bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of sleep difficulties in the vasomotor menopausal symptoms and depressed mood relationships: an international pooled analysis of eight studies in the InterLACE consortium
Authors: Chung Hsin-Fang , Pandeya Nirmala , Dobson Annette J. , Kuh Diana , Brunner Eric J. , Crawford Sybil L. , Avis Nancy E. , Gold Ellen B. , Mitchell Ellen S. , Woods Nancy F. , Bromberger Joyce T. , Thurston Rebecca C. , Joffe Hadine , Yoshizawa Toyoko , Anderson Debra , Mishra Gita D. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundMany women experience both vasomotor menopausal symptoms (VMS) and depressed mood at midlife, but little is known regarding the prospective bi-directional relationships between VMS and depressed mood and the role of sleep difficulties in both directions.MethodsA pooled analysis was conducted using data from 21 312 women (median: 50 years, interquartile range 49−51) in eight studies from the InterLACE consortium. The degree of VMS, sleep difficulties, and depressed mood was self-reported and categorised as never, rarely, sometimes, and often (if reporting frequency) or never, mild, moderate, and severe (if reporting severity). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the bi-directional associations adjusted for within-study correlation.ResultsAt baseline, the prevalence of VMS (40%, range 13–62%) and depressed mood (26%, 8–41%) varied substantially across studies, and a strong dose-dependent association between VMS and likelihood of depressed mood was found. Over 3 years of follow-up, women with often/severe VMS at baseline were more likely to have subsequent depressed mood compared with those without VMS (odds ratios (OR) 1.56, 1.27–1.92). Women with often/severe depressed mood at baseline were also more likely to have subsequent VMS than those without depressed mood (OR 1.89, 1.47–2.44). With further adjustment for the degree of sleep difficulties at baseline, the OR of having a subsequent depressed mood associated with often/severe VMS was attenuated and no longer significant (OR 1.13, 0.90–1.40). Conversely, often/severe depressed mood remained significantly associated with subsequent VMS (OR 1.80, 1.38–2.34).ConclusionsDifficulty in sleeping largely explained the relationship between VMS and subsequent depressed mood, but it had little impact on the relationship between depressed mood and subsequent VMS.
Association between alcohol and substance use disorders and psychiatric service use in patients with severe mental illness: a nationwide Danish register-based cohort study
Authors: Jørgensen Kirstine Bro , Nordentoft Merete , Hjorthøj Carsten 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundSubstance use disorder is highly prevalent in people with psychiatric disorders, and known to impede the psychiatric treatment. Some studies show increased rates of service use, while others show a decrease. These conflicting results are further hampered by a lack of large-scale studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between substance use disorder and psychiatric service use in psychiatric patients.MethodsThe study was a prospective registry-based cohort study including patients with severe mental illness. The primary outcome was the number of hospitalisations, bed days and the number of psychiatric emergency department contacts. The association was calculated with incidence rate ratio with 95% confidence intervals.ResultsThe study included all psychiatric patients born since 1955. In total, 21 558 patients with schizophrenia (47.54% with substance use disorder), 80 778 patients with depression (28.78% with substance use disorder), 10 560 patients with bipolar affective disorder (40.08% with substance use disorder) and 69 252 patients with a personality disorder (39.18% with substance use disorder) were included. Patients with comorbid substance use disorder had significantly increased rates of hospitalisations, bed days and psychiatric emergency department contacts (p < 0.001) for the majority of the included substances, compared with patients without such disorders.ConclusionSubstance use disorder was associated with an increased number of hospitalisations, bed days and increased number of psychiatric emergency department contacts for the majority of the included substances.
Reliability and validity of food portion size estimation from images using manual flexible digital virtual meshes
Authors: Beltran Alicia , Dadabhoy Hafza , Ryan Courtney , Dholakia Ruchita , Baranowski Janice , Li Yuecheng , Yan Guifang , Jia Wenyan , Sun Mingui , Baranowski Tom 
Published: February 2018

Abstract

Objective
The eButton takes frontal images at 4s intervals throughout the day. A three-dimensional manually administered wire mesh procedure has been developed to quantify portion sizes from the two-dimensional images. The present paper reports a test of the inter-rater reliability and validity of use of the wire mesh procedure.

