bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vaginal health of postmenopausal women on nutraceutical containing equol
Authors: Caruso Salvatore , Cianci Stefano , Fava Valentina , Rapisarda Agnese M. C. , Cutello Silvia , Cianci Antonio 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Objective:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of nutraceuticals containing equol on vaginal health of postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal symptoms and dyspareunia.

Methods:
One hundred twenty-six natural postmenopausal women on +1b +1c (2 and 3-6 y after the final menstrual period, respectively) of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop were enrolled in a nonrandomized trial. Of these, 72 women accepted to use nutraceutical (group A). The remaining 54 women refused the treatment and participated as the control group (group B). Group A was prescribed one tablet daily to take orally, for 8 months. All assessments were made at baseline and at 4 and 8 months. Determination of vaginal maturation index (VMI), evaluation of vaginal pH, and assessment of vaginal atrophy symptoms by the vaginal health index (VHI) were carried out. Dyspareunia score was also measured.

Results:
Group A had a significant increase in VMI (68 ± 5 vs 58 ± 8) and improvement of vaginal pH (4.1 ± 1.3 vs 5.1 ± 1.7) compared with baseline, mainly after 8 months of treatment (P < 0.001). Group A had an improvement of VHI after 4 (13 ± 3, P < 0.01) and 8 (16 ± 2, P < 0.001) months of nutraceutical intake. Dyspareunia reduced after 8 months (5.1 ± 1.3 vs 3.8 ± 1.2, P < 0.001) but not after 4 months (4.7 ± 1.1, P = 0.06) of treatment. Group B showed no changes from baseline evaluation (P = 0.22).

Conclusions:
Nutraceuticals containing equol could be effective in modulating postmenopausal symptoms, particularly vaginal symptoms, and could be well accepted by the women who usually do not wish to use hormone therapy or cannot use it for medical reasons.
Prevalence of Hearing Loss and Hearing Care Use Among Asian Americans: A Nationally Representative Sample
Authors: Choi Janet S. , Kari Elina , Friedman Rick A. , Fisher Laurel M. 
Published: January 2018

Objective:
To assess the prevalence of hearing loss and factors affecting hearing care use among Asian Americans, using the first nationally representative sample of Asian Americans.

Study Design:
National cross-sectional survey.

Setting:
Ambulatory examination centers.

Patients:
Three thousand six hundred twelve adults (522 Asian American) aged 20 to 69 in the 2011 to 2012 National Health and Examination Survey with pure-tone audiometry.

Main Outcome Measure(s):
Percentage with hearing loss, undertaking a hearing test before the study, and hearing aid use. Hearing loss was defined as better hearing ear speech frequency pure-tone average ≥25 dBHL. Analyses incorporated sampling weights to account for complex sampling design.

Results:
The prevalence of hearing loss was 6.0% [95% CI 3.1–8.9%] among Asian Americans, comparable to White, Black, and Hispanic groups, and increased substantially with age (OR: 2.25 [95% CI: 1.6–3.2]). After adjusting for age and pure-tone average, Asian Americans with hearing loss were less likely to have received a hearing test compared with White (OR: 0.27 [95% CI: 0.20–0.36, p = <0.001]) and Black groups (OR: 0.26 [95% CI: 0.16–0.38, p<0.001]), less likely to use hearing aids compared with Whites (OR: 0.06 [95% CI: 0.01–0.64], p = 0.02), and less likely to self-report poor hearing compared with Whites (OR: 0.30 [95% CI: 0.10–0.90], p = 0.03). Among Asian Americans, using more non-English than English, being foreign-born, less education, being married, and not having insurance were associated with lower levels of receiving a hearing test.

Conclusion:
The nationally representative sample of Asian Americans with hearing data suggests that hearing loss prevalence is similar to other races/ethnicities. However, hearing aid adoption by Asian Americans tends to be less frequent.
The Application of Sigmoid Sinus Tunnel-packing or Push-packing of the Inferior Petrous Sinus in the Microsurgical Management of Jugular Paragangliomas
Authors: Jang Mi , Liu Hongyan , Dai Chunfu 
Published: January 2018

Objective:
To analyze the outcomes of microsurgically treated jugular paragangliomas with control of bleeding from the inferior petrous sinus.

