bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Complex resistivity characteristics of saltwater-intruded sand contaminated by heavy metal
Authors: Nai Changxin , Sun Xiaochen , Wang Zeya , Xu Ya , Liu Yuqiang , Liu Jingcai , Dong Lu , Huang Qifei , Wang Yuling 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDifferent pollutants affect electrical characteristics of soil, e.g., electric resistivity and capacity. The most extensively used non-intrusive methods in mapping these physical characteristics are electrical method. To better understand the effect of different hydrogeological and environmental process on resistivity and phase of complex resistivity under water-saturated soil, we carried out a controlled laboratory experiment where the host material was simulated by sand soil and the hydrogeological and environmental processes by groundwater table rise, seawater intrusion and heavy metal contamination. The experiment measured the resistivity and phase of soil saturated and unsaturated, with different pollutants added, together with their time-lapse change in a well-controlled column. With the involvement of more measurement parameters, complex resistivity method can provide more information than resistivity method, thereby having better performance in the detection and monitoring of changes in electrical properties of complex contaminated sites. For example, it is capable of discriminating the different contamination process, in this case, e.g., seawater intrusion and heavy metal contamination. In addition, it is still sensitive to the change of pollutant concentration even in site with high added concentration. Furthermore, simulating the saltwater-intruded site contaminated by manganese, it was found that the change of resistivity (ρ) can hardly be observed, while the responses of phase (φ) are so obvious that can be clearly observed.
Hyaluronan abrogates imatinib-induced senescence in chronic myeloid leukemia cell lines
Authors: Lompardía Silvina , Díaz Mariángeles , Pibuel Matías , Papademetrio Daniela , Poodts Daniela , Mihalez Cintia , Álvarez Élida , Hajos Silvia 
Published: July 2019

AbstractHyaluronan (HA) is the main glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix. CD44 is the most important HA receptor, and both have been associated with poor prognosis in cancer. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the presence of a constitutively activated tyrosine kinase (Breakpoint Cluster Region - Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog1, BCR-ABL). It is mainly treated with BCR-ABL inhibitors, such as imatinib. However, the selection of resistant cells leads to treatment failure. The aim of this work was to determine the capacity of HA (high molecular weight) to counteract the effect of imatinib in human CML cell lines (K562 and Kv562). We demonstrated that imatinib decreased HA levels and the surface expression of CD44 in both cell lines. Furthermore, HA abrogated the anti-proliferative and pro-senescent effect of Imatinib without modifying the imatinib-induced apoptosis. Moreover, the inhibition of HA synthesis with 4-methylumbelliferone enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of imatinib. These results suggest that Imatinib-induced senescence would depend on the reduction in HA levels, describing, for the first time, the role of HA in the development of resistance to imatinib. These findings show that low levels of HA are crucial for an effective therapy with imatinib in CML.
Osteoporosis Recognition in Rats under Low-Power Lens Based on Convexity Optimization Feature Fusion
Authors: Cai Jie , He Wen-guang , Wang Long , Zhou Ke , Wu Tian-xiu 
Published: July 2019

AbstractConsidering the poor medical conditions in some regions of China, this paper attempts to develop a simple and easy way to extract and process the bone features of blurry medical images and improve the diagnosis accuracy of osteoporosis as much as possible. After reviewing the previous studies on osteoporosis, especially those focusing on texture analysis, a convexity optimization model was proposed based on intra-class dispersion, which combines texture features and shape features. Experimental results show that the proposed model boasts a larger application scope than Lasso, a popular feature selection method that only supports generalized linear models. The research findings ensure the accuracy of osteoporosis diagnosis and enjoy good potentials for clinical application.
