bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CT-guided versus laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation in recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma against the diaphragmatic dome
Authors: Ding Huaiyin , Su Mu , Zhu Chuandong , Wang Lixue , Zheng Qin , Wan Yuan 
Published: March 2017

AbstractComputed tomography-guided radiofrequency ablation (CT-RFA) and laparoscopic RFA (L-RFA) have been used to treat intrahepatic recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) against the diaphragmatic dome. However, the therapeutic safety, efficacy, and hospital fee have never been compared between the two techniques due to scarcity of cases. In this retrospective study, 116 patients were divided into two groups with a total of 151 local recurrent HCC lesions abutting the diaphragm. We compared overall survival (OS), local tumor progression (LTP), postoperative complications, and hospital stay and fee between the two groups. Our findings revealed no significant differences in 5-year OS (36.7% vs. 44.6%, p = 0.4289) or 5-year LTP (73.3% vs. 67.9%, p = 0.8897) between CT-RFA and L-RFA. The overall hospital stay (2.8 days vs. 4.1 days, p < 0.0001) and cost (¥ 19217.6 vs. ¥ 25553.6, p < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the CT-RFA in comparison to that of L-RFA. In addition, we elaborated on the choice of percutaneous puncture paths depending on the locations of the HCC nodules and 11-year experience with CT-RFA. In conclusion, CT-RFA is a relatively easy and economic technique for recurrent small HCC abutting the diaphragm, and both CT-RFA and L-RFA are effective techniques.
Exercise rescues obese mothers’ insulin sensitivity, placental hypoxia and male offspring insulin sensitivity
Authors: Fernandez-Twinn Denise S. , Gascoin Geraldine , Musial Barbara , Carr Sarah , Duque-Guimaraes Daniella , Blackmore Heather L. , Alfaradhi Maria Z. , Loche Elena , Sferruzzi-Perri Amanda N. , Fowden Abigail L. , Ozanne Susan E. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe prevalence of obesity during pregnancy continues to increase at alarming rates. This is concerning as in addition to immediate impacts on maternal wellbeing, obesity during pregnancy has detrimental effects on the long-term health of the offspring through non-genetic mechanisms. A major knowledge gap limiting our capacity to develop intervention strategies is the lack of understanding of the factors in the obese mother that mediate these epigenetic effects on the offspring. We used a mouse model of maternal-diet induced obesity to define predictive correlations between maternal factors and offspring insulin resistance. Maternal hyperinsulinemia (independent of maternal body weight and composition) strongly associated with offspring insulin resistance. To test causality, we implemented an exercise intervention that improved maternal insulin sensitivity without changing maternal body weight or composition. This maternal intervention prevented excess placental lipid deposition and hypoxia (independent of sex) and insulin resistance in male offspring. We conclude that hyperinsulinemia is a key programming factor and therefore an important interventional target during obese pregnancy, and propose moderate exercise as a promising strategy to improve metabolic outcome in both the obese mother and her offspring.
Abnormal white matter structural connectivity in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Gan J , Zhong M , Fan J , Liu W , Niu C , Cai S , Zou L , Wang Ya , Wang Yi , Tan C , Chan R C K , Zhu X 
Published: March 2017

AbstractObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex and severe psychiatric disorder whose pathogenesis is not fully understood. Recent studies have shown white matter (WM) alterations in adults with OCD, but the results have been inconsistent. The present study investigated WM structure in OCD patients with the hypothesis that large-scale brain networks may be disrupted in OCD. A total of 24 patients with OCD and 23 healthy controls (HCs) were scanned with diffusion tensor imaging. A tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) approach was used to detect differences across the whole brain in patients with OCD vs HCs; post hoc fiber tractography was applied to characterize developmental differences between the two groups. Relative to HCs, patients with OCD had lower fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the corpus callosum (CC), left anterior corona radiata (ACR), left superior corona radiata (SCR) and left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), and higher radial diffusivity in the genu and body of CC. Among the TBSS de-projected region of interest results, compared with HCs, patients with OCD showed lower of the mean FA values of fiber bundles passing though the SLF, and shorter lengths of ACR, SCR and CC. In conclusion, this study provides novel evidence of widespread microstructural alterations in OCD and suggests that OCD may involve abnormalities affecting a broader network of regions than commonly believed.
Down-regulation of miR-15a/b accelerates fibrotic remodelling in the Type 2 diabetic human and mouse heart
Authors: Rawal Shruti , Munasinghe Pujika Emani , Nagesh Prashanth Thevkar , Lew Jason Kar Sheng , Jones Gregory T. , Williams Michael J.A. , Davis Philip , Bunton Dick , Galvin Ivor F. , Manning Patrick , Lamberts Regis R. , Katare Rajesh 
Published: March 2017

