bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
LncRNA‐DANCR contributes to lung adenocarcinoma progression by sponging miR‐496 to modulate mTOR expression
Authors: Lu Qing‐chun , Rui Zhuang‐hua , Guo Zhong‐liang , Xie Wang , Shan Shan , Ren Tao 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLong non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as new and important regulators of pathological processes including tumour development. In this study, we demonstrated that differentiation antagonizing non‐protein coding RNA (DANCR) was up‐regulated in lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and that the knockdown of DANCR inhibited tumour cell proliferation, migration and invasion and restored cell apoptosis rescued; cotransfection with a miR‐496 inhibitor reversed these effects. Luciferase reporter assays showed that miR‐496 directly modulated DANCR; additionally, we used RNA‐binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull‐down assays to further confirm that the suppression of DANCR by miR‐496 was RISC‐dependent. Our study also indicated that mTOR was a target of miR‐496 and that DANCR could modulate the expression levels of mTOR by working as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA). Furthermore, the knockdown of DANCR reduced tumour volumes in vivo compared with those of the control group. In conclusion, this study showed that DANCR might be an oncogenic lncRNA that regulates mTOR expression through directly binding to miR‐496. DANCR may be regarded as a biomarker or therapeutic target for ADC.
Functional assessment of the BMPR2 gene in lymphoblastoid cell lines from Graves’ disease patients
Authors: Pousada Guillermo , Lago‐Docampo Mauro , Prado Sonia , Varela‐Calviño Rubén , Mantiñán Beatriz , Valverde Diana 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn this study, we analysed the possible influence of the c.419‐43delT BMPR2 variant in patients with Graves’ disease (GD), in a molecular basis, focusing our efforts on possible alterations in the mRNA processing and synthesis. The molecular assessment of this variant in patients with GD would shed light on the association between the BMPR2 gene and the disease. The variant was detected in 18%, 55% and 10% of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, GD and in general population, respectively. Patients with GD fold change showed increased BMPR2 expression when matched against the controls, with a mean of 4.21 ± 1.73 (P = 0.001); BMPR2 was overexpressed in the analysed cell cycle stages. Fold change analysis of variant carriers and non‐carriers showed slight overexpression and differences between phases, but none of them were statistically significant. BMPR2 expression was confirmed in the lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) with a molecular weight of 115 kD, and no differences between variant carriers and non‐carriers were detected. To conclude, the BMPR2 variant c.419‐19delT appears in high frequency in patients with GD, and independently of its presence, BMPR2 is overexpressed in the LCLs from the GD patients tested. This increase could be paired with the described decreased expression of transforming growth factor‐β1 in thyroid tissue from patients with GD.
Profile of common prostate cancer risk variants in an unscreened Romanian population
Authors: Iordache Paul D. , Mates Dana , Gunnarsson Bjarni , Eggertsson Hannes P. , Sulem Patrick , Guðmundsson Júlíus , Benónísdóttir Stefania , Csiki Irma Eva , Rascu Stefan , Radavoi Daniel , Ursu Radu , Staicu Catalin , Calota Violeta , Voinoiu Angelica , Jinga Mariana , Rosoga Gabriel , Danau Razvan , Sima Sorin Cristian , Badescu Daniel , Suciu Nicoleta , Radoi Viorica , Manolescu Andrei , Rafnar Thorunn , Halldórsson Bjarni V. , Jinga Viorel , Stefánsson Kári 
Published: December 2017

