bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a possible predictor of electroconvulsive therapy outcome
Authors: van Zutphen Elisabeth Maria , Rhebergen Didi , van Exel Eric , Oudega Mardien Leoniek , Bouckaert Filip , Sienaert Pascal , Vandenbulcke Matthieu , Stek Max , Dols Annemieke 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWhile brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to predict response to pharmacotherapy in depression, studies in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are small and report conflicting results. This study assesses the association between pre-treatment BDNF levels and ECT outcome in severe late-life unipolar depression (LLD). The potential of BDNF as a clinical predictor of ECT outcome was subsequently evaluated. Characteristics associated with low and high BDNF subgroups were determined as well. Ninety-four patients diagnosed with LDD referred for ECT were included. Fasting serum BDNF levels were determined before ECT. Remission and response, measured with the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, were the outcomes. The association between BDNF and ECT outcome was analysed with logistic regression and Cox regression. The clinical usefulness of BDNF was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Associations between clinical characteristics and low versus high BDNF levels were examined with T tests, chi-squared tests and Mann−Whitney tests. The odds of remission decreased with 33% for every five units increase of BDNF levels (OR 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.47–0.96; p = 0.03); however, neither the association with time to remission nor the associations with response nor the adjusted models were significant. The area under the ROC (0.66) implied a poor accuracy of BDNF as a clinical test. Clinical characteristics associated with BDNF were inclusion site, physical comorbidities and duration of the index episode. To conclude, although there is an association between pre-treatment BDNF levels and ECT outcome, BDNF cannot be considered an eligible biomarker for ECT outcome in clinical practice.
Chirality-driven ferroelectricity in LiCuVO4
Authors: Ruff Alexander , Lunkenheimer Peter , Krug von Nidda Hans-Albrecht , Widmann Sebastian , Prokofiev Andrey , Svistov Leonid , Loidl Alois , Krohns Stephan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractChirality or the handedness of objects is of prime importance in life science, biology, chemistry, and physics. It is also a major symmetry ingredient in frustrated magnets revealing spin-spiral ground states. Vector-chiral phases, with the twist (either clock- or counter clock-wise) between neighboring spins being ordered, but with disorder with respect to the angles between adjacent spins, have been predicted almost five decades ago. Experimental proofs, however, are rare and controversial. Here, we provide experimental evidence for such a phase in LiCuVO4, a one-dimensional quantum magnet with competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions. The vector-chiral state is identified via a finite ferroelectric polarization arising at temperatures well above the multiferroic phase exhibiting long-range three-dimensional spin-spiral and polar order. On increasing temperatures, spin order becomes suppressed at TN, whereas chiral long-range order still exist, leaving a temperature window with chirality-driven ferroelectricity in the presence of an external magnetic field.
Cross-feedback with Partner Contributes to Performance Accuracy in Finger-tapping Rhythm Synchronization between One Leader and Two Followers
Authors: Ogata Taiki , Katayama Takahiro , Ota Jun 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAs observed in musical ensembles, people synchronize with a leader together with other people. This study aimed to investigate whether interdependency with a partner improves performance accuracy in rhythm synchronization with the leader. Participants performed a synchronization task via auditory signal by finger tapping in which two followers simultaneously synchronized with a leader: an isochronous metronome or a human leader with or without feedback from the followers. This task was conducted with and without cross-feedback (CFB) between the followers. The followers’ weak mutual tempo tracking via the CFB and the followers’ strong tempo tracking to the leader improved the tempo stability. Additionally, because the interdependency between the followers was weaker than the followers’ dependency on the human leader, the CFB did not enlarge the synchronization error between the human leader and the followers, which occurred in synchronization with the metronome. Thus, the CFB between the followers contributed to accuracy in synchronization with the human leader. The results suggest that in ensembles, players should strongly attend to the leader and should attempt to be less conscious of partners to maintain the appropriate balance between influences from the leader and partners.