Aim: Myocardial fibrosis is a well-established cause of increased myocardial stiffness and subsequent diastolic dysfunction in the diabetic heart. The molecular regulators that drive the process of fibrotic events in the diabetic heart are still unknown. We determined the role of the microRNA (miR)-15 family in fibrotic remodelling of the diabetic heart.
Methods and results: Right atrial appendage (RAA) and left ventricular (LV) biopsy tissues collected from diabetic and non-diabetic (ND) patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery showed significant down-regulation of miR-15a and -15b. This was associated with marked up-regulation of pro-fibrotic transforming growth factor-β receptor-1 (TGFβR1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), direct targets for miR-15a/b and pro-senescence p53 protein. Interestingly, down-regulation of miR-15a/b preceded the development of diastolic dysfunction and fibrosis in Type 2 diabetic mouse heart. Therapeutic restoration of miR-15a and -15b in HL-1 cardiomyocytes reduced the activation of pro-fibrotic TGFβR1 and CTGF, and the pro-senescence p53 protein expression, confirming a causal regulation of these fibrotic and senescence mediators by miR-15a/b. Moreover, conditioned medium (CM) collected from cardiomyocytes treated with miR-15a/b markedly diminished the differentiation of diabetic human cardiac fibroblasts.
Conclusion: Our results provide first evidence that early down-regulation of miR-15a/b activates fibrotic signalling in diabetic heart, and hence could be a potential target for the treatment/prevention of diabetes-induced fibrotic remodelling of the heart.
Sympathetic nervous activity in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a comparative study of inflammatory biomarkers
Authors: Moreira Humberto G. , Lage Rony L. , Martinez Daniel G. , Ferreira-Santos Larissa , Rondon Maria U.P.B. , Negrão Carlos E. , Nicolau José C. 
Published: March 2017

Previous studies have shown that both sympathetic hyperactivity and enhanced inflammatory responses are associated with poor outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Whether there is a correlation between these two characteristics remains unclear. Thirty-four patients with uncomplicated ACS were evaluated; their mean age was 51.7±7.0 years, 79.4% were male, and 94.1% had myocardial infarction (MI). On the fourth day of hospitalization, they underwent muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) analysis (microneurography), as well as ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (usCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity measurements. These evaluations were repeated at 1, 3, and 6 months after hospitalization. Both MSNA and inflammatory biomarkers were elevated during the acute phase of ACS and then decreased over time. At hospitalization, the median usCRP level was 17.75 (IQR 8.57; 40.15) mg/l, the median IL-6 level was 6.65 (IQR 4.45; 8.20), the mean Lp-PLA2 activity level was 185.8 ±52.2 nmol/min per ml, and mean MSNA was 64.2±19.3 bursts/100 heart beats. All of these variables decreased significantly over 6 months compared with the in-hospital levels. MSNA was independently associated with the peak level of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CKMB) in the acute phase (P=0.027) and with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 6 months (P=0.026). Despite the increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers and sympathetic hyperactivity in the initial phase of ACS, no significant correlations between them were observed in any of the analyzed phases. Our data suggest that although both sympathetic hyperactivity and inflammation are concomitantly present during the early phase of ACS, these characteristics manifest via distinct pathological pathways.
Motor Speech Phenotypes of Frontotemporal Dementia, Primary Progressive Aphasia, and Progressive Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Poole Matthew L. , Brodtmann Amy , Darby David , Vogel Adam P. 
Published: March 2017

Purpose
Our purpose was to create a comprehensive review of speech impairment in frontotemporal dementia (FTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), and progressive apraxia of speech in order to identify the most effective measures for diagnosis and monitoring, and to elucidate associations between speech and neuroimaging.