Design
Seventeen foods of diverse shapes and sizes served on plates, bowls and cups were selected to rigorously test the portion assessment procedure. A dietitian not involved in inter-rater reliability assessment used standard cups to independently measure the quantities of foods to generate the ‘true’ value for a total of seventy-five ‘served’ and seventy-five smaller ‘left’ images with diverse portion sizes.

Setting
The images appeared on the computer to which the digital wire meshes were applied.

Subjects
Two dietitians and three engineers independently estimated portion size of the larger (‘served’) and smaller (‘left’) images for the same foods.

Results
The engineers had higher reliability and validity than the dietitians. The dietitians had lower reliabilities and validities for the smaller more irregular images, but the engineers did not, suggesting training could overcome this limitation. The lower reliabilities and validities for foods served in bowls, compared with plates, suggest difficulties with the curved nature of the bowls.

Conclusions
The wire mesh procedure is an important step forward in quantifying portion size, which has been subject to substantial self-report error. Improved training procedures are needed to overcome the identified problems.
Linking small fruit and vegetable farmers and institutional foodservice operations: marketing challenges and considerations
Authors: Boys Kathryn A. , Fraser Angela M. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe centralized nature of the United States food production, processing and distribution system makes it difficult for small fruit and vegetable farmers to serve as suppliers to institutional foodservice operations (IFOs), such as schools and hospitals. Due to age, economic and/or health status, it is often the clients of these foodservice operations who would benefit from increasing their consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, institutions are often limited in their resources and food preparation infrastructure, and lack market-based incentives to incorporate locally grown foods into their menus. This study identifies and suggests solutions to barriers that limit the ability of small fruit and vegetable farmers to serve as suppliers to IFOs. Data were collected through an extensive series of focus group meetings held with small-scale fruit and vegetable farmers in three South-Atlantic states. From these meetings, practical marketing considerations, such as payment terms, and processing, packaging and delivery requirements of supplying institutional foodservice buyers, were identified as obstacles to the efficient function of this market channel. Food safety challenges, including the related issues of obtaining (food) products liability insurance and food safety certifications, were also acknowledged among top concerns. A majority of the identified challenges were similar to those reported in other studies, but several were complicated by characteristics of farm production, limited food system infrastructure and marketing experiences in the study region. Several practical solutions to overcoming some of these marketing constraints are offered.
National security and the right to liberty in armed conflict: The legality and limits of security detention in international humanitarian law
Authors: Teferra Zelalem Mogessie 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThis paper examines the legality and limits of security detention in armed conflict situations. It particularly investigates the issues of whether the protection of national security is a legitimate ground to restrict the right to liberty of persons in situations of international or non-international armed conflict, and if so, what are the limits to a State's prerogative to restrict the right to liberty of individuals suspected of threatening its national security. On the basis of a thorough analysis of the relevant extant rules of international law regulating warfare, the paper concludes that security detention is permissible in armed conflict situations regardless of whether the nature of the conflict is international or non-international. However, the prerogative of a State to impose security detention is circumscribed by a plethora of fundamental substantive and procedural safeguards against arbitrariness that are provided in the different rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. These safeguards affirm that the search for absolute security is neither desirable nor attainable and that the mere invocation of security concerns does not grant an absolute power to restrict or suspend the liberty of individuals in armed conflict situations. Whenever it is imposed, security detention should be preventive in nature, and must aim at safeguarding the basic national security interests of a State from serious, future, direct and imminent threats related to the armed conflict situation. Detainees should also be able to challenge its legality before a competent organ at the initial or later stage of the detention through a system of periodic review.
Efficient DNA-assisted synthesis of trans-membrane gold nanowires
Authors: Guo Maoxiang , Hernández-Neuta Iván , Madaboosi Narayanan , Nilsson Mats , van der Wijngaart Wouter 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWhereas electric circuits and surface-based (bio)chemical sensors are mostly constructed in-plane due to ease of manufacturing, 3D microscale and nanoscale structures allow denser integration of electronic components and improved mass transport of the analyte to (bio)chemical sensor surfaces. This work reports the first out-of-plane metallic nanowire formation based on stretching of DNA through a porous membrane. We use rolling circle amplification (RCA) to generate long single-stranded DNA concatemers with one end anchored to the surface. The DNA strands are stretched through the pores in the membrane during liquid removal by forced convection. Because the liquid–air interface movement across the membrane occurs in every pore, DNA stretching across the membrane is highly efficient. The stretched DNA molecules are transformed into trans-membrane gold nanowires through gold nanoparticle hybridization and gold enhancement chemistry. A 50 fM oligonucleotide concentration, a value two orders of magnitude lower than previously reported for flat surface-based nanowire formation, was sufficient for nanowire formation. We observed nanowires in up to 2.7% of the membrane pores, leading to an across-membrane electrical conductivity reduction from open circuit to <20 Ω. The simple electrical read-out offers a high signal-to-noise ratio and can also be extended for use as a biosensor due to the high specificity and scope for multiplexing offered by RCA.
Stigma and self-management: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the impact of chronic recurrent urinary tract infections after spinal cord injury
Authors: Hearn Jasmine Heath , Selvarajah Sen , Kennedy Paul , Taylor Julian 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Study design
Qualitative, phenomenological design.