FN1, SPARC, and SERPINE1 are highly expressed and significantly related to a poor prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma revealed by microarray and bioinformatics
Authors: Li Li , Zhu Zuan , Zhao Yanchao , Zhang Qi , Wu Xiaoting , Miao Bei , Cao Jiang , Fei Sujuan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractGastric adenocarcinoma (GAC), also known as stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD), is one of the most lethal malignancies in the world. It is vital to classify and detect the hub genes and key pathways participated in the initiation and progression of GAC. In this study, we collected and sequenced 15 pairs of GAC tumor tissues and the adjacent normal tissues. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis were used to annotate the unique biological significance and important pathways of enriched DEGs. Moreover, we constructed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network by Cytoscape and conducted KEGG enrichment analysis of the prime module. We further applied the TCGA database to start the survival analysis of these hub genes by Kaplan-Meier estimates. Finally, we obtained total 233 DEGs consisted of 64 up-regulated genes and 169 down-regulated genes. GO enrichment analysis found that DEGs most significantly enriched in single organism process, extracellular region, and extracellular region part. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that DEGs most significantly enriched in Protein digestion and absorption, Gastric acid secretion, and ECM-receptor interaction. Furthermore, the PPI network showed that the top 10 hub genes in GAC were IL8, COL1A1, MMP9, SST, COL1A2, TIMP1, FN1, SPARC, ALDH1A1, and SERPINE1 respectively. The prime gene interaction module in PPI network was enriched in protein digestion and absorption, ECM receptor interaction, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and pathway in cancer. Survival analysis based on the TCGA database found that the expression of the FN1, SERPINE1, and SPARC significantly predicted poor prognosis of GAC. Collectively, we identified several hub genes and key pathways associated with GAC initiation and progression by analyzing the microarray data on DEGs, which provided a detailed molecular mechanism underlying GAC occurrence and progression.
A novel strategy to engineer pre-vascularized 3-dimensional skin substitutes to achieve efficient, functional engraftment
Authors: Miyazaki Hiromi , Tsunoi Yasuyuki , Akagi Takami , Sato Shunichi , Akashi Mitsuru , Saitoh Daizoh 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAutologous split-thickness skin grafts are the preferred treatment for excised burn wounds, but donor sites for autografting are often limited in patients with extensive burns. A number of alternative treatments are already in use to treat large burns and ulcers. Despite intense efforts to develop tissue-engineered skin, delayed or absent vascularization is one of the major reasons for tissue-engineered skin engraftment failure. To overcome these problems, we developed a scaffold-free 3-dimensional (3D) skin substitute containing vascular networks that combine dermal fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and epidermal keratinocytes based on our layer-by-layer cell coating technique. We transplanted the pre-vascularized 3D skin substitutes onto full-thickness skin defects on severe combined immunodeficiency mice to assess their integration with the host tissue and effects on wound healing. We used non-vascularized 3D skin substitutes as a control. Vessels containing red blood cells were evident in the non-vascularized control by day 14. However, blood perfusion of the human-derived vasculature could be detected within 7 days of grafting. Moreover, the pre-vascularized 3D skin substitutes had high graft survival and their epidermal layers were progressively replaced by mouse epidermis. We propose that a novel dermo-epidermal 3D skin substitute containing blood vessels can promote efficient reconstruction of full-thickness skin defects.
Association between depressive-symptom trajectories and cognitive function in the late middle-aged and older population: results of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors: Choi Dong-Woo , Han Kyu-Tae , Jeon Jooeun , Jang Sung-In , Kim Seung Ju , Park Eun-Cheol 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThis study investigated the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive function according to four different trajectories of depressive symptoms in the late middle-aged and older South Korean population. Panel data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing were analyzed. We used latent class trajectory models to identify four trajectories of depressive symptoms. We performed linear mixed-effects regression analysis to assess associations between depressive-symptom trajectories and MMSE scores. Of 4,374 participants, 18.4%, 4.9%, 55.2%, and 21.5% were classified as having a low, increasing, moderate declining, and high depressive-symptom trajectory, respectively. Individuals with an increasing trajectory (β = −0.729, P ≤ 0.001), moderate trajectory (β = −0.278, P = 0.003), and high trajectory (β = −1.605, P ≤ 0.001) had lower MMSE scores compared with those in the low trajectory group. These relationships were particularly strong among women; individuals who were physically inactive; those who were separated, divorced, or single; and those with hypertension or cerebrovascular disease. Each trajectory group for depressive symptoms was associated with cognitive decline. Moreover, female, physically inactive, and single individuals, as well as those with hypertension and cerebrovascular disease should be particularly mindful of their mental and physical health to prevent cognitive decline.
