bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
18F-PBR06 Versus 11C-PBR28 PET for Assessing White Matter Translocator Protein Binding in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Singhal Tarun , O'Connor Kelsey , Dubey Shipra , Belanger Anthony P. , Hurwitz Shelley , Chu Renxin , Tauhid Shahamat , Kijewski Marie F. , DiCarli Marcelo F. , Weiner Howard L. , Bakshi Rohit 
Published: July 2018

Background and Purpose

18F-PBR06 and 11C-PBR28 are second-generation PET radioligands targeting the 18-kd translocator protein to assess microglial activation. We directly compared 18F-PBR06 and 11C-PBR28 for detecting brain translocator protein binding in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods
Six patients with MS (4 women; mean age ± SD, 32.1 ± 4.9 [range, 23.5–37.4 years]; Expanded Disability Status Scale score 2.3 ± 1.2 [range, 1.0–4.0]) underwent brain PET with both ligands, along with 3-T MRI. MRI was coregistered to the summed 60- to 90-minute PET images. SUV ratios (SUVRs), derived by normalization to global brain radioactivity, were obtained for whole-brain white matter (WM), supratentorial WM, normal-appearing WM (NAWM), and T2 (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) hyperintense and T1 hypointense MS WM lesions. The highest mean SUVR for the fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery lesional slices was defined as SUVRmax.

Results

18F-PBR06 and 11C-PBR28 were moderately intercorrelated for whole-brain WM SUVR (r = 0.83, P = 0.04) and supratentorial WM SUVR (r = 0.81, P = 0.05) but not for SUVRs of NAWM, T1 lesions, T2 lesions, or SUVRmax. Both tracers demonstrated that SUVR was higher in NAWM than in T1 and T2 lesions (all P < 0.05). 18F-PBR06 (but not 11C-PBR28) demonstrated a higher SUVR in T1 versus T2 lesions (0.85 ± 0.07 vs 0.78 ± 0.03, P = 0.03). 18F-PBR06-derived (but not 11C-PBR28) SUVRmax correlated with both Expanded Disability Status Scale score (r = 0.82, P = 0.04) and timed 25-ft walking speed (r = 0.89, P = 0.01).

Conclusions
Our preliminary results suggest an association between microglial activation and physical disability in MS. Microglial detection in lesions was not interchangeable between the tracers, with a higher clinical relevance suggested for 18F-PBR06.
68Ga-Labeled Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Uptake in Pheochromocytoma
Authors: Singh Deepa , Kumar Rajender , Mittal Bhagwant Rai , Singh Harmandeep , Bhattacharya Anish 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
We report a case of adenocarcinoma prostate treated previously with radical prostatectomy and hormonal therapy who underwent 68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/CT for recurrence evaluation. In addition to radiotracer uptake in the prostate bed, unusual intense prostate-specific membrane antigen uptake was also noted in the left adrenal gland. With a clinical suspicion of pheochromocytoma, 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT was done, which revealed tracer-avid left adrenal lesion.
Quadratus Lumborum Block Versus Perioperative Intravenous Lidocaine for Postoperative Pain Control in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery
Authors: Dewinter Geertrui , Coppens Steve , Van de Velde Marc , D’Hoore André , Wolthuis Albert , Cuypers Eva , Rex Steffen 
Published: July 2018

Objective:
To investigate the comparative analgesic efficacy of systemic lidocaine and quadratus lumborum (QL) block in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Background:
Although epidural analgesia is the standard to control pain in patients undergoing open colorectal surgery, optimal analgesic management in laparoscopic surgery is less well-defined. There is need for effective and efficient alternatives to epidural analgesia for pain management in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Methods:
A total of 125 patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery were included in this randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial. Patients randomly received an intravenous infusion with placebo plus a QL-block with placebo, a QL-block with ropivacaine 0.25% plus intravenous placebo, or intravenous lidocaine plus a QL-block with placebo. Postoperatively, all patients received patient-controlled intravenous anesthesia (PCIA) with morphine. Primary outcome parameter was the opioid consumption during the first 24 hours postoperatively. Secondary endpoints included severity of postoperative pain, time to return of intestinal function, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and length of hospital stay.