A new regulatory mechanism for Raf kinase activation, retinoic acid-bound Crabp1
Authors: Park Sung Wook , Nhieu Jennifer , Persaud Shawna D. , Miller Michelle C. , Xia Youlin , Lin Yi-Wei , Lin Yu-Lung , Kagechika Hiroyuki , Mayo Kevin H. , Wei Li-Na 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (Raf) kinase is canonically activated by growth factors that regulate multiple cellular processes. In this kinase cascade Raf activation ultimately results in extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) activation, which requires Ras binding to the Ras binding domain (RBD) of Raf. We recently reported that all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) rapidly (within minutes) activates Erk1/2 to modulate cell cycle progression in stem cells, which is mediated by cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (Crabp1). But how atRA-bound Crabp1 regulated Erk1/2 activity remained unclear. We now report Raf kinase as the direct target of atRA-Crabp1. Molecularly, Crabp1 acts as a novel atRA-inducible scaffold protein for Raf/Mek/Erk in cells without growth factor stimulation. However, Crabp1 can also compete with Ras for direct interaction with the RBD of Raf, thereby negatively modulating growth factor-stimulated Raf activation, which can be enhanced by atRA binding to Crabp1. NMR heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) analyses reveal the 6-strand β-sheet face of Crabp1 as its Raf-interaction surface. We identify a new atRA-mimicking and Crabp1-selective compound, C3, that can also elicit such an activity. This study uncovers a new signal crosstalk between endocrine (atRA-Crabp1) and growth factor (Ras-Raf) pathways, providing evidence for atRA-Crabp1 as a novel modulator of cell growth. The study also suggests a new therapeutic strategy by employing Crabp1-selective compounds to dampen growth factor stimulation while circumventing RAR-mediated retinoid toxicity.
Tumor intrinsic immunity related proteins may be novel tumor suppressors in some types of cancer
Authors: Xiong Donghai , Wang Yian , You Ming 
Published: July 2019

AbstractImmune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICBT) can unleash T-cell responses against cancer. However, only a small fraction of patients exhibited responses to ICBT. The role of immune checkpoints in cancer cells is not well understood. In this study, we analyzed T-cell coinhibitory/costimulatory genes across more than 1100 samples of the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). Nearly 90% of such genes were not expressed or had low expression across the CCLE cancer cell lines. Cell line screening showed the enrichment of cancer cells deprived of the expression ofCD27,CEACAM1,CTLA4,LRIG1,PDCD1LG2, orTNFRSF18, suggesting their role as tumor suppressor. The metagene expression signature derived from these six genes - Immu6Metagene was associated with prolonged survival phenotypes. A common set of five oncogenic pathways were significantly inhibited in different types of tumors of the cancer patients with good survival outcome and high Immu6Metagene signature expression. These pathways were TGF-β signaling, angiogenesis, EMT, hypoxia and mitotic process. Our study showed that oncoimmunology related molecules especially the six genes of the Immu6Metagene signature may play the tumor suppressor role in certain cancers. Therefore, the ICBT targeting them should be considered in such context to improve the efficacy.
Mitochondrial DNA sequencing reveals association of variants and haplogroup M33a2′3 with High altitude pulmonary edema susceptibility in Indian male lowlanders
Authors: Sharma Swati , Singh Sayar , Gupta Rajinder K. , Ganju Lilly , Singh Shashi Bala , Kumar Bhuvnesh , Singh Yamini 
Published: July 2019

AbstractHigh Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is a threatening disorder caused due to acute exposure to high altitude above 3000 m. Apart from multiple factors involved, the genetic factors also play an important function in the pathogenesis of HAPE. This study aims to evaluate the role of mtDNA polymorphism and their association with haplogroup in understanding the etiology of HAPE. In this study, all the HAPE susceptible and acclimatized control subjects could be classified into nine haplogroups pertaining mostly to Macrohaplogroup M and U. The frequency of haplogroup M was significantly higher in HAPE susceptibles whereas the haplogroup M33a2′3 was found only in HAPE susceptibles. The variant G4491A and A4944G of MT-ND2, A14002G of MT-ND5, and C8562T of MT-ATP8, were definition site of haplogroup M33a2′3. The frequency of A10398G of MT-ND3, A8701G of MT-ATP6 and C14766T of MT-CYB genes were significantly higher in HAPE susceptibles. mtDNA copy number also plays a significant synergistic role in HAPE susceptibility. Our findings suggests that variants in MT-ND2 and MT-ND5 were predicted to confer decreased protein stability in HAPE susceptibles and in particular, highly conserved variants G4491A, A4944G and A14002G associated with haplogroup M33a2′3 may be the primary cause of susceptibility to HAPE in Indian male lowlanders.