Study Design:
Retrospective patient review.

Setting:
A single university hospital.

Patients:
Forty-three patients with jugular paragangliomas were diagnosed in the past 7 years in our clinic.

Main Outcome Measures:
Surgical tumor control, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative management of the facial nerve, and the preoperative and postoperative function of the lower central nerves.

Results:
Twenty-six patients underwent microsurgical treatment. Eighteen tumors were class C2 (69.2%), six were class C3 (23.1%), and two were class CDe1 (7.7%). Gross total tumor resection was achieved in 92.3% of the patients. The mean blood loss during surgery was 438.5 ml. The recurrence rate was 3.8% over a mean follow-up of 29.2 months. New facial palsy and lower cranial nerve deficit occurred in 42.3 and 11.5% of the patients, respectively.

Conclusion:
The infratemporal fossa approach type A with sigmoid sinus tunnel-packing or push-packing technique facilitated the control of bleeding from the inferior petrous sinus and improved the outcomes of microsurgical treatment for jugular paragangliomas.
A compromised gsdf signaling leads to gamatogenesis confusion and subfertility in medaka
Authors: Guan Guijun , Xu Shumei , Guo Anning , Zhao Xiaomiao , Zhang Yingqing , Sun Kaiqing , Kang Yi , Chang Yuyang , Wu Xiaowen , Chen Liangbiao 
Published: January 2018

Summary statementGsdf signals trigger the gamatogenesis, alter the somatic expression of Fsh/Lh receptors and brain type aromatase in medaka brain and gonad.AbstractGonadal soma-derived factor (gsdf) and anti-Mullerian hormone (amh) are somatic male determinants in several species of teleosts, although the mechanisms by which they trigger the indifferent germ cells into the male pathway remain unknown. This study aimed to decipher the roles of gsdf/amh in directing the sexual fate of germ cells using medaka as a model. Transgenic lines (TgcryG) that restrictively and persistently express a Gsdf-Gfp fusion protein in the lens and the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis, were generated under the control of a mouse γF-crystallin promoter. A high frequency (44.4%) of XX male sex reversals was obtained in TgcryG lines, indicating that signals of gsdf-expressing cells in HPG were enough for the spermatogenesis activation in the genetic females. Furthermore, all TgcryG XY individuals with endogenous gsdf depletion (named Sissy) displayed intersex (100%) with enlarged ovotestis in contrast to a giant ovary developed in XY gsdf deficiency. The heterogeneous expression of gsdf led to the confusion of gamatogenesis and ovotestis development, similar to some hotei (amhr2) mutants, suggests that the signaling balance of gsdf/amh is essential for proper gamatogenesis, maintaining sex steroid production and gonadotropin secretion, which are evolutionarily conserved across phyla.
Molecular phylogeny ofOdontosyllis(Annelida, Syllidae): A recent and rapid radiation of marine bioluminescent worms
Authors: Verdes Aida , Alvarez-Campos Patricia , Nygren Arne , Martin Guillermo San , Rouse Greg , Deheyn Dimitri D. , Gruber David F. , Holford Mande 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMarine worms of the genusOdontosyllis(Syllidae, Annelida) are well known for their spectacular bioluminescent courtship rituals. During the reproductive period, the benthic marine worms leave the ocean floor and swim to the surface to spawn, using bioluminescent light for mate attraction. The behavioral aspects of the courtship ritual have been extensively investigated, but little is known about the origin and evolution of light production inOdontosyllis, which might in fact be a key factor shaping the natural history of the group, as bioluminescent courtship might promote speciation. To investigate the speciation patterns and evolutionary history ofOdontosyllisand to trace the origin of bioluminescence within the group, we inferred phylogenies using both gene concatenation and multispecies coalescent species-tree approaches with a multilocus molecular dataset (18SrRNA, 16SrRNAand COI). We also used this dataset to estimate divergence times and diversification rates in a relaxed molecular clock Bayesian framework. Our results suggest thatOdontosyllishas undergone a recent rapid radiation, possibly triggered by the origin of bioluminescent courtship, which might have increased speciation rates and lineage divergence through sexual selection. Additionally, our analyses reveal that the genusOdontosyllisas currently delineated is a paraphyletic group that needs to be reorganized to reflect evolutionary relationships.
Evaluation of gene-based family-based methods to detect novel genes associated with familial late onset Alzheimer disease
Authors: Fernández Maria Victoria , Budde John , Del-Aguila Jorge , Ibañez Laura , Deming Yuetiva , Harari Oscar , Norton Joanne , Morris John C , Goate Alison ,   NIA-LOAD family study group,   NCRAD, Cruchaga Carlos 
Published: January 2018