Objectives
Neurogenic bladder dysfunction and urinary tract infection (UTI) are common secondary consequences to neurological damage to the spinal cord. This study sought to establish the impact of chronic, recurrent UTIs on people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting
Community sample, United Kingdom.

Methods
Twelve participants with SCI, aged between 28 and 68 years, who had experienced at least three recurrent UTI events within the previous 12 months were recruited. Detailed qualitative information was obtained from semi-structured interviews, which lasted between 30 and 60 min. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was performed to explore the lived experience of UTIs.

Results
Interview findings identified a range of factors related to the experience of recurrent UTIs in people with SCI. These were classified into the following themes: (1) Symptom Management Precedence, (2) Stigma-Motivated Risk Management and (3) Exhaustive Exploration of Treatment Options. Participants discussed management of acute exacerbations. Distress arose from perceptions of UTIs as potentially stigmatizing and fear of relying on antibiotics. Arising from this fear, many participants sought alternative prevention and management strategies.

Conclusions
These results suggest that chronic recurrent UTIs act as major barriers to social participation, with adverse effects on quality of life of people with a neurogenic bladder after SCI. People with SCI would benefit from additional assessment of the impact of recurrent UTIs, so that healthcare professionals can address specific concerns, such as the psychosocial impact of urinary incontinence and stigmatizing views. Additional support to enhance self-management and facilitate social participation should be provided.
BRD4 regulates cellular senescence in gastric cancer cells via E2F/miR-106b/p21 axis
Authors: Dong Xingchen , Hu Xiangming , Chen Jinjing , Hu Dan , Chen Lin-Feng 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSmall molecules targeting bromodomains of BET proteins possess strong anti-tumor activities and have emerged as potential therapeutics for cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms for the anti-proliferative activity of these inhibitors are still not fully characterized. In this study, we demonstrated that BET inhibitor JQ1 suppressed the proliferation and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells by inducing cellular senescence. Depletion of BRD4, which was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues, but not other BET proteins recapitulated JQ1-induced cellular senescence with increased cellular SA-β-Gal activity and elevated p21 levels. In addition, we showed that the levels of p21 were regulated at the post-transcriptional level by BRD4-dependent expression of miR-106b-5p, which targets the 3′-UTR of p21 mRNA. Overexpression of miR-106b-5p prevented JQ1-induced p21 expression and BRD4 inhibition-associated cellular senescence, whereas miR-106b-5p inhibitor up-regulated p21 and induced cellular senescence. Finally, we demonstrated that inhibition of E2F suppressed the binding of BRD4 to the promoter of miR-106b-5p and inhibited its transcription, leading to the increased p21 levels and cellular senescence in gastric cancer cells. Our results reveal a novel mechanism by which BRD4 regulates cancer cell proliferation by modulating the cellular senescence through E2F/miR-106b-5p/p21 axis and provide new insights into using BET inhibitors as potential anticancer drugs.
Actin nucleator Spire 1 is a regulator of ectoplasmic specialization in the testis
