bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of different irrigant protocols and application systems on sealer penetration using a stepwise CLSM analysis
Authors: Aksel Hacer , Küçükkaya Eren Selen , Puralı Nuhan , Serper Ahmet , Azim Adham A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis study compared several irrigation protocols and application