High precision computer-generated moiré profilometry
Authors: Li Chengmeng , Cao Yiping , Wang Lu , Wan Yingying , Fu Guangkai , Wang Yapin , Chen Cheng 
Published: May 2019

AbstractRecently, a computer-generated moiré profilometry was proposed by our research group. It can effectively avoid the influence of the transient caused by moiré fringes’ direct acquisition and generally owns a higher accuracy. But when the spatial spectrum of the captured deformed pattern is severely aliased caused by the measured object, the accuracy of this method may be affected to some extent due to the impure background light component extraction. So, a high precision computer-generated moiré profilometry based on background light component’s accurate elimination is proposed. By adding an additional special phase-shifting sinusoidal grating to accurately extract valid information in the spatial domain and improve the sinusoidal feature of the pattern, the measurement precision can be improved effectively. Though the single-shot feature is broken, the real-time measuring feature is still maintained successfully. Experimental results show the feasibility and validity of the proposed method.
Collaborative Activities of Noradrenaline and Natriuretic Peptide for Glucose Utilization in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Uno Goki , Nagoshi Tomohisa , Yoshii Akira , Inoue Yasunori , Tanaka Yoshiro , Kimura Haruka , Ito Satoshi , Ogawa Kazuo , Tanaka Toshikazu D. , Minai Kosuke , Ogawa Takayuki , Kawai Makoto , Yoshimura Michihiro 
Published: May 2019

AbstractGlucose is an important preferential substrate for energy metabolism during acute coronary syndrome (ACS) attack, although insulin resistance (IR) increases during ACS. Increasing evidence indicates that natriuretic peptides (NP) regulate glucose homeostasis. We investigated possible compensatory actions of NP in collaboration with other neurohumoral factors that facilitate glucose utilization during ACS. The study population consisted of 1072 consecutive cases with ischemic heart disease who underwent cardiac catheterization (ACS, n = 216; non-ACS, n = 856). Among ACS subjects, biochemical data after acute-phase treatment were available in 91 cases, defined as ACS-remission phase (ACS-rem). Path models based on covariance structure analyses were proposed to clarify the direct contribution of B-type NP (BNP) and noradrenaline to glucose and HOMA-IR levels while eliminating confounding biases. In non-ACS and ACS-rem subjects, although noradrenaline slightly increased glucose and/or HOMA-IR levels (P < 0.03), BNP did not significantly affect them. In contrast, in ACS subjects, high noradrenaline was a significant cause of increases in glucose and HOMA-IR levels (P < 0.001), whereas high BNP was a significant cause of decreases in both parameters (P < 0.005). These findings indicate that BNP and noradrenaline coordinately activate glucose metabolism during ACS, with noradrenaline increasing glucose levels, as an energy substrate, while BNP improves IR and promotes glucose utilization.