Results:
The QL-block was not superior to systemic lidocaine for the reduction of morphine requirements in the first 24 hours postoperatively {QL-group: 37.5 (28.4) mg [mean (standard deviation)] vs lidocaine group: 40.2 (25) mg, P = 0.15}. For the majority of secondary outcome parameters, no significant differences were found between the groups. Morphine consumption in the postanesthesia care unit, the number of PCIA-boli demanded by the patient, and the number of PCIA-boli delivered by the PCIA-pump during the first 24 hours postoperatively were lower in the placebo group.

Conclusions:
In our trial, the QL-block did not provide superior postoperative analgesia when compared to systemic lidocaine in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Trial registration:
Eudra CT: 2014-001499-73; 31/7/2014
Postoperative Acute Pancreatitis Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Bannone Elisa , Andrianello Stefano , Marchegiani Giovanni , Masini Gaia , Malleo Giuseppe , Bassi Claudio , Salvia Roberto 
Published: July 2018

Objective:
The aim of the study is to characterize postoperative acute pancreatitis (POAP).

Summary Background Data:
A standardized definition of POAP after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has been recently proposed, but specific studies are lacking.

Methods:
The patients were extracted from the prospective database of The Pancreas Institute of Verona. POAP was defined as an elevation of the serum pancreatic amylase levels above the upper limit of normal (52 U/L) on postoperative day (POD) 0 or 1. The endpoints included defining the incidence and predictors of POAP and investigating the association of POAP with postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF).

Results:
The study population consisted of 292 patients who underwent PD. The POAP and POPF rates were 55.8% and 22.3%, respectively. POAP was an independent predictor of POPF (OR 3.8), with a 92% sensitivity and 53.7% specificity (AUC 0.79). Preoperative exocrine insufficiency (OR 0.39), neoadjuvant therapy (OR 0.29) additional resection of the pancreatic stump margin (OR 0.25), soft pancreatic texture (OR 4.38), and Main Pancreatic Duct (MPD) diameter ≤3 mm (OR 2.86) were independent predictors of POAP. In high-risk patients, an intraoperative fluid administration of ≤3 ml/kg/h was associated with an increased incidence of POAP (24.6 vs. 0%, P = 0.04) and POPF (27.6 vs. 11.4%, P = 0.05).

Conclusion:
This study represents the first clinical application of the only available definition of POAP as a specific complication of pancreatic surgery. POAP is associated with an increased occurrence of POPF and overall morbidity and could potentially be avoided through a specific intraoperative fluid regimen in high-risk pancreas.
Validity of the Novel Taiwan Lymphoscintigraphy Staging and Correlation of Cheng Lymphedema Grading for Unilateral Extremity Lymphedema
Authors: Cheng Ming-Huei , Pappalardo Marco , Lin Chieh , Kuo Chang-Fu , Lin Chia-Yu , Chung Kevin C. 
Published: July 2018

Objective:
The aim was to validate the new Taiwan Lymphoscintigraphy Staging, correlate it with Cheng Lymphedema Grading (CLG) and evaluate the treatment outcomes of unilateral extremity lymphedema.

Background:
No consensus has been reached for diagnosis and staging for patients with lymphedema among medical specialties.

Methods:
We included 285 patients with unilateral extremity lymphedema using lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphoscintigraphy was correlated to clinical symptoms and signs, and classified into normal lymphatic drainage, partial obstruction, and total obstruction. Inter- and intraobserver reliability of Taiwan Lymphoscintigraphy Staging, correlation between Taiwan Lymphoscintigraphy Staging and clinical findings were conducted. Patients were categorized in “surgical” (n = 154) or “nonsurgical” (n = 131) groups for outcome evaluation.

Results:
Lymphoscintigraphy found 11 patients (3.9%) with normal lymphatic drainage, 128 (44.9%) with partial obstruction, and 146 (51.2%) with total obstruction. Taiwan Lymphoscintigraphy Staging showed high interobserver agreement [intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.94)], and significantly correlated to computed tomography volumetric difference (r = 0.66, P < 0.001) and CLG [intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.72–0.84)]. At a mean follow-up of 31.2 ± 2.9 months, significant improvement in the circumferential difference (from 23.9% ± 17.6% to 14.6% ± 11.1%; P = 0.03) with a mean circumferential reduction rate of 40.4% ± 4.5% was found in surgical group. At a mean follow-up of 26.6 ± 8.7 months, the nonsurgical group had increase of mean circumferential difference from 24.0% ± 17.2% to 25.3% ± 19.0% (P = 0.09), with a mean circumferential reduction rate was −1.9% ± 13.0%.