AbstractGene-based tests to study the combined effect of rare variants towards a particular phenotype have been widely developed for case-control studies, but their evolution and adaptation for family-based studies, especially for complex incomplete families, has been slower. In this study, we have performed a practical examination of all the latest gene-based methods available for family-based study designs using both simulated and real datasets. We have examined the performance of several collapsing, variance-component and transmission disequilibrium tests across eight different software and twenty-two models utilizing a cohort of 285 families (N=1,235) with late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD). After a thorough examination of each of these tests, we propose a methodological approach to identify, with high confidence, genes associated with the studied phenotype with high confidence and we provide recommendations to select the best software and model for family-based gene-based analyses. Additionally, in our dataset, we identified PTK2B, a GWAS candidate gene for sporadic AD, along with six novel genes (CHRD, CLCN2, HDLBP, CPAMD8, NLRP9, MAS1L) as candidates genes for familial LOAD.
The chick caudo-lateral epiblast acts as a permissive niche for generating neuromesodermal progenitor behaviours
Authors: Baillie-Johnson Peter , Voiculescu Octavian , Hayward Penny , Steventon Benjamin 
Published: January 2018

AbstractNeuromesodermal progenitors (NMps) are a population of bipotent progenitors that maintain competence to generate both spinal cord and paraxial mesoderm throughout the elongation of the posterior body axis. Recent studies have generated populations of NMp-like cells in culture and have been shown to differentiate to both neural and mesodermal cell fates when transplanted into either mouse or chick embryos. Here, we aim to compare the potential of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived progenitor populations to generate NMp behavior against both undifferentiated and differentiated populations. We define NMp behaviour as the ability of cells to i) contribute to a significant proportion of the anterior-posterior body axis, ii) enter into both posterior neural and somitic compartments and, iii) retain a proportion of the progenitor population within the posterior growth zone. We compare previously identified ES cell-derived NMp-like populations to undifferentiated mouse ES cells and find that they all display similar potentials to generate NMp behaviourin vivo. To assess whether this competence is lost upon further differentiation, we generated anterior and posterior embryonic cell types through the generation of 3D gastruloids and show that NMp competence is lost within the anterior (Brachyury negative) portion of the gastruloid. Taken together, this demonstrates that the chick caudo-lateral epiblast is a highly permissive environment for testing NMp competence and is therefore not suitable as a positive test of neuromesodermal progenitor identity(ie. specification). However, it does act as an appropriate system to test for the loss of NMp potential, and therefore offers insight as a functional test for the regulation of NMp competencein vivo.
Malaria during pregnancy and newborns outcome in an unstable transmission area in Brazil: a population-based record linkage study
Authors: Dombrowski Jamille Gregório , de Souza Rodrigo Medeiros , Mendes Silva Natércia Regina , Barateiro André , Epiphanio Sabrina , Gonçalves Lígia Antunes , Farias Marinho Cláudio Romero 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTBackgroundMalaria during pregnancy is one of the major causes of mortality in tropical regions, causing maternal anemia, intrauterine growth retardation, preterm birth, and low birth weight (LBW). The integration of the information systems is crucial to assess the dimension of gestational malaria in a wide and useful way, to improve decision making and maternal-child health.Methods and FindingsAn observational population-based study acquired information retrospectively from all live births that occurred between 2006 and 2014 in Cruzeiro do Sul (Acre, Brazil). Social and clinical data of the mother and newborn was extracted from the Information System of Live Births. Malaria episodes information was obtained from the Brazilian Epidemiological Surveillance Information System Malaria. A deterministic record linkage was performed to assess malaria impact on pregnancy. The studied population presented a malaria incidence of 8.9%, of which 63.9% infected byPlasmodium (P.) vivax.Reduction of newborns birth weight at