32P]-PA. It is concluded that microbubbles alone cause platelets to aggregate by a novel mechanism that operates independent of cyclooxygenase-dependent arachidonic acid metabolites and phospholipase C activation.