bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elevated Interleukin 1β and Interleukin 6 Levels in the Serum of Children With Hyperuricemia
Authors: Di Yazhen , Wang Jiapei , Chen Yuanling , Sun Nan , Wu Ling , Dai Xiahua , Shen Mengjiao , Ying Qianqian , Fu Shiwei 
Published: December 2017

Purposes
The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels and clinical significance of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in children with hyperuricemia (HUA).

Methods
We included 71 children with HUA and 71 children with no HUA as control subjects. Children with HUA were divided into groups I and II according to whether they had a history of acute gout-like attacks (including sudden monoarthritis of rapid onset with intense pain and swelling). Group I was examined twice (A, in the acute phase; B, in the remission phase). Serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results
Serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels were increased in children with HUA and were overall statistically different from the control group (P < 0.05, respectively). Serum IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly higher in group IA in comparison with group IB, group II, and control subjects (P < 0.05, respectively), as well as in groups IB and II compared with control subjects (P < 0.05, respectively). In group IB, the serum IL-1β and IL-6 concentrations were higher than those in group II, but there were no statistical differences (P > 0.05). In addition, in children with HUA, serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels were positively associated with white blood cell count, neutrophil count, monocyte count, uric acid levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine levels (all P < 0.05), but were not associated with triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion
IL-1β and IL-6 levels are increased in children with hyperuricemia, even if they have not had acute gout. Further studies are necessary to fully characterize the significance of IL-1β and IL-6 found in HUA children, and whether they could be correlated with long-term prognosis.
Racial Variation in Total Knee Replacement in a Diverse Nationwide Clinical Trial
Authors: MacFarlane Lindsey A. , Kim Eunjung , Cook Nancy R. , Lee I-Min , Iversen Maura D. , Katz Jeffrey N. , Costenbader Karen H. 
Published: December 2017

ObjectiveRacial variation in total knee replacement (TKR) utilization in the United States has been reported in administrative database studies. We investigated racial variation in TKR procedures in a diverse cohort with severe knee pain followed in an ongoing clinical trial.MethodsVITAL (VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL) is a nationwide, randomized controlled trial of 25,874 adults, 20% of whom are black. We identified a subgroup highly likely to have knee osteoarthritis based on severity of knee pain, physician-diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, and inability to walk 2 to 3 blocks without pain. Participants completed a modified Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at baseline and self-reported incident TKR annually in follow-up. Using Cox regression, we analyzed the association of black versus white race with TKR, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, comorbidities, and WOMAC pain and function.ResultsAmong 1070 participants who met the inclusion criteria, black participants reported worse baseline WOMAC pain (45 vs. 32,P< 0.001) and worse function (45 vs. 32,P< 0.001). During a median of 3.6 years (interquartile range, 3.2, 3.8 years) of follow-up, TKRs were reported by 180 participants. Black participants were less likely to undergo TKR (11% vs. 19%). After adjustment, the hazard ratio for TKR for black versus white participants was 0.51 (95% confidence interval, 0.32–0.81). Lower use of TKR among black participants was observed across all levels of income and education.ConclusionsDespite worse baseline knee pain and function, black participants had much lower adjusted risk of having TKR than white participants, demonstrating persistent racial disparity in TKR utilization.
Utility of Electronic Medical Records in Community Rheumatology Practice for Assessing Quality of Care Indicators for Gout
Authors: Estrada Augusto , Tsao Nicole W. , Howren Alyssa , Esdaile John M. , Shojania Kamran , De Vera Mary A. 
Published: December 2017

Objectives
With comprehensive capture of information on patient encounters, electronic medical records (EMRs) may have utility for assessing adherence to quality indicators (QIs) in gout. Our objectives were to translate 10 previously established gout QIs into relevant EMR data and evaluate and describe the feasibility of using EMRs to assess gout QIs.