Conclusions:
The Taiwan Lymphoscintigraphy Staging is a reliable diagnostic tool, correlated with clinical findings and CLG, aiding in the selection of the appropriate treatment to achieve favorable long-term outcomes in unilateral extremity lymphedema.
Results of a Prospective, Multicenter Initiative Aimed at Developing Opioid-prescribing Guidelines After Surgery
Authors: Thiels Cornelius A. , Ubl Daniel S. , Yost Kathleen J. , Dowdy Sean C. , Mabry Tad M. , Gazelka Halena M. , Cima Robert R. , Habermann Elizabeth B. 
Published: July 2018

Objective:
The aim of this study was to conduct a prospective, multicenter survey of patients regarding postoperative opioid use to inform development of standardized, evidence-based, procedure-specific opioid prescribing guidelines.

Summary of Background Data:
Previous work has shown significant variation in the amount of opioids prescribed after elective procedures, calling for optimization of prescribing.

Methods:
Adults (n = 3412) undergoing 25 elective procedures were identified prospectively from 3 academic centers (March 2017 to January 2018) to complete a 29-question telephone interview survey 21 to 35 days post-discharge (n = 688 not contacted, n = 107 refused). Discharge opioids were converted into Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MMEs).

Results:
Of the 2486 patients who completed the survey, 91.2% received opioids at discharge [median 225 (interquartile range, IQR 125 to 381) MME]. A median of 43 (0 to 184) MMEs were consumed after discharge with 77.3% of patients having leftover opioids at the time of the survey. In total, 61.5% of prescribed opioids were unused; 31.4% of patients used no opioids, and 52.6% required <50 MME. Overall, 90.6% of patients were satisfied with their postdischarge pain control. While 28.3% reported being prescribed too many opioids, 9.0% felt they were not prescribed enough. Only 9.6% of patients disposed of remaining opioids. Of the 2068 opioid-naive respondents (83.2%), 33.6% consumed no opioids (range 5.2% to 80.0% by procedure) and 57.0% (65.7% nonorthopedic) consumed <50 MME. Utilization data and predictors of low/high opioid consumption informed development of postoperative prescribing guidelines.

Conclusion:
A large proportion of postoperative patients reported using no or few opioids following discharge. Guidelines were developed to minimize opioid prescribing and identify patients requiring low doses or additional multimodal pain control.
Impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid Expansion on Cancer Admissions and Surgeries
Authors: Eguia Emanuel , Cobb Adrienne N. , Kothari Anai N. , Molefe Ayrin , Afshar Majid , Aranha Gerard V. , Kuo Paul C. 
Published: July 2018

Objective:
This study aims to evaluate the trends in cancer (CA) admissions and surgeries after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion.

Methods:
This is a retrospective study using HCUP-SID analyzing inpatient CA (pancreas, esophagus, lung, bladder, breast, colorectal, prostate, and gastric) admissions and surgeries pre- (2010–2013) and post- (2014) Medicaid expansion. Surgery was defined as observed resection rate per 100 cancer admissions. Nonexpansion (FL) and expansion states (IA, MD, and NY) were compared. A generalized linear model with a Poisson distribution and logistic regression was used with incidence rate ratios (IRR) and difference-in-differences (DID).

Results:
There were 317, 858 patients in our sample which included those with private insurance, Medicaid, or no insurance. Pancreas, breast, colorectal, prostate, and gastric CA admissions significantly increased in expansion states but decreased in nonexpansion states. (IRR 1.12, 1.14, 1.11, 1.34, 1.23; P < .05) Lung and colorectal CA surgeries (IRR 1.30, 1.25; P < .05) increased, while breast CA surgeries (IRR 1.25; P < .05) decreased less in expansion states. Government subsidized, or self-pay patients had greater odds of undergoing lung, bladder, and colorectal CA surgery (OR 0.45 vs 0.33; 0.60 vs 0.48; 0.47 vs 0.39; P < .05) in expansion states after reform.