AbstractTo find sequence variants affecting prostate cancer (PCA) susceptibility in an unscreened Romanian population we use a genome‐wide association study (GWAS). The study population included 990 unrelated pathologically confirmed PCA cases and 1034 male controls. DNA was genotyped using Illumina SNP arrays, and 24.295.558 variants were imputed using the 1000 Genomes data set. An association test was performed between the imputed markers and PCA. A systematic literature review for variants associated with PCA risk identified 115 unique variants that were tested in the Romanian sample set. Thirty of the previously reported SNPs replicated (P‐value < 0.05), with the strongest associations observed at: 8q24.21, 11q13.3, 6q25.3, 5p15.33, 22q13.2, 17q12 and 3q13.2. The replicated variants showing the most significant association in Romania are rs1016343 at 8q24.21 (P = 2.2 × 10−4), rs7929962 at 11q13.3 (P = 2.7 × 10−4) and rs9364554 at 6q25.2 (P = 4.7 × 10−4). None of the variants tested in the Romanian GWAS reached genome‐wide significance (P‐value <5 × 10−8) but 807 markers had P‐values <1 × 10−4. Here, we report the results of the first GWAS of PCA performed in a Romanian population. Our study provides evidence that a substantial fraction of previously validated PCA variants associate with risk in this unscreened Romanian population.
Combination of arsenic trioxide and Dasatinib: a new strategy to treat Philadelphia chromosome‐positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Wang Tao , Cheng Chunyan , Peng Lijun , Gao Mengqing , Xi Mengping , Rousseaux Sophie , Khochbin Saadi , Wang Jin , Mi Jianqing 
Published: December 2017

AbstractTyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have significantly improved the prognosis of Philadelphia chromosome‐positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Ph+ ALL), one of the most common and aggressive forms of haematological malignancies. However, TKI resistance has remained an unsolved issue. In this study, we investigate the impact of adding arsenic trioxide (ATO) on the action of Dasatinib, a second‐generation TKI, in Ph+ ALL. We show that ATO cooperates with Dasatinib in both TKI‐sensitive and resistant Ph+ ALL cell lines to increase apoptosis and we unravel the underlying mechanisms. Indeed, combining ATO and Dasatinib leads to severe cell apoptosis by activating the UPR apoptotic IRE1/JNK/PUMA axis, while neutralizing the UPR ATF4‐dependent anti‐apoptotic axis, activated by ATO alone. Additionally, ATO and Dasatinib in combination repress the expression of several genes, which we previously showed to be associated with shorter survival probability in ALL patients. Overall these data support the use of ATO in combination with Dasatinib as a novel therapeutic regimen for Ph+ ALL patients.
A matching framework to improve causal inference in interrupted time‐series analysis
Authors: Linden Ariel 
Published: December 2017

AbstractRationale, aims, and objectivesInterrupted time‐series analysis (ITSA) is a popular evaluation methodology in which a single treatment unit's outcome is studied over time and the intervention is expected to “interrupt” the level and/or trend of the outcome, subsequent to its introduction. When ITSA is implemented without a comparison group, the internal validity may be quite poor. Therefore, adding a comparable control group to serve as the counterfactual is always preferred. This paper introduces a novel matching framework, ITSAMATCH, to create a comparable control group by matching directly on covariates and then use these matches in the outcomes model.MethodWe evaluate the effect of California's Proposition 99 (passed in 1988) for reducing cigarette sales, by comparing California to other states not exposed to smoking reduction initiatives. We compare ITSAMATCH results to 2 commonly used matching approaches, synthetic controls (SYNTH), and regression adjustment; SYNTH reweights nontreated units to make them comparable to the treated unit, and regression adjusts covariates directly. Methods are compared by assessing covariate balance and treatment effects.ResultsBoth ITSAMATCH and SYNTH achieved covariate balance and estimated similar treatment effects. The regression model found no treatment effect and produced inconsistent covariate adjustment.ConclusionsWhile the matching framework achieved results comparable to SYNTH, it has the advantage of being technically less complicated, while producing statistical estimates that are straightforward to interpret. Conversely, regression adjustment may “adjust away” a treatment effect. Given its advantages, ITSAMATCH should be considered as a primary approach for evaluating treatment effects in multiple‐group time‐series analysis.
Recent Advances in Halophilic Protozoa Research
Authors: Harding Tommy , Simpson Alastair G. B. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractMost research on microorganisms adapted to hypersaline habitats has focused on Archaea and Bacteria, with microbial eukaryotes receiving much less attention. Over the past 15 yr, our knowledge of phagotrophic microbial eukaryotes, i.e. protozoa, from hypersaline habitats has greatly improved through combinations of microscopy, molecular phylogenetics, environmental sequencing, transcriptomics and growth experiments. High salinity waters from salterns, other landlocked water masses and deep hypersaline anoxic basins contain unique and diverse halophilic protozoan assemblages. These have the potential to exert substantial grazing pressure on prokaryotes and other eukaryotes. They represent many separate evolutionary lineages; species of Heterolobosea, Bicosoecida, and Ciliophora have been most intensively characterized, with several proven to be extreme (or borderline extreme) halophiles. Transcriptomic examinations of the bicosoecid Halocafeteria (and the heteroloboseid Pharyngomonas) indicate that high‐salt adaptation is associated with a subtle shift in protein amino acid composition, and involves the differential expression of genes participating in ion homeostasis, signal transduction, stress management, and lipid remodeling. Instances of gene duplication and lateral transfer possibly conferring adaptation have been documented. Indirect evidence suggests that these protozoa use “salt‐out” osmoadaptive strategies.
Influence of Poor Oral Health on Physical Frailty: A Population‐Based Cohort Study of Older British Men
Authors: Ramsay Sheena E. , Papachristou Efstathios , Watt Richard G. , Tsakos Georgios , Lennon Lucy T. , Papacosta A. Olia , Moynihan Paula , Sayer Avan A. , Whincup Peter H. , Wannamethee S. Goya 
Published: December 2017