Methods
Using EMRs from 3 community rheumatology practices in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, we identified gout patients seen between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013. We translated each gout QI into potential EMR variables that would allow identification of patients the QI pertains to and whether the QI could be assessed. We extracted deidentified EMR data on gout diagnosis, medications, laboratory tests, radiological tests, and clinical notes and calculated the percent availability of data for each QI.

Results
We included 125 patients with gout, with mean age of 64 ± 17 years and with males comprising 78%. Overall, there were sufficient EMR data to allow translation of 7 QIs and assessment of 6 QIs including therapy-related gout QIs (69%–83% data availability) and one counseling-related QI (8% data availability). The highest percent data availability was observed in the single QI translated into EMR data and assessed based on diagnostic codes and prescription medications and not laboratory tests.

Conclusions
Electronic medical records are promising tools for assessing QIs for gout. It was feasible to translate seven gout QIs into relevant EMR variables and there was sufficient EMR data to feasibly assess six of these QIs –Our findings lend evidence to support the utility of EMRs for ut QI assessment, with implications for helping improve management of this disease.
Vaccination Recommendations for Adults With Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases in Latin America
Authors: Brenol Claiton Viegas , Azevedo Valderilio Feijo , Bonvehi Pablo Eduardo , Coral-Alvarado Paola Ximena , Granados Julio , Muñoz-Louis Roberto , Pineda Carlos , Vizzotti Carla 
Published: December 2017

Background/Objective
Patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) are at increased risk of contracting severe infections and suffering complications, particularly when they are receiving immunomodulating therapy. Vaccination is an important means to prevent many potential infections and thereby reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with AIRD. The purpose of this consensus document is to provide health care professionals with recommendations for the vaccination of AIRD patients who reside in Latin America. The recommendations were developed by an expert committee from the region based on a review of the literature and their clinical experience.

Methods
The Americas Health Foundation (AHF) used PubMed and EMBASE to identify clinicians and scientists with an academic or hospital affiliation and who had published in the field of adult vaccination and rheumatic diseases since 2010. As a result of this effort, AHF convened an 8-member panel of clinical and scientific experts from Latin America. Both the AHF and panel members conducted a careful literature review to identify relevant publications in the areas of adult vaccination and rheumatology, and the sum of the articles identified was provided to the entire panel. Prior to the conference, panelists were each asked to prepare a written response to a salient issue on the subject, identified by AHF.

Results and Conclusions
During the conference, each response was edited by the entire group, through numerous drafts and rounds of discussion until a complete consensus on vaccination recommendations for adult patients with AIRDs was obtained, including 7 key recommendations.
Cost of Major Complications After Liver Resection in the United States
Authors: Idrees Jay J. , Johnston Fabian M. , Canner Joseph K. , Dillhoff Mary , Schmidt Carl , Haut Elliott R. , Pawlik Timothy M. 
Published: December 2017

Objective:
The aim of the study was to estimate the cost of major complications after liver resection and determine whether high-volume (HV) centers are cost-effective.

Methods:
From 2002 to 2011, 96,107 cases of liver resection performed in the United States were identified using Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Hospitals were categorized as HV (150+ cases/yr), medium-volume (51–149 cases/yr), and low-volume (LV) (1–50 cases/yr) centers. Multivariable regression analysis identified predictors of cost. Propensity score matching comparing cases with versus without complications and costs of specific complications were estimated. Cost-effectiveness of HV centers was determined by calculating the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

Results:
After propensity score matching, the occurrence of a major complication added $33,855 extra cost, increased mean length of stay by 8.7 [95% confidence interval (CI), 8.4–9] days and increased risk of death by 9.3% (all P < 0.001). The cost of most common complications was wound infection (3.8%, $21,995), renal failure (2.8%, $19,201), respiratory failure (2.7%, $25,169), and hemorrhage (3.3%, $9,180), whereas sepsis (0.8%, $33,009), gastrointestinal bleeding (0.5%, $32,835), fistula (0.2%, $27,079), and foreign body removal (0.1%, $29,404) were most costly, but less frequent. Compared with LV centers, liver resection at HV centers was associated with $5109 (95% CI, 4409–5809, P < 0.001) more cost per case, yet on average 0.54 years (95% CI, 0.23–0.86) longer survival for an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $9392.