The antioxidant and DNA-repair enzyme apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 limits the development of tubulointerstitial fibrosis partly by modulating the immune system
Authors: Maruyama Keisuke , Nakagawa Naoki , Aonuma Tatsuya , Saito Yukihiro , Hayasaka Taiki , Kano Kohei , Horiuchi Kiwamu , Takehara Naofumi , Kawabe Jun-ichi , Hasebe Naoyuki 
Published: May 2019

AbstractApurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) is a multifunctional protein that controls the cellular response to oxidative stress and possesses DNA-repair functions. It has important roles in the progression and outcomes of various diseases; however, its function and therapeutic prospects with respect to kidney injury are unknown. To study this, we activated APE1 during kidney injury by constructing an expression vector (pCAG-APE1), using an EGFP expression plasmid (pCAG-EGFP) as a control. We performed unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) as a model of tubulointerstitial fibrosis on ICR mice before each vector was administrated via retrograde renal vein injection. In this model, pCAG-APE1 injection did not produce any adverse effects and significantly reduced histological end points including fibrosis, inflammation, tubular injury, and oxidative stress, as compared to those parameters after pCAG-EGFP injection. qPCR analysis showed significantly lower expression of Casp3 and inflammation-related genes in pCAG-APE1-injected animals compared to those in pCAG-EGFP-injected UUO kidneys. RNA-Seq analyses showed that the major transcriptional changes in pCAG-APE1-injected UUO kidneys were related to immune system processes, metabolic processes, catalytic activity, and apoptosis, leading to normal kidney repair. Therefore, APE1 suppressed renal fibrosis, not only via antioxidant and DNA-repair functions, but also partly by modulating the immune system through multiple pathways including Il6, Tnf, and chemokine families. Thus, therapeutic APE1 modulation might be beneficial for the treatment of renal diseases.
Prevalence and characterization of Clostridium perfringens toxinotypes among patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea in Iran
Authors: Azimirad Masoumeh , Gholami Fatemeh , Yadegar Abbas , Knight Daniel R. , Shamloei Sharareh , Aghdaei Hamid Asadzadeh , Zali Mohammad Reza 
Published: May 2019

AbstractClostridium perfringens has emerged as an important cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), particularly in the hospital environment. Here we investigated the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of C. perfringens isolated from 2280 fecal samples from Iranian diarrheal patients suspected of having AAD. Overall, AAD was diagnosed in 13.3% (303/2280) of patients and associated with advanced age (>50 years, P = 0.001). A total of 106 C. perfringens isolates were cultured from AAD (n = 68) and non-AAD (n = 38) groups, with toxinotypes A and F comprising 84% and 16% of isolates, respectively. Notably, 41.2% of type F strains were also cpb2-positive and enterotoxigenic cpe-positive strains were detected in 13.2% of the isolates from AAD patients. Genes associated with the VirR/VirS signal transduction (virR, virS) and accessory gene regulator (agrB, agrD) systems were detected in 56.6% and 67% of the isolates, respectively, and peptides of the quorum-sensing modulator, AgrD were highly conserved across all strains. The high prevalence of C. perfringens in Iranian AAD patients suggests that diagnostic laboratories in this region should consider screening for C. perfringens in cases of suspected AAD, especially if the specimen is negative for other pathogens and/or the patients are aged >50 years.
Dose-dependent effects of chronic alcohol drinking on peripheral immune responses
Authors: Sureshchandra Suhas , Raus Anthony , Jankeel Allen , Ligh Brian Jin Kee , Walter Nicole A. R. , Newman Natali , Grant Kathleen A. , Messaoudi Ilhem 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIt is well established that chronic heavy alcohol drinking (CHD) results in significant organ damage, increased susceptibility to infections, and poor outcomes following injury. In contrast, chronic moderate drinking (CMD) has been associated with improved cardiovascular health and immunity. These differential outcomes have been linked to alterations in both innate and adaptive branches of the immune system; however, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address this question, we determined the impact of chronic drinking on the transcriptional and functional responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected from male rhesus macaques classified as CMD or CHD after 12 months of voluntary ethanol self-administration. Our analysis suggests that chronic alcohol drinking, regardless of dose alters resting transcriptomes of PBMC, with the largest impact seen in innate immune cells. These transcriptional changes are partially explained by alterations in microRNA profiles. Additionally, chronic alcohol drinking is associated with a dose dependent heightened inflammatory profiled at resting and following LPS stimulation. Moreover, we observed a dose-dependent shift in the kinetics of transcriptional responses to LPS. These findings may explain the dichotomy in clinical and immunological outcomes observed with moderate versus heavy alcohol drinking.