Role of procalcitonin as a predictor in difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis case: A retrospective study based on the TG18 criteria
Authors: Wu Tianchong , Luo Minjun , Guo Yuehua , Bi Jiangang , Guo Yusheng , Bao Shiyun 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDifficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) is difficult to precisely predict before operation. This observational cohort study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of procalcitonin (PCT) for DLC in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC). A total of 115 patients were included in the study from January 2017 to April 2018. Multiple logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) were performed to evaluate the predictive value of PCT levels in DLC. Patients with DLC had significantly higher Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18) grade (P = 0.002) and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = 0.007) and PCT (P < 0.001). The cut-off value of PCT for predicting DLC was 1.50 ng/ml. The sensitivity and specificity were 91.3% (95% CI 78.3–97.1) and 76.8% (95% CI 64.8–85.8), respectively. The area under ROC curve was 92.7% (95% CI 88.2–97.3, P < 0.001). Our results suggested that PCT was a good predictor for DLC in the AC patients, but further research is necessary. Monitoring of PCT trends in AC patients may be useful for preoperative risk assessment.
Laparoendoscopic single-site nephrectomy versus conventional laparoendoscopic nephrectomy for kidney tumor: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Feng Dengyuan , Cong Rong , Cheng Hong , Wang Yi , Zhou Jiajun , Xia Jiadong , Gu Min 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
With the increasing application of laparoendoscopic single-site nephrectomy (LESS-N) in kidney tumor, accumulating studies compared it with conventional laparoendoscopic nephrectomy (CL-N). However, controversial outcomes were reported. Hence, this meta-analysis was carried out to clarify these issues. Online databases PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched comprehensively for eligible studies published before 24 July 2018. Odds ratios (ORs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were collected for evaluating the pooled results of relevant outcomes. Ultimately, 13 eligible articles were enrolled. Meanwhile, compared with CL-N, LESS-N was related to a longer operation time (SMD: 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23–0.58; P=0.000), a shorter length of hospital stay (LOS) (SMD: −0.32; 95% CI, −0.62 to −0.02; P=0.034), a lower visual analog scale (VAS) score (SMD: −0.89; 95% CI, −1.22 to −0.56; P=0.000) and a lower analgesic requirement (SMD: −0.55; 95% CI, −0.87 to −0.23; P=0.001). There was no statistical difference in the postoperative day of oral intake, estimated blood loss (EBL), conversion rate, perioperative complications, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, minor complications and major complications between LESS-N and CL-N. Patients with LESS-N for kidney tumor could have a longer operation time and shorter LOS, and meanwhile could need less analgesics and suffer less pain after LESS-N.
MiR-216a-5p-containing exosomes suppress rTp17-induced inflammatory response by targeting TLR4
Authors: Peng Rui-Rui , Shang Shu-Xian , Zhao Li-Shi , Long Fu-Quan 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Syphilis caused by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) infection is accompanied by inflammatory injury of tissue, and has a worldwide distribution and increasing incidence over the past decade. Tp17 has been reported to be a strong membrane immunogen, and was initially observed to play a role in inflammation during syphilis, reacting intensely with human syphilitic sera. We therefore used recombinant Tp17 (rTp17) as a stimulator in our study. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that microRNA (miRNA)-containing exosomes have emerged as a potential effective therapeutic target for many diseases. However, the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of miR-216a-5p in syphilis pathogenesis remain unknown. Our study first identified dramatically decreased miR-216a-5p in plasma of syphilis patients compared with the healthy control, which was negatively correlated with the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Moreover, endothelial cells treated with miR-216a-5p-containing exosomes significantly attenuated the rTp17-induced inflammatory response. More importantly, we identified that miR-216a-5p could bind to the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 (TLR4), and overexpression of TLR4 largely rescued the miR-216a-5p-mediated suppression of rTp17-induced inflammatory cytokine production and the TLR4-MYD88 signaling pathway. Thus, our results reveal a novel role of miR-216a-5p-containing exosomes in endothelial cells, implying a potential therapeutic target for inflammation in syphilis patients.