Conclusions:
HV centers were cost-effective at performing liver resection compared with LV centers. After liver resection, complications such as surgical site infection, respiratory failure, and renal failure contributed the most to annual cost burden.
Development of a Formula to Correct Particle-Enhanced Turbidimetric Inhibition Immunoassay Values so That it More Precisely Reflects High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Values for Mycophenolic Acid
Authors: Nakano Keiichi , Iwami Daiki , Yamada Takehiro , Morita Ken , Yasuda Keiko , Shibuya Hitoshi , Kahata Kaoru , Shinohara Nobuo , Shimizu Chikara 
Published: December 2017

Background
Mycophenolic acid (MPA) concentration measured by homogeneous particle-enhanced turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay (PETINA) may be overestimated due to its cross-reactivity with pharmacologically inactive MPA glucuronide (MPAG), as well as other minor metabolites, accumulated with renal function impairment or co-administered cyclosporine A. In contrast, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is precise because it can exclude the cross-reactivity. In this study, we assumed HPLC values for MPA (HPLC-MPA) as a reference and aimed to develop a formula correcting PETINA values for MPA (PETINA-MPA) to more precisely reflect HPLC-MPA.

Methods
MPA trough concentrations were measured both by HPLC-UV and PETINA in 39 samples issued from 39 solid-organ transplant recipients. MPAG concentrations were also measured using HPLC UV assay. We determined the impacts of renal function and coadministered calcineurin inhibitor on concentrations of MPA and MPAG measured by HPLC. Then, we evaluated the difference between PETINA-MPA and HPLC-MPA. Finally, we develop a formula to reflect HPLC-MPA by using multilinear regression analysis.

Results
MPAG concentration was negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (R
2 = 0.376, P < 0.001), although MPA was not correlated with eGFR. There were no significant differences in MPA or MPAG concentrations per dose between the patients who were co-administered tacrolimus versus cyclosporine A. Finally, we developed the formulas to reflect HPLC-MPA:
Formula 1: Estimated MPA concentration = 0.048 + 0.798 × PETINA‐MPA
Formula 2: Estimated MPA concentration = − 0.059 + 0.800 × PETINA‐MPA + 0.002 × eGFR
However, there was no significant improvement in the coefficient of determination with addition of eGFR in the formula, suggesting that HPLC-MPA can be well predicted by only 1 variable, PETINA-MPA.

Conclusions
This study developed a formula so that PETINA-MPA can be corrected to more precisely reflect HPLC-MPA.
Metabolic retroconversion of trimethylamine N-oxide and the gut microbiota
Authors: Hoyles Lesley , Jiménez-Pranteda Maria L. , Chilloux Julien , Brial Francois , Myridakis Antonis , Aranias Thomas , Magnan Christophe , Gibson Glenn R. , Sanderson Jeremy D. , Nicholson Jeremy K. , Gauguier Dominique , McCartney Anne L. , Dumas Marc-Emmanuel 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDThe dietary methylamines choline, carnitine and phosphatidylcholine are used by the gut microbiota to produce a range of metabolites, including trimethylamine (TMA). However, little is known about the use of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) by this consortium of microbes.RESULTSA feeding study using deuterated TMAO in C57BL6/J mice demonstrated microbial conversion of TMAO to TMA, with uptake of TMA into the bloodstream and its conversion to TMAO. Microbial activity necessary to convert TMAO to TMA was suppressed in antibiotic-treated mice, with deuterated TMAO being taken up directly into the bloodstream. In batch-culture fermentation systems inoculated with human faeces, growth of Enterobacteriaceae was stimulated in the presence of TMAO. Human-derived faecal and caecal bacteria (n = 66 isolates) were screened on solid and liquid media for their ability to use TMAO, with metabolites in spent media analysed by 1H-NMR. As with the in vitro fermentation experiments, TMAO stimulated the growth of Enterobacteriaceae; these bacteria produced most TMA from TMAO. Caecal/small intestinal isolates of Escherichia coli produced more TMA from TMAO than their faecal counterparts. Lactic acid bacteria produced increased amounts of lactate when grown in the presence of TMAO, but did not produce large amounts of TMA. Clostridia (sensu stricto), bifidobacteria and coriobacteria were significantly correlated with TMA production in the mixed fermentation system but did not produce notable quantities of TMA from TMAO in pure culture.CONCLUSIONSReduction of TMAO by the gut microbiota (predominantly Enterobacteriaceae) to TMA followed by host uptake of TMA into the bloodstream from the intestine and its conversion back to TMAO by host hepatic enzymes is an example of metabolic retroconversion. TMAO influences microbial metabolism depending on isolation source and taxon of gut bacterium.Correlation of metabolomic and abundance data from mixed microbiota fermentation systems did not give a true picture of which members of the gut microbiota were responsible for converting TMAO to TMA; only by supplementing the study with pure culture work and additional metabolomics was it possible to increase our understanding of TMAO bioconversions by the human gut microbiota.
Sensory and decisional components of endogenous attention are dissociable
Authors: Banerjee Sanjna , Grover Shrey , Ganesh Suhas , Sridharan Devarajan 
Published: December 2017