ObjectivesTo investigate the associations between objective and subjective measures of oral health and incident physical frailty.DesignCross‐sectional and longitudinal study with 3 years of follow‐up using data from the British Regional Heart Study.SettingGeneral practices in 24 British towns.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling men aged 71 to 92 (N = 1,622).MeasurementsObjective assessments of oral health included tooth count and periodontal disease. Self‐reported oral health measures included overall self‐rated oral health; dry mouth symptoms; sensitivity to hot, cold, and sweet; and perceived difficulty eating. Frailty was defined using the Fried phenotype as having 3 or more of weight loss, grip strength, exhaustion, slow walking speed, and low physical activity. Incident frailty was assessed after 3 years of follow‐up in 2014.ResultsThree hundred three (19%) men were frail at baseline (aged 71–92). Having fewer than 21 teeth, complete tooth loss, fair to poor self‐rated oral health, difficulty eating, dry mouth, and more oral health problems were associated with greater likelihood of being frail. Of 1,284 men followed for 3 years, 107 (10%) became frail. The risk of incident frailty was higher in participants who were edentulous (odds ratio (OR) = 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03–3.52); had 3 or more dry mouth symptoms (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.18–3.48); and had 1 (OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.18–4.64), 2 (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.09–4.84), or 3 or more (OR = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.11–6.64) oral health problems after adjustment for age, smoking, social class, history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, and medications related to dry mouth.ConclusionThe presence of oral health problems was associated with greater risks of being frail and developing frailty in older age. The identification and management of poor oral health in older people could be important in preventing frailty.
How do clinicians practise the principles of beneficence when deciding to allow or deny family presence during resuscitation?
Authors: Giles Tracey , de Lacey Sheryl , Muir‐Cochrane Eimear 
Published: December 2017

Aims and ObjectivesTo examine how clinicians practise the principles of beneficence when deciding to allow or deny family presence during resuscitation.BackgroundFamily presence during resuscitation has important benefits for family and is supported by professional bodies and the public. Yet, many clinicians restrict family access to patients during resuscitation, and rationales for decision‐making are unclear.DesignSecondary analysis of an existing qualitative data set using deductive category application of content analysis.MethodsWe analysed 20 interview transcripts from 15 registered nurses, two doctors and three paramedics who had experienced family presence during resuscitation in an Australian hospital. The transcripts were analysed for incidents of beneficent decision‐making when allowing or denying family presence during resuscitation.ResultsDecision‐making around family presence during resuscitation occurred in time poor environments and in the absence of local institutional guidelines. Clinicians appeared to be motivated by doing “what's best” for patients and families when allowing or denying family presence during resuscitation. However, their individual interpretations of “what's best” was subjective and did not always coincide with family preferences or with current evidence that promotes family presence during resuscitation as beneficial.ConclusionsThe decision to allow or deny family presence during resuscitation is complex, and often impacted by personal preferences and beliefs, setting norms and tensions between clinicians and consumers. As a result, many families are missing the chance to be with their loved ones at the end of life. The introduction of institutional guidelines and policies would help to establish what safe and effective practice consists of, reduce value‐laden decision‐making and guide beneficent decision‐making.Relevance to Clinical PracticeThese findings highlight current deficits in decision‐making around FPDR and could prompt the introduction of clinical guidelines and policies and in turn promote the equitable provision of safe, effective family‐centred care during resuscitation events.
Spirituality and religiosity of non‐directed (altruistic) living kidney donors
Authors: Maghen Ariella , Vargas Grecia B , Connor Sarah E , Nassiri Sima , Hicks Elisabeth M , Kwan Lorna , Waterman Amy D , Maliski Sally L , Veale Jeffrey L 
Published: December 2017