term (small for gestational age (SGA) and LBW) has been found associated withP. vivaxinfection during pregnancy (SGA - OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02-1.52, p=0.035; term LBW - OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.03-1.88, p=0.033). Additionally,P. falciparuminfection during pregnancy has been found to be associated with preterm births (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.09-2.18, p=0.016), which is related with late preterm births (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.11-2.27, p=0.011).ConclusionsDespite the decrease of malaria cases during the evaluated period, we present evidence of the deleterious effects of gestational malaria in a low transmission area in the Amazonian region. Regardless ofPlasmodiumspecies, malaria during pregnancy poses a risk for newborns birth weight reduction, highlighting the impact thatP. vivaxhas on the fetus.FundingSão Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP/Brazil.
Deep Learning Based Proarrhythmia Analysis Using Field Potentials Recorded from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Golgooni Zeinab , Mirsadeghi Sara , Baghshah Mahdieh Soleymani , Ataee Pedram , Baharvand Hossein , Pahlavan Sara , Rabiee Hamid R. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAimAn early characterization of drug-induced cardiotoxicity may be possible by combining comprehensive in vitro pro-arrhythmia assay and deep learning techniques. The goal of this study was to develop a deep learning method to automatically detect irregular beating rhythm as well as abnormal waveforms of field potentials in an in vitro cardiotoxicity assay using human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) derived cardiomyocytes and multi-electrode array (MEA) system.Methods and ResultsWe included field potential waveforms from 380 experiments which obtained by application of some cardioactive drugs on healthy and/or patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM). We employed convolutional and recurrent neural networks, in order to develop a new method for automatic classification of field potential recordings without using any hand-engineered features. In the proposed method, a preparation phase was initially applied to split 60-second long recordings into a series of 5-second long windows. Thereafter, the classification phase comprising of two main steps was designed. In the first step, 5-second long windows were classified using a designated convolutional neural network (CNN). In the second step, the results of 5-second long window assessments were used as the input sequence to a recurrent neural network (RNN). The output was then compared to electrophysiologist-level arrhythmia (irregularity or abnormal waveforms) detection, resulting in 0.84 accuracy, 0.84 sensitivity, 0.85 specificity, and 0.88 precision.ConclusionA novel deep learning approach based on a two-step CNN-RNN method can be used for automated analysis of “irregularity or abnormal waveforms” in an in vitro model of cardiotoxicity experiments.
Fidaxomicin jamsM. tuberculosisRNA polymerase motions needed for initiation via RbpA contacts
Authors: Boyaci Hande , Chen James , Lilic Mirjana , Palka Margaret , Mooney Rachel Anne , Landick Robert , Darst Seth A. , Campbell Elizabeth A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractFidaxomicin (Fdx) is an antimicrobial RNA polymerase (RNAP) inhibitor highly effective againstMycobacterium tuberculosisRNAPin vitro, but clinical use of Fdx is limited to treatingClostridium difficileintestinal infections due to poor absorption. To enable structure-guided optimization of Fdx to treat tuberculosis, we report the 3.4 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure of a completeM. tuberculosisRNAP holoenzyme in complex with Fdx. We find that the actinobacteria general transcription factor RbpA contacts fidaxomycin and explains its strong effect onM. tuberculosis. We present additional structures that define conformational states ofM. tuberculosisRNAP between the free apo-holenzyme and the promoter-engaged open complex ready for transcription. The results establish that Fdx acts like a doorstop to jam the enzyme in an open state, preventing the motions necessary to secure promoter DNA in the active site. Our results provide a structural platform to guide development of anti-tuberculosis antimicrobials based on Fdx.
Neural substrates of navigational decision-making inDrosophilalarva anemotaxis