Method
Speech and neuroimaging data described in studies of FTD and PPA were systematically reviewed. A meta-analysis was conducted for speech measures that were used consistently in multiple studies.

Results
The methods and nomenclature used to describe speech in these disorders varied between studies. Our meta-analysis identified 3 speech measures which differentiate variants or healthy control-group participants (e.g., nonfluent and logopenic variants of PPA from all other groups, behavioral-variant FTD from a control group). Deficits within the frontal-lobe speech networks are linked to motor speech profiles of the nonfluent variant of PPA and progressive apraxia of speech. Motor speech impairment is rarely reported in semantic and logopenic variants of PPA. Limited data are available on motor speech impairment in the behavioral variant of FTD.

Conclusions
Our review identified several measures of speech which may assist with diagnosis and classification, and consolidated the brain–behavior associations relating to speech in FTD, PPA, and progressive apraxia of speech.
The 30 cm radio flux as a solar proxy for thermosphere density modelling
Authors: Dudok de Wit Thierry , Bruinsma Sean 
Published: March 2017

The 10.7 cm radio flux (F10.7) is widely used as a proxy for solar UV forcing of the upper atmosphere. However, radio emissions at other centimetric wavelengths have been routinely monitored since the 1950 s, thereby offering prospects for building proxies that may be better tailored to space weather needs. Here we advocate the 30 cm flux (F30) as a proxy that is more sensitive than F10.7 to longer wavelengths in the UV and show that it improves the response of the thermospheric density to solar forcing, as modelled with DTM (Drag Temperature Model). In particular, the model bias drops on average by 0–20% when replacing F10.7 by F30; it is also more stable (the standard deviation of the bias is 15–40% smaller) and the density variation at the the solar rotation period is reproduced with a 35–50% smaller error. We compare F30 to other solar proxies and discuss its assets and limitations.
Ectopic Pituitary Adenoma: Case Report with Review of Literature
Authors: Nair Satish , Ramalingam W. , Bharadwaj Reena , Malik Akshat , Prasad Rachana 
Published: March 2017

AbstractEctopic pituitary adenoma (EPA) is a rare presentation first described by Erdheim. Most of the EPAs described in literature occur in the sphenoid sinus or suprasellar region. We describe a case of an EPA originating from the choana presenting as a case of nasal mass along with detailed literature review.
Highly Variable Femoral Morphology in Osteoarthritic Chinese: Are Prostheses Today Sufficiently Suitable?
Authors: Zhang Yunjie , Wang Xiaofeng , Wu Zongming , Xia Qing , Shao Yunchao 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe aimed to retrospectively investigate the morphology of the resected surfaces of femurs in Chinese patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to assess the suitability of contemporary femoral components. Measurements on three-dimensional reconstruction after virtual bone cutting were performed on 142 knees from Chinese TKA candidates. The anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) dimensions, aspect ratio (ML/AP), and posterior condylar angle (PCA) were measured in the axial plane; the height and length of medial and lateral anterior condyles and the maximal width of the anterior condyles were measured in the frontal plane. Femurs were matched to the prosthesis with the closest AP size. The ML dimensions of femurs were compared with the ML dimensions of the prosthesis. The AP and ML dimensions were significantly larger in male knees (p < 0.01), whereas the difference of aspect ratios was not found to be significantly different between genders (p = 0.26). Both medial and lateral heights of the anterior condyles were significantly higher in men after normalization by AP (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The mean PCA averaged 3.8 degrees for Chinese subjects. The overall prevalence of clinically significant overhang was 6.4% in males and 4.8% in females. The design of femoral prosthesis with alternative ML dimensions of the femoral component is a solution to sufficiently avoid overhang while retaining ideal coverage when dealing with a high variation. Chinese men had higher anterior condyles than women after normalization by AP dimension. The mean PCA was 3.8 degrees for all patients with high variability.
Toward quantifying soft power: the impact of the proliferation of information technology on governance in the Middle East
Authors: Anguelov Nikolay , Kaschel Tiffany 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis study examines how information technology and mass communication outlets have been employed as soft power platforms in the Middle East in the aftermath of 9/11/2001. The focus is on Internet access and mobile phone subscriptions to see how their proliferation has impacted government effectiveness and political stability in MENA nations from 2004 to 2014. The analysis is centred in the context of increased American investment in soft power programs in the region with the goal of reducing instability and anti-Western sentiments. We examine the nature of such investment in relation to information technology dependence. Understanding that the necessary technology is a product of Western-centric multinationals, we study the interplay between imports, foreign aid and foreign direct investment (FDI), as direct metrics of foreign capital intensity and our explanatory variables—Internet and mobile technology usage rates. The results suggest that information technology platforms contribute to improved governance, while foreign aid has a negative impact. We further examine if increased government effectiveness and stability attracted FDI, as a representation for a positive outcome of improved governance, and find that such governmental efficacy was a successful predictor of foreign direct investment growth, while political stability was not. This article is published as part of a collection on soft power.
Pacific North American circulation pattern links external forcing and North American hydroclimatic change over the past millennium
Authors: Liu Zhongfang , Tang Yanlin , Jian Zhimin , Poulsen Christopher J. , Welker Jeffrey M. , Bowen Gabriel J. 
Published: March 2017