AbstractEndogenous attention acts by enhancing sensory processing (perceptual sensitivity) and prioritizing gating of attended information for decisions (choice bias). It is unknown if the sensitivity and bias components of attention are under the control of common or distinct mechanisms. We tested human observers on a multialternative visuospatial attention task with probabilistic cues, whose predictive validity varied across locations. Analysis of behavior with a multidimensional signal detection model revealed striking dissociations between sensitivity and bias changes induced by cueing. While bias varied in a graded manner, reflecting cue validities, across locations, sensitivity varied in an ‘all-or-none’ fashion, being highest at the cued location. Cue-induced modulations of sensitivity and bias were uncorrelated within and across observers. Moreover, bias changes, rather than sensitivity changes, covaried robustly with key metrics of reaction times and optimal decision-making. Our results demonstrate that endogenous attention engages not a unitary process, but dissociable sensory and decisional processes.
The functional organization of descending sensory-motor pathways inDrosophila
Authors: Namiki Shigehiro , Dickinson Michael H. , Wong Allan M. , Korff Wyatt , Card Gwyneth M. 
Published: December 2017

SUMMARYIn most animals, the brain controls the body via a set of descending neurons (DNs) that traverse the neck and terminate in post-cranial regions of the nervous system. This critical neural population is thought to activate, maintain and modulate locomotion and other behaviors. Although individual members of this cell class have been well-studied across species ranging from insects to primates, little is known about the overall connectivity pattern of DNs as a population. We undertook a systematic anatomical investigation of descending neurons in the fruit fly,Drosophila melanogaster, and created a collection of over 100 transgenic lines targeting individual cell types. Our methods allowed us to describe the morphology of roughly half of an estimated 400 DNs and create a comprehensive map of connectivity between the sensory neuropils in the brain and the motor neuropils in the ventral nerve cord. Like the vertebrate spinal cord, our results show that the fly nerve cord is a highly organized, layered system of neuropils, an organization that reflects the fact that insects are capable of two largely independent means of locomotion – walking and fight – using distinct sets of appendages. Our results reveal the basic functional map of descending pathways in flies and provide tools for systematic interrogation of sensory-motor circuits.
A chemosensory switch couples genetic sex to behavioral valence
Authors: Fagan Kelli A. , Luo Jintao , Lagoy Ross C. , Schroeder Frank C. , Albrecht Dirk R. , Portman Douglas S. 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTAs a fundamental dimension of internal state, biological sex modulates neural circuits to generate naturally occurring behavioral variation. Understanding how and why circuits are tuned by sex can provide important insights into neural and behavioral plasticity. Here, we find that sexually dimorphic behavioral responses toC. elegansascaroside sex pheromones are implemented by the functional modulation of shared chemosensory circuitry. In particular, the sexual state of a single sensory neuron pair, ADF, determines the nature of an animal's behavioral response regardless of the sex of the rest of the body. Genetic feminization of ADF causes males to be repelled by, rather than attracted to, ascarosides, while masculinization of ADF is sufficient to make ascarosides attractive to hermaphrodites. Genetic sex modulates ADF function by tuning chemosensation: ADF is able to detect the ascaroside ascr#3 only in males, a consequence of cell-autonomous action of the master sexual regulatortra-1. Genetic sex regulates behavior in part through the conserved DMRT genemab-3, whose male-specific expression in ADF promotes ascaroside attraction. The sexual modulation of ADF has a key role in reproductive fitness, as feminization or ablation of ADF renders males unable to use ascarosides to locate mates. These results demonstrate that DMRT genes can functionally modulate shared neural circuits; moreover, they reveal an adaptive mechanism in which chromosomal sex controls a cell-autonomous switch that tunes sensory function, determines behavioral valence, and promotes reproductive fitness.