Bedeutung des Prozessreifegrads für die Patientenorientierung im Gesundheitswesen
Authors: Bogodistov Yevgen , Moormann Jürgen , Sibbel Rainer , Krupskyi Oleksandr , von Hanstein Moritz , Grytsenko Stanyslav 
Published: July 2019

Zusammenfassung
Zielsetzung Eine gute Organisation der internen Prozesse ist für ein funktionierendes Gesundheitswesen essenziell. Von besonderer Bedeutung ist der Prozess der Behandlung und Interaktion mit den Patienten, da die Wahrnehmung von Behandlung und Interaktion in einem direkten Zusammenhang mit der Patientenzufriedenheit steht. Letztere hat einen großen Einfluss auf die Gesundung der Patienten. Welche Auswirkungen der Reifegrad des Behandlungs- und Interaktionsprozesses auf die Patientenorientierung hat, wird am Beispiel einer umfangreichen Befragung von Krankenhausmanagern in der Ukraine untersucht.
Methodik Die Analyse basiert auf einer empirischen Erhebung, die bei Chefärzten und deren Stellvertretern in einer ukrainischen Großstadt, die als Modell-Stadt einer umfassenden Gesundheitsreform fungiert, durchgeführt wurde. Anhand des Business Process Maturity Model (BPMM) haben wir unsere Hypothese, dass ein hoher Prozessreifegrad zu einem hohen Maß an Patientenorientierung führt, getestet. Dazu haben wir eine Methode zur Messung des Prozessreifegrads entwickelt und diese auf Validität und Reliabilität geprüft. An der Befragung haben 79 Chefärzte und Stellvertreter teilgenommen, die alle öffentlichen Gesundheitseinrichtungen der Stadt (Krankenhäuser, Familienärztehäuser etc.) repräsentieren.
Ergebnisse Die Untersuchung zeigt einen klaren Zusammenhang zwischen der Reife des Behandlungs- und Interaktionsprozesses und dem Grad der Patientenorientierung der jeweiligen Gesundheitseinrichtung. Die Varianz, die durch die unabhängige Variable Prozessreifegrad erklärt wird, liegt bei 16,3 %. Alle formativen Dimensionen zeigen einen stark signifikanten Einfluss auf das Konstrukt „Patientenorientierung”. Der Reifegrad des Behandlungs- und Interaktionsprozesses weist ebenfalls einen stark signifikanten Einfluss auf die Patientenorientierung auf.
Schlussfolgerung Für Gesundheitseinrichtungen ist es von großer Bedeutung, einen hohen Reifegrad des Behandlungs- und Interaktionsprozesses zu erreichen, um damit dem Anspruch von Patientenorientierung gerecht werden zu können. Die Reife des Prozesses kann mit dem im Rahmen dieser Studie entwickelten Fragebogen getestet werden.
Current Status of Expiry of Homeopathic Medicines in Brazil, Germany, India and the United States: A Critical Review
Authors: Valavan Ramachandran , Cesar Amarilys 
Published: July 2019

Background Assignment of expiry date to homeopathic medicines is a subject of important concern to its pharmacists and practitioners. This study compares the regulatory framework for the expiry of homeopathic medicines in four countries: Brazil, Germany, India and the United States.
Findings Different or no expiry periods are variously followed. Whereas Germany, with some exceptions, employs a maximum expiry of 5 years for both potencies and finished products, Brazil adopts a 5-year expiry for finished products only, potencies used in manufacture being exempted from an assigned expiry date. In India, all homeopathic medicines except dilutions and back potencies have a maximum of 5 years' shelf-life, including those supplied to consumers. In the United States, homeopathic medicines are exempted from expiry dates.
Comments There is neither a rational basis nor scientific evidence for assigning a short (3–5 years) expiry period for homeopathic medicines as followed in some of the countries, particularly in light of the fact that some studies have shown homeopathic medications to be effective even after 25 years. Homeopathic ultra-dilutions seem to contain non-material activity that is maintained over time and, since these exhibit different chemical properties compared to the original starting material, it is quite possible they possess properties of longer activity than conventional medicines. Regulators should acknowledge this feature and differentiate expiry of homeopathic medicinal products from that of conventional drugs.