Authors: Wen Qing , Li Nan , Xiao Xiang , Lui Wing-yee , Chu Darren S. , Wong Chris K. C. , Lian Qingquan , Ge Renshan , Lee Will M. , Silvestrini Bruno , Cheng C. Yan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractGerm cell differentiation during the epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis is accompanied by extensive remodeling at the Sertoli cell–cell and Sertoli cell–spermatid interface to accommodate the transport of preleptotene spermatocytes and developing spermatids across the blood–testis barrier (BTB) and the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium, respectively. The unique cell junction in the testis is the actin-rich ectoplasmic specialization (ES) designated basal ES at the Sertoli cell–cell interface, and the apical ES at the Sertoli–spermatid interface. Since ES dynamics (i.e., disassembly, reassembly and stabilization) are supported by actin microfilaments, which rapidly converts between their bundled and unbundled/branched configuration to confer plasticity to the ES, it is logical to speculate that actin nucleation proteins play a crucial role to ES dynamics. Herein, we reported findings that Spire 1, an actin nucleator known to polymerize actins into long stretches of linear microfilaments in cells, is an important regulator of ES dynamics. Its knockdown by RNAi in Sertoli cells cultured in vitro was found to impede the Sertoli cell tight junction (TJ)-permeability barrier through changes in the organization of F-actin across Sertoli cell cytosol. Unexpectedly, Spire 1 knockdown also perturbed microtubule (MT) organization in Sertoli cells cultured in vitro. Biochemical studies using cultured Sertoli cells and specific F-actin vs. MT polymerization assays supported the notion that a transient loss of Spire 1 by RNAi disrupted Sertoli cell actin and MT polymerization and bundling activities. These findings in vitro were reproduced in studies in vivo by RNAi using Spire 1-specific siRNA duplexes to transfect testes with Polyplus in vivo-jetPEI as a transfection medium with high transfection efficiency. Spire 1 knockdown in the testis led to gross disruption of F-actin and MT organization across the seminiferous epithelium, thereby impeding the transport of spermatids and phagosomes across the epithelium and perturbing spermatogenesis. In summary, Spire 1 is an ES regulator to support germ cell development during spermatogenesis.
MiR-22 suppresses epithelial–mesenchymal transition in bladder cancer by inhibiting Snail and MAPK1/Slug/vimentin feedback loop
Authors: Xu Mingjie , Li Jiangfeng , Wang Xiao , Meng Shuai , Shen Jiaying , Wang Song , Xu Xin , Xie Bo , Liu Ben , Xie Liping 
Published: February 2018

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been validated to play prominent roles in the occurrence and development of bladder cancer (BCa). MiR-22 was previously reported to act as a tumor suppressor or oncomiRNA in various types of cancer. However, its accurate expression, function, and mechanism in BCa remain unclear. Here, we find that miR-22 is frequently downregulated in BCa tissues compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Overexpression of miR-22 significantly inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of BCa cells both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, miR-22 is found to suppress cell proliferation/apoptosis by directly targeting MAPK1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, ERK2) and inhibit cell motility by targeting both MAPK1 and Snail. Further statistical analysis shows that low-expression of MAPK1 or Snail is an independent prognostic factor for a better overall survival in patients with BCa (n = 401). Importantly, we describe an important regenerative feedback loop among vimentin, Slug and MAPK1 in BCa cells. MAPK1-induced Slug expression upregulates vimentin. Vimentin in turn activates MAPK1. By inhibiting Snail and MAPK1/Slug/vimentin feedback loop, miR-22 suppresses epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of BCa cells in vitro as well as in vivo. Taken together, this study reveals that miR-22 is critical to the proliferation, apoptosis and EMT progression in BCa cells. Targeting the pathway described here may be a novel approach for inhibiting proliferation and metastasis of BCa.
Dopamine D2 receptor-mediated neuroprotection in a G2019S Lrrk2 genetic model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Tozzi Alessandro , Tantucci Michela , Marchi Saverio , Mazzocchetti Petra , Morari Michele , Pinton Paolo , Mancini Andrea , Calabresi Paolo 
Published: February 2018