Significance
We have developed a new reconstruction of changes in the wintertime atmospheric circulation over North America based on data distributed across the region. The record spans almost 1,000 years and shows how variation in ocean temperatures, solar energy, volcanic eruptions, and greenhouse gases has affected circulation over this period. We show that the circulation pattern is strongly correlated with fluctuating drought conditions in the western United States. Climate models do a poor job of simulating the reconstructed record of circulation change, and thus may have difficulty predicting future patterns of drought influenced by changing winter storm tracks across this region.
New Middle Pleistocene hominin cranium from Gruta da Aroeira (Portugal)
Authors: Daura Joan , Sanz Montserrat , Arsuaga Juan Luis , Hoffmann Dirk L. , Quam Rolf M. , Ortega María Cruz , Santos Elena , Gómez Sandra , Rubio Angel , Villaescusa Lucía , Souto Pedro , Mauricio João , Rodrigues Filipa , Ferreira Artur , Godinho Paulo , Trinkaus Erik , Zilhão João 
Published: March 2017

Significance
We describe a recently discovered cranium from the Aroeira cave in Portugal dated to around 400 ka. This specimen is the westernmost Middle Pleistocene cranium of Europe and is one of the earliest fossils from this region associated with Acheulean tools. Unlike most other Middle Pleistocene finds, which are of uncertain chronology, the Aroeira 3 cranium is firmly dated to around 400 ka and was in direct association with abundant faunal remains and stone tools. In addition, the presence of burnt bones suggests a controlled use of fire. The Aroeira cranium represents a substantial contribution to the debate on the origin of the Neandertals and the pattern of human evolution in the Middle Pleistocene of Europe.
Effect of material flexibility on the thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrophobically induced evaporation of water
Authors: Altabet Y. Elia , Haji-Akbari Amir , Debenedetti Pablo G. 
Published: March 2017

Significance
The evaporation of water in hydrophobic confinement is important for the formation and function of both natural and synthetic hydrophobic self-assemblies. Using advanced computational techniques, we find that the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of water in hydrophobic confinement is extremely sensitive to the flexibility of the confining material. In the context of engineered systems, this work suggests that the mechanical properties of the building blocks in a self-assembled system are a crucial design consideration. With respect to biophysical phenomena, it suggests that small changes in flexibility can induce switch-like responses such as the opening and closing of membrane channels and the conversion between active and inactive states in receptors, both of which are common drug targets.
Phosphorylation-induced conformational dynamics in an intrinsically disordered protein and potential role in phenotypic heterogeneity
Authors: Kulkarni Prakash , Jolly Mohit Kumar , Jia Dongya , Mooney Steven M. , Bhargava Ajay , Kagohara Luciane T. , Chen Yihong , Hao Pengyu , He Yanan , Veltri Robert W. , Grishaev Alexander , Weninger Keith , Levine Herbert , Orban John 
Published: March 2017