Observationally constrained aerosol–cloud semi-direct effects
Authors: Allen Robert J. , Amiri-Farahani Anahita , Lamarque Jean-Francois , Smith Chris , Shindell Drew , Hassan Taufiq , Chung Chul E. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAbsorbing aerosols, like black carbon (BC), give rise to rapid adjustments, and the associated perturbation to the atmospheric temperature structure alters the cloud distribution. The level of scientific understanding of these rapid cloud adjustments—otherwise known as semi-direct effects (SDEs)—is considered low, with models indicating a likely negative (−0.44 to +0.1 Wm−2) forcing. Recent studies suggest this negative SDE is primarily driven by decreases in high-level clouds and enhanced longwave cooling. Here, we investigate the SDE using multiple models driven by observationally constrained fine-mode aerosol forcing without dust and sea salt. Unlike aerosol simulations, which yield a relatively vertically uniform aerosol atmospheric heating profile with significant upper-tropospheric heating, observation-based heating peaks in the lower-troposphere and then decays to zero in the mid-troposphere. We find a significant global annual mean decrease in low- and mid-level clouds, and weaker decreases in high-level clouds, which leads to a positive SDE dominated by shortwave radiation. Thus, in contrast to most studies, we find a robust positive SDE, implying cloud adjustments act to warm the climate system. Sensitivity tests with identical average, but vertically uniform observationally constrained aerosol atmospheric heating result in a negative SDE, due to enhanced longwave cooling as a result of large reductions in high-level clouds. Our results therefore suggest that model simulations lead to a negatively biased SDE, due to an aerosol atmospheric heating profile that is too vertically uniform.
Applying WCACG modified process is beneficial on reduced door-to-balloon time of acute STEMI patients
Authors: Li Qiao-Wen , Liu Xiao-Jian , Li Jin-Hua , Zhang Guo-Qi , Chen Su-Min , Huang Chao-Long , Qiu Min , Li Yue-Liang , Duan Peng , Weng Yi-Jiun , Zhang Xiao-Yong , Huang Chih-Yang 
Published: May 2019

Background: Various systems have employed with the objective to reduce the time from emergency medical services contact to balloon inflammation for ST-elevation myocardial infraction (STEMI) patients. The WCACG message system was used to an alternative communication platform to improve confirmation of the diagnosis and movement to treatment, resulted in shorten the door-to-balloon (D-to-B) time for STEMI patients.
Methods: We collected 366 STEMI patients admitted at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital, Department of Cardiology, during the period from June 2013 to October 2015. The patients were divided into two groups one underwent the current GC processes and the other group was handled using WCACG system. We compared between two groups with several indicators including D-to-B time, duration of hospitalization, associated costs, and incidence of adverse cardiovascular events.
Results: The results show that the new method with WCACG system significantly reduced the average D-to-B time (from 100.42 ± 25.14 mins to 79.81 ± 20.51 mins, P < 0.05) compared to the GC processes, and also reduced the duration, costs and undesirable cardiac incidence during hospitalization.
Conclusions: The modified WCACG process is an applicable system to save pieces of time and efficiently integrate the opinions of experts in emergency.
Is radius bone mineral density helpful for fracture risk assessment?
Authors: Biver Emmanuel 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAlthough peripheral DXA is not recommended for the diagnosis of osteoporosis or to monitor osteoporotic treatments, its use for fracture risk assessment is supported by several studies. In addition, its potential interest is supported by the recent demonstration, in prospective cohorts, of the contribution of distal radius microstructure and strength, assessed by high-resolution peripheral QCT (HRpQCT), to predict incident fractures beyond the classical clinical tools (femoral neck BMD and FRAX). Indeed, areal BMD measured by DXA at the ultra-distal radius is highly correlated with bone strength derived from HRpQCT measurements at the same site. Ultra-distal radius areal BMD is therefore highly associated with fracture risk, with associations of higher magnitude than at the “classically recommended” one-third distal radius. Furthermore, ultra-distal radius areal BMD is also associated with incident fractures in non-osteoporotic women in women with T-score > –2.5 SD on hip and spine DXA or women with FRAX score below the intervention threshold for age. Since more than half of low-trauma fractures occur in individuals not identified as being at high risk by BMD testing at the spine or hip, radius bone mineral density may help to refine fracture risk in patients with osteopenia defined by central DXA (spine or hip), or relatively few clinical risk factors.