Computer-aided prediction of antigen presenting cell modulators for designing peptide-based vaccine adjuvants
Authors: Nagpal Gandharva , Chaudhary Kumardeep , Agrawal Piyush , Raghava Gajendra P.S. 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTBackgroundEvidences in literature strongly advocate the potential of immunomodulatory peptides for use as vaccine adjuvants. All the mechanisms of vaccine adjuvants ensuing immunostimulatory effects directly or indirectly stimulate Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs). While numerous methods have been developed in the past for predicting B-cell and T-cell epitopes; no method is available for predicting the peptides that can modulate the APCs.MethodsWe named the peptides that can activate APCs as A-cell epitopes and developed methods for their prediction in this study. A dataset of experimentally validated A-cell epitopes was collected and compiled from various resources. To predict A-cell epitopes, we developed Support Vector Machine-based machine learning models using different sequence-based features.ResultsA hybrid model developed on a combination of sequence-based features (dipeptide composition and motif occurrence), achieved the highest accuracy of 96.91% with Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) value of 0.94 on the training dataset. We also evaluated the hybrid models on an independent dataset and achieved a comparable accuracy of 94.93% with MCC 0.90.ConclusionThe models developed in this study were implemented in a web-based platform VaxinPAD to predict and design immunomodulatory peptides or A-cell epitopes. This web server available athttp://webs.iiitd.edu.in/raghava/vaxinpad/andhttp://crdd.osdd.net/raghava/vaxinpad/will facilitate researchers in designing peptide-based vaccine adjuvants.
Data Analyses and new Findings Indicate a Primordial Neurotropic Pathogen Evolved into Infectious Causes of Several CNS Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Todd William J. , Dubytska Lidiya , Mottram Peter J. , Wu Xiaochu , Sokolova Yuliya Y. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe extraordinary genetic flexibility of microorganisms enables their evolution into diverse forms expressing unanticipated structures and functions. Typically, they evolve in response to selective pressures of challenging niches, enabling their evolution and survival in extreme environments wherein life forms were not thought to exist. Approaching the problem of persistent neurodegenerative CNS infections as a challenging niche for pathogen evolution led to uncovering microorganisms which expand concepts of microbial diversity. These organisms are proposed as hybrid pathogens. They express two separate sets of structures and functions: viruslike properties when intracellular, and yet also reproduce as unique prokaryotes when outside the host. Their recovery opens new opportunities to comprehend the remarkable diversity of pathogens and elucidate etiologies of unresolved CNS neurodegenerative infections. Cells infected with these agents produce virus-like particles, inclusions and cytopathic effects consistent with biopsy studies of multiple sclerosis (MS), the α-synucleinopathies, and the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) or prion diseases. The principle agents described were recovered from sheep with scrapie and are available via the Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources Repository. Comparative studies with SMCA, a tick isolate inducing neurodegeneration in lab animal models, are included as supportive evidence.