Significance
The onset of androgen resistance is a major impediment in treating prostate cancer (PCa). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we integrate multiple biophysical approaches that report conformational preferences of the intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) Prostate-Associated Gene 4 (PAGE4) with human cancer biology and nonlinear dynamics. Based on our biophysical, biochemical, and cellular data, a mathematical model is presented that suggests a mechanism by which phosphorylation-induced conformational changes in PAGE4 can switch from an androgen-dependent phenotype to an androgen-independent phenotype in PCa cells. The study underscores how IDPs that engage in multiple “promiscuous” interactions due to their conformational dynamics when overexpressed or aberrantly expressed can stochastically orchestrate phenotypic heterogeneity in PCa.
Phenopolis: an open platform for harmonization and analysis of genetic and phenotypic data
Authors: Pontikos Nikolas , Yu Jing , Moghul Ismail , Withington Lucy , Blanco-Kelly Fiona , Vulliamy Tom , Wong Tsz Lun Ernest , Murphy Cian , Cipriani Valentina , Fiorentino Alessia , Arno Gavin , Greene Daniel , Jacobsen Julius OB , Clark Tristan , Gregory David S , Nemeth Andrea M , Halford Stephanie , Inglehearn Chris F , Downes Susan , Black Graeme C , Webster Andrew R , Hardcastle Alison J ,   UKIRDC, Plagnol Vincent 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Summary
Phenopolis is an open-source web server providing an intuitive interface to genetic and phenotypic databases. It integrates analysis tools such as variant filtering and gene prioritization based on phenotype. The Phenopolis platform will accelerate clinical diagnosis, gene discovery and encourage wider adoption of the Human Phenotype Ontology in the study of rare genetic diseases.

Availability and Implementation
A demo of the website is available at https://phenopolis.github.io. If you wish to install a local copy, source code and installation instruction are available at https://github.com/phenopolis. The software is implemented using Python, MongoDB, HTML/Javascript and various bash shell scripts.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Prediction of sudden and non-sudden cardiac death in post-infarction patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction by periodic repolarization dynamics: MADIT-II substudy
Authors: Rizas Konstantinos D. , McNitt Scott , Hamm Wolfgang , Massberg Steffen , Kääb Stefan , Zareba Wojciech , Couderc Jean-Philippe , Bauer Axel 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Aims
To test the value of Periodic Repolarization Dynamics (PRD), a recently validated electrocardiographic marker of sympathetic activity, as a novel approach to predict sudden cardiac death (SCD) and non-sudden cardiac death (N-SCD) and to improve identification of patients that profit from ICD-implantation.

Methods and results
We included 856 post-infarction patients with left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤30% of the MADIT-II trial in sinus rhythm. Of these, 507 and 348 patients were randomized to ICD or conventional treatment. PRD was assessed from multipolar 10-min baseline ECGs. Primary and secondary endpoints were total mortality, SCD and N-SCD. Multivariable analyses included treatment group, QRS-duration, New York Heart Association classification, blood-urea nitrogen, diabetes mellitus, beta-blocker therapy and LVEF. During follow-up of 20.4 months, 119 patients died (53 SCD and 36 N-SCD). On multivariable analyses, increased PRD was a significant predictor of mortality (standardized coefficient 1.37[1.19–1.59]; P &lt; 0.001) and SCD (1.40 [1.13–1.75]; P = 0.003) but also predicted N-SCD (1.41[1.10–1.81]; P = 0.006). While increased PRD predicted SCD in conventionally treated patients (1.61[1.23–2.11]; P &lt; 0.001), it was predictive of N-SCD (1.63[1.28–2.09]; P &lt; 0.001) and adequate ICD-therapies (1.20[1.03–1.39]; P = 0.017) in ICD-treated patients. ICD-treatment substantially reduced mortality in the lowest three PRD-quartiles by 53% (P = 0.001). However, there was no effect in the highest PRD-quartile (mortality increase by 29%; P = 0.412; P &lt; 0.001 for difference) as the reduction of SCD was compensated by an increase of N-SCD.

Conclusion
In post-infarction patients with impaired LVEF, PRD is a significant predictor of SCD and N-SCD. Assessment of PRD is a promising tool to identify post-MI patients with reduced LVEF who might benefit from intensified treatment.