Conclusions:
In states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the ACA, the rate of surgeries for colorectal and lung CA increased significantly, while breast CA surgeries decreased less. Parenthetically, these cancers are subject to population screening programs. We conclude that expanding insurance coverage results in enhanced access to cancer surgery.
More Frequent Surveillance Following Lung Cancer Resection Is Not Associated With Improved Survival
Authors: McMurry Timothy L. , Stukenborg George J. , Kessler Larry G. , Colditz Graham A. , Wong Melisa L. , Francescatti Amanda B. , Jones David R. , Schumacher Jessica R. , Greenberg Caprice C. , Chang George J. , Winchester David P. , McKellar Daniel P. , Kozower Benjamin D. 
Published: July 2018

Objective:
To evaluate whether an association exists between the intensity of surveillance following surgical resection for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and survival.

Background:
Surveillance guidelines following surgical resection of NSCLC vary widely and are based on expert opinion and limited evidence.

Methods:
A Special Study of the National Cancer Database randomly selected stage I to III NSCLC patients for data reabstraction. For patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2007 and followed for 5 years through 2012, registrars documented all postsurgical imaging with indication (routine surveillance, new symptoms), recurrence, new primary cancers, and survival, with 5-year follow-up. Patients were placed into surveillance groups according to existing guidelines (3-month, 6-month, annual). Overall survival and survival after recurrence were analyzed using Cox Proportional Hazards Models.

Results:
A total of 4463 patients were surveilled with computed tomography scans; these patients were grouped based on time from surgery to first surveillance. Groups were similar with respect to age, sex, comorbidities, surgical procedure, and histology. Higher-stage patients received more surveillance. More frequent surveillance was not associated with longer risk-adjusted overall survival [hazard ratio for 6-month: 1.16 (0.99, 1.36) and annual: 1.06 (0.86–1.31) vs 3-month; P value 0.14]. More frequent imaging was also not associated with postrecurrence survival [hazard ratio: 1.02/month since imaging (0.99–1.04); P value 0.43].

Conclusions:
These nationally representative data provide evidence that more frequent postsurgical surveillance is not associated with improved survival. As the number of lung cancer survivors increases over the next decade, surveillance is an increasingly important major health care concern and expenditure.
Reactivation of TAp73 tumor suppressor by protoporphyrin IX, a metabolite of aminolevulinic acid, induces apoptosis in TP53-deficient cancer cells
Authors: Sznarkowska Alicja , Kostecka Anna , Kawiak Anna , Acedo Pilar , Lion Mattia , Inga Alberto , Zawacka-Pankau Joanna 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe p73 protein is a tumor suppressor that shares structural and functional similarity with p53. p73 is expressed in two major isoforms; the TA isoform that interacts with p53 pathway, thus acting as tumor suppressor and the N-terminal truncated ΔN isoform that inhibits TAp73 and p53 and thus, acts as an oncogene.ResultsBy employing a drug repurposing approach, we found that protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), a metabolite of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) applied in photodynamic therapy of cancer, stabilizes TAp73 and activates TAp73-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells lacking p53. The mechanism of TAp73 activation is via disruption of TAp73/MDM2 and TAp73/MDMX interactions and inhibition of TAp73 degradation by ubiquitin ligase Itch.ConclusionOur findings may in future contribute to the successful repurposing of PpIX into clinical practice.
Communication: Theoretical Insights from Binding of Neigleria fowleri Cell Division Proteins with Amoebicidal Quassinoids
Authors: Basharat Zarrin , Zaib Shumaila , Yasmin Azra 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe ameboflagellate Neigleria fowleri, also known as brain eating amoeba is responsible for fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) infection in humans. Cell division proteins (CDPs) in N. fowleri have been uncharacterized until now, despite their importance in the initiation of cell division and proliferation of the pathogen. Here, we report characterization and structural assembly of eight such proteins associated with division and docking them with anti-amoebic quassinoid compounds. Quassinoids have been implicated as inhibitors of cell proliferation of amoeboid species as well as tumor cells. Here, they were screened computationally to find interaction mechanism as well as binding energies with CDPs of N. fowleri. The identified inhibitors could play a role in prevention of cell division and hence, stop N. fowleri growth and proliferation during infection. This study supports CDPs as a target for anti-amoebic intervention and identifies quassinoid phytochemical compounds as suitable for optimization into a new therapy against N. fowleri.
Enabling population assignment from cancer genomes with SNP2pop
Authors: Huang Qingyao , Baudis Michael 
Published: July 2018