Authors: Jovanic Tihana , Truman James W. , Gershow Marc , Zlatic Marta 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSmall animals use sensory information to navigate their environment in order to reach more favorable conditions. in gradients of light, temperature, odors and CO2,Drosophilalarvae alternate periods of runs and turns, regulating the frequency size and direction of turns, to move in a favorable direction. Whether larvae use the same strategies when navigating in response to somatosensory input is unknown. Further, while many of the sensory neurons that mediate navigation behaviors have been described, where and how these navigational strategies are implemented in the central nervous system and controlled by neuronal circuit elements is not well known. Here we characterize for the first time the navigational strategies of Drosophila larvae in gradients of air-current speeds using high-throughput behavioral assays and quantitative behavioral analysis. We find that larvae extend runs towards favorable directions and shorten runs in unfavorable directions, and that larvae regulate both the direction and amplitudes of turns. These results suggest similar central decision-making mechanisms underlie navigation behaviors in somatosensory and other sensory modalities. By silencing the activity of individual neurons and very sparse expression patterns (2 or 3 neuron types), we further identify the sensory neurons and circuit elements in the ventral nerve cord and brain of the larva required for navigational decisions during anemotaxis. The phenotypes of these central neurons are consistent with a mechanism where the increase of the turning rate in unfavorable conditions and decrease in turning rate in favorable conditions are independently controlled. In addition, we find phenotypes that suggest that the decisions of whether and which way to turn are controlled independently. Our study reveals that different neuronal modules in the nerve cord and brain mediate different aspects of navigational decision making. The neurons identified in our screen provide a basis for future detailed mechanistic understanding of the circuit principles of navigational decisionmaking.
Agricultural Pollution Risks Influence Microbial Ecology in Honghu Lake
Authors: Han Maozhen , Dsouza Melissa , Zhou Chunyu , Li Hongjun , Zhang Junqian , Chen Chaoyun , Yao Qi , Zhong Chaofang , Zhou Hao , Gilbert Jack A , Wang Zhi , Ning Kang 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackgroundAgricultural activities, such as stock-farming, planting industry, and fish aquaculture, can influence the physicochemistry and biology of freshwater lakes. However, the extent to which these agricultural activities, especially those that result in eutrophication and antibiotic pollution, effect water and sediment-associated microbial ecology, remains unclear.MethodsWe performed a geospatial analysis of water and sediment associated microbial community structure, as well as physicochemical parameters and antibiotic pollution, across 18 sites in Honghu lake, which range from impacted to less-impacted by agricultural pollution. Furthermore, the co-occurrence network of water and sediment were built and compared accorded to the agricultural activities.ResultsPhysicochemical properties including TN, TP, NO3--N, and NO2--N were correlated with microbial compositional differences in water samples. Likewise, in sediment samples, Sed-OM and Sed-TN correlated with microbial diversity. Oxytetracycline and tetracycline concentration described the majority of the variance in taxonomic and predicted functional diversity between impacted and less-impacted sites in water and sediment samples, respectively. Finally, the structure of microbial co-associations was influenced by the eutrophication and antibiotic pollution.ConclusionThese analyses of the composition and structure of water and sediment microbial communities in anthropologically-impacted lakes are imperative for effective environmental pollution monitoring. Likewise, the exploration of the associations between environmental variables (e.g. physicochemical properties, and antibiotics) and community structure is important in the assessment of lake water quality and its ability to sustain agriculture. These results show agricultural practices can negatively influence not only the physicochemical properties, but also the biodiversity of microbial communities associated with the Honghu lake ecosystem. And these results provide compelling evidence that the microbial community can be used as a sentinel of eutrophication and antibiotics pollution risk associated with agricultural activity; and that proper monitoring of this environment is vital to maintain a sustainable environment in Honghu lake.