Aims and objectivesTo describe the spirituality and religiosity of 30 non‐directed (altruistic) living kidney donors in the USA and explore how they may have affected their motivations to donate and donation process experiences.BackgroundThe rise in non‐directed donors and their ability to initiate kidney chains offer a novel approach to help alleviate the overextended kidney transplant wait list in the USA. However, little is known about the non‐directed donors’ motivations, characteristics and experiences.DesignWe conducted a qualitative‐dominant study and used a grounded theory approach to analyse data.MethodsThirty participants completed in‐depth interviews between April 2013–April 2015. Three analysts independently read and coded interview transcripts. Grounded theory techniques were used to develop descriptive categories and identify topics related to the non‐directed donors donation experience.ResultsSixteen of the 30 non‐directed donorss discussed the topic of spirituality and religiosity when describing their donation experiences, regardless of whether they were actively practising a religion at the time of donation. Specifically, three themes were identified within spirituality and religiosity: motivation to donate, support in the process, and justification of their donation decisions postdonation.ConclusionsFindings from this study are the first to describe how spirituality and religiosity influenced the experiences of U.S. non‐directed donorss and may help improve non‐directed donors educational resources for future spiritual or religious non‐directed donors, and the overall non‐directed donors donation experience in efforts to increase the living donor pool.Relevance to clinical practiceSpirituality and religiosity are often overlooked yet potentially influential factors in Western medicine, as demonstrated through the experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses and their religious restrictions while undergoing surgery and the beliefs of Christian Scientists against taking medications and receiving medical procedures. Understanding needs of non‐directed donors specifically with spirituality and religiosity can better position kidney transplant centres and teams to improve predonation screening of non‐directed donor candidates and provide support services during the donation process.
What makes for a good break? A diary study on recovery experiences during lunch break
Authors: Bosch Christine , Sonnentag Sabine , Pinck Anna Sophia 
Published: December 2017

This study investigated the role of four recovery experiences during lunch break for employees’ afternoon well‐being. We hypothesized that lunch‐break recovery experiences (psychological detachment, relaxation, control, and relatedness) reduce afternoon exhaustion and enhance afternoon work engagement via replenished personal resources (i.e., state of being recovered immediately after break and subsequent self‐efficacy regarding the upcoming tasks in the afternoon). One hundred and nine employees provided daily survey data three times a day (i.e., start of work, after lunch break, end of work) over a period of two workweeks. Multilevel path analysis showed that relaxation, control, and relatedness during lunch break negatively predicted afternoon exhaustion and positively predicted afternoon work engagement via state of being recovered. For relaxation and relatedness, we additionally found positive serial indirect effects on afternoon work engagement via state of being recovered and self‐efficacy. Psychological detachment was not related to personal resources and afternoon well‐being. This study demonstrates that experiencing control over lunch break and using the lunch break to relax and to relate to others are indirectly associated with improved afternoon well‐being via replenished personal resources.Practitioner points

Relaxation, control, and relatedness constitute lunch‐break recovery experiences that indirectly foster feeling confident, replenished, and engaged in the afternoon.

Employees should strive to spend their lunch breaks in ways that help them feel relaxed, related, and in control.