For a variety of human malignancies, incidence, treatment efficacy and overall prognosis show considerable variation between different populations and ethnic groups. Disentangling the effects related to particular population backgrounds can help in both understanding cancer biology and in tailoring therapeutic interventions. Because self-reported or inferred patient data can be incomplete or misleading due to migration and genomic admixture, a data-driven ancestry estimation should be preferred. While algorithms to analyze ancestry structure from healthy individuals have been developed, an easy-to-use tool to assign population groups based on genotyping data from SNP profiles is still missing and benchmarking for the validity of population assignment strategy for aberrant cancer genomes was not tested.We benchmarked the consistency and accuracy of cross-platform population assignment. We also demonstrated its high accuracy to process unaltered as well as cancer genomes. Despite widespread and extensive somatic mutations of cancer profiling data, population assignment consistency between germline and highly mutated samples from cancer patients reached of 97% and 92% for assignment into 5 and 26 populations re-spectively. Comparison of our benchmarked results with self-reported meta-data estimated a matching rate between 88% to 92%. Despite a relatively high matching rate, the ethnicity labels indicated in meta-data are vague compared to the standardized output from our tool.We have developed a bioinformatics tool to assign the populations from genome profiling data and validated its performance in healthy as well as aberrant cancer genomes. It is ready-to-use for genotyping data from nine commercial SNP array platforms or sequencing data. This tool is effective to scrutinize the population structure in cancer genomes and provides better measure to integrate genotyping data from various platforms instead of self-reported information. It will facilitate research on interplay between ethnicity related genetic background and molecular patterns in cancer entities and disentangling possible hereditary contributions.The docker image of the tool is provided in DockerHub as “baudisgroup/snp2pop”.
A comprehensive anatomical map of the peripheral octopaminergic/tyraminergic system ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Pauls Dennis , Blechschmidt Christine , Frantzmann Felix , Jundi Basil el , Selcho Mareike 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe modulation of an animal’s behavior through external sensory stimuli, previous experience and its internal state is crucial to survive in a constantly changing environment. In most insects, octopamine (OA) and its precursor tyramine (TA) modulate a variety of physiological processes and behaviors by shifting the organism from a relaxed or dormant condition to a responsive, excited and alerted state. Even though OA/TA neurons of the central brain are described on single cell level inDrosophila melanogaster,the periphery was largely omitted from anatomical studies. Given that OA/TA is involved in behaviors like feeding, flying and locomotion, which highly depend on a variety of peripheral organs, it is necessary to study the peripheral connections of these neurons to get a complete picture of the OA/TA circuitry. We here describe the anatomy of this aminergic system in relation to peripheral tissues of the entire fly. OA/TA neurons arborize onto skeletal muscles all over the body and innervate reproductive organs, the heart, the corpora allata, and sensory neurons in the antenna, wings and halteres underlining their relevance in modulating complex behaviors.
Using taxon resampling to identify species with contrasting phylogenetic signals: an empirical example in Terrabacteria
Authors: Superson Ashley A. , Phelan Doug , Dekovich Allyson , Battistuzzi Fabia U. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMotivationThe promise of higher phylogenetic stability through increasing dataset size within Tree of Life (TOL) reconstructions has not been fulfilled, especially for deep nodes. Among the many causes proposed are changes in species composition (taxon sampling) that could influence phylogenetic accuracy of the methods by altering the relative weight of the evolutionary histories of each individual species. This effect would be stronger in clades that are represented by few lineages, which is common in many Prokaryote phyla. Indeed, phyla with fewer taxa showed the most discordance among recent TOL studies. Thus, we implemented an approach to systematically test how the number of taxa and the identity of those taxa among a larger dataset affected the accuracy of phylogenetic reconstruction.ResultsWe utilized an empirical dataset of 766 fully-sequenced proteomes for phyla within Terrabacteria as a reference for subsampled datasets that differed in both number of species and composition of species. After evaluating the backbone of trees produced as well as the internal nodes, we found that trees with fewer species were more dissimilar to the tree produced from the full dataset. Further, we found that even within scenarios consisting of the same number of taxa, the species used strongly affected phylogenetic stability. These results hold even when the tree is composed by many phyla and only one of them is being altered. Thus, the effect of taxon sampling in one group does not seem to be buffered by the presence of many other clades, making this issue relevant even to very large datasets. Our results suggest that a systematic evaluation of phylogenetic stability through taxon resampling is advisable even for very large datasets.Contactbattistu@oakland.eduSupplementary informationSupplementary text and figures are available on the journal’s website.