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which genetic and environmental factors synergistically lead to loss of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons. Mutation of leucine-rich repeated kinase2 (Lrrk2) genes is responsible for the majority of inherited familial cases of PD and can also be found in sporadic cases. The pathophysiological role of this kinase has to be fully understood yet. Hyperactivation of Lrrk2 kinase domain might represent a predisposing factor for both enhanced striatal glutamatergic release and mitochondrial vulnerability to environmental factors that are observed in PD. To investigate possible alterations of striatal susceptibility to mitochondrial dysfunction, we performed electrophysiological recordings from the nucleus striatum of a G2019S Lrrk2 mouse model of PD, as well as molecular and morphological analyses of G2019S Lrrk2-expressing SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. In G2019S mice, we found reduced striatal DA levels, according to the hypothesis of alteration of dopaminergic transmission, and increased loss of field potential induced by the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone. This detrimental effect is reversed by the D2 DA receptor agonist quinpiroleviathe inhibition of the cAMP/PKA intracellular pathway. Analysis of mitochondrial functions in G2019S Lrrk2-expressing SH-SY5Y cells revealed strong rotenone-induced oxidative stress characterized by reduced Ca2+buffering capability and ATP synthesis, production of reactive oxygen species, and increased mitochondrial fragmentation. Importantly, quinpirole was able to prevent all these changes. We suggest that the G2019S-Lrrk2 mutation is a predisposing factor for enhanced striatal susceptibility to mitochondrial dysfunction induced by exposure to mitochondrial environmental toxins and that the D2 receptor stimulation is neuroprotective on mitochondrial function,viathe inhibition of cAMP/PKA intracellular pathway. We suggest new possible neuroprotective strategies for patients carrying this genetic alteration based on drugs specifically targeting Lrrk2 kinase domain and mitochondrial functionality.
Preconditioning, induced by sub-toxic dose of the neurotoxin L-BMAA, delays ALS progression in mice and prevents Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 3 downregulation
Authors: Anzilotti Serenella , Brancaccio Paola , Simeone Giuseppe , Valsecchi Valeria , Vinciguerra Antonio , Secondo Agnese , Petrozziello Tiziana , Guida Natascia , Sirabella Rossana , Cuomo Ornella , Cepparulo Pasquale , Herchuelz Andrè , Amoroso Salvatore , Di Renzo Gianfranco , Annunziato Lucio , Pignataro Giuseppe 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPreconditioning (PC) is a phenomenon wherein a mild insult induces resistance to a later, severe injury. Although PC has been extensively studied in several neurological disorders, no studies have been performed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here we hypothesize that a sub-toxic acute exposure to the cycad neurotoxin beta-methylamino-L-alanine (L-BMAA) is able to delay ALS progression in SOD1 G93A mice and that NCX3, a membrane transporter able to handle the deregulation of ionic homeostasis occurring during ALS, takes part to this neuroprotective effect. Preconditioning effect was examined on disease onset and duration, motor functions, and motor neurons in terms of functional declines and severity of histological damage in male and female mice. Our findings demonstrate that a sub-toxic dose of L-BMAA works as preconditioning stimulus and is able to delay ALS onset and to prolong ALS mice survival. Interestingly, preconditioning prevented NCX3 downregulation in SOD1 G93A mice spinal cord, leading to an increased number of motor neurons associated to a reduced astrogliosis, and reduced the denervation of neuromuscular junctions observed in SOD1 G93A mice. These protective effects were mitigated in ncx3+/− mice. This study established for the first time an animal model of preconditioning in ALS and candidates NCX3 as a new therapeutic target.