Postoperative Complications Causing Readmission in 30 Days after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Nested Case-Control Study of Risk Factors Based on Propensity Score Matching
Authors: Tang Haozheng , Li Hui , Zhang Shutao , Wang You , Qu Xinhua , Yue Bing 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWe performed this study to identify independent risk factors for life-threatening postoperative complications causing 30-day readmissions after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Improved understanding of these risks may improve efficiency and safety of treatment. We performed a retrospective, nested case-control study using an open-access database of 2,622 patients who underwent primary TKA at a tertiary academic medical center in Singapore between January 2013 and June 2014. Patients were grouped according to the incidence of complications. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed to identify predictive factors for TKA complications. The incidence of postoperative complications was 1.72%. Compared with cases performed with an operative time < 70 minutes, increased operative time was associated with a higher risk of complications. Case duration > 90 minutes was associated with an increased risk (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.57, p = 0.001; case duration ≥ 111 minutes, aOR = 4.64, p = 0.04; and case duration between 91 and 110 minutes, aOR = 3.20, p = 0.03). The correlation between operative time and complications was nonlinear. Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) was an independent risk factor for increased complication rate (aOR = 11.59, p = 0.02). Operative duration has been identified as an independent risk factor for complications after TKA. As it remains a modifiable factor to which doctors are interested in bringing quality improvement, the risk of postoperative complications will be reduced by minimizing the operative duration.
Exploration of the Vaginal and Gut Microbiome in African American Women by Body Mass Index, Class of Obesity, and Gestational Weight Gain: A Pilot Study
Authors: Faucher Mary Ann , Greathouse Kristen Leigh , Hastings-Tolsma Marie , Padgett Robert Noah , Sakovich Kimberly , Choudhury Ankan , Sheikh Aadil , Ajami Nadim J. , Petrosino Joseph F. 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Objective This study determines the differences in the distal gut and vaginal microbiome in African American (AA) women by prepregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain (GWG) comparing women with and without obesity and by obesity class.
Study Design We prospectively sampled the vaginal and distal gut microbiome in pregnant AA women at two time points during pregnancy. Samples were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene.
Results Distinct differences in vaginal and distal gut α-diversity were observed at time point 1 between women with and without obesity by total GWG. Significant differences in distal gut β-diversity were also found at time point 1 in obese women by GWG. Within the Bacteroides genus, a significant association was observed by total GWG among obese women which was absent in nonobese women. Women with class III obesity who experienced low GWG had the lowest abundance of distal gut Bacteroides and appreciably higher relative abundance of a consortia of vaginal taxa including Atopobium, Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Sneathia.
Conclusion These results contribute new evidence showing that GWG in combination with obesity and obesity class is associated with an altered distal gut and vaginal composition early in pregnancy among AA women.
Factors Associated with Timeliness of Surgical Repair among Infants with Myelomeningocele: California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, 2006 to 2011
Authors: Kancherla Vijaya , Ma Chen , Grant Gerald , Lee Henry C. , Shaw Gary M. , Hintz Susan R. , Carmichael Suzan L. 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Objective This study aimed to examine factors associated with timely (0–2 days after birth) myelomeningocele surgical repair.
Study Design We examined 2006 to 2011 births from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, linking to hospital discharge and vital records. Selected maternal, infant, and delivery hospital characteristics were evaluated to understand disparities in timely repair. Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results Overall, 399 of the 450 (89%) infants had a timely repair and approximately 80% of them were delivered in level III/IV hospitals. Infants with hydrocephalus were significantly less likely to have a delayed myelomeningocele repair compared with those without (aRR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.13, 0.39); infants whose medical care was paid by Medi-Cal or other nonprivate insurance were 2.2 times more likely to have a delayed repair compared with those covered by a private insurance (aRR = 2.23; 95% CI = 1.17, 4.27). Low birth weight was a significant predictor for delayed repair (aRR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.10, 3.83).
Conclusion There was a significant disparity in myelomenigocele repair based on medical care payer. Families and hospitals should work together for timely repair in hospitals having specialized multidisciplinary teams. Findings from the study can be used to follow best clinical practices for myelomeningocele repair.