Organizations should provide their employees with sufficient break control and offer environments that facilitate relaxation and socializing during lunch break.
The Colletotrichum gloeosporioides perilipin homologue CAP 20 regulates functional appressorial formation and fungal virulence
Authors: Lin Chunhua , Liu Xianbao , Shi Tao , Li Chaoping , Huang Guixiu 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPrevious studies of the CAP20 gene in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides show that the CAP20 gene may affect virulence in avocados and tomatoes. In this study, we characterized the function of CAP20 from C. gloeosporioides, the causal agent of Colletotrichum leaf fall disease of Hevea brasilience. CAP20 encodes a perilipin homologue protein. Further investigations showed that the Cap20‐GFP fusion protein localized in lipid droplets in hypha and conidia. A C. gloeosporioides mutant, lacking CAP20, had thinner spores and smaller appressoria, and its turgor pressure generation was dramatically reduced and pore size was enlarged. Furthermore, we tested the pathogenicity of conidia from the wild type, gene‐deleted mutant and complemented transformant C.gloeosporioides on the leaves of rubber trees in sterile water and 0.19 M PEG2000. Conidia from the wild type and complemented transformant C. gloeosporioides in 0.19 M PEG2000 caused necrotic lesions and did not produce any lesion with the CAP20 null mutant. But all of them had developed normal disease lesions when they were inoculated in water. These results suggest that CAP20 is a perilipin homologue protein and is involved in functional appressoria development in C. gloeosporioides. CAP20 gene only affects fungal virulence to some extent by reducing the penetration of the immature appressoria into host cuticle in C. gloeosporioides.
Religious Intermarriage in Canada, 1981 to 2011
Authors: Lee Sharon M. , Hou Feng , Edmonston Barry , Wu Zheng 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIs the social influence of religion weakening as the ranks of the unaffiliated grow and religious attendance falls? Will these changes extend to religion's influence on marriage? This research note contributes to these discussions by examining religious intermarriage as another indicator of religion's social influence. Increased religious intermarriage may indicate a weakening of traditional norms of religious endogamy and a decline in religion's social influence. Descriptive results from examining Canadian census and survey data from 1981 to 2011 show that religious intermarriage increased from 14 percent in 1981 to 19 percent in 2011, but varies by religion and other characteristics. Results from probit models confirm the descriptive findings and further reveal three trends: increasing intermarriage for Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and Buddhists; low and stable intermarriage for Hindus and Sikhs; and decreasing intermarriage for Muslims and the unaffiliated. The findings provide a descriptive base for future research to elaborate and explain the different trends and their implications for religion's social influence on marriage and how this may be changing in societies where religious identity and attendance are also changing.
Identification of a melting type variant among peach (P. persica L. Batsch) fruit textures by a digital penetrometer
Authors: Ciacciulli Angelo , Chiozzotto Remo , Attanasio Giovanna , Cirilli Marco , Bassi Daniele 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe increase of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) fruit shelf‐life is one of the most important objectives of breeding activities, as peach is a highly perishable fruit which undergoes rapid softening during ripening. The loss of fruit firmness is accompanied by a modification of textural properties. At least four distinct textures were described in peach: melting, non‐melting, stony‐hard, and slow‐melting (better defined as “slow‐softening”). Flesh textures are usually discriminated using different approaches, specific for each type. Objective of this work was the development of a reliable method to assess flesh texture variants in peach fruit, with special attention to the slow‐softening type which is currently scored by sensorial evaluation. A puncture‐based test using a digital penetrometer was performed on 20 accessions belonging to the four textural groups, obtaining a series of rheological measures related to mechanical flesh properties and including Young's Modulus, Upper Yield Point, and Slope of Yield Stress. Among the components of elasto‐plastic behavior of the fruits, the texture dynamic index (TD) was shown to be a reliable parameter to distinguish the group of melting flesh texture from slow‐softening, non‐melting, and stony‐hard, these last resulting characterized by similar mechanical properties. The TD index can be applied to discriminate slow‐softening and melting fruits, although variability within the different texture groups suggests the existence of accessions with intermediate phenotypes and minor quantitative trait variation. The availability of an objective method to clearly distinguish the melting from the slow‐softening phenotypes paves the road to phenotype segregating progenies in order to find molecular markers associated to the slow‐softening trait.Practical applicationsThe TD index could be considered to determine different textures in fleshy fruits in preharvest and postharvest, to support evaluation of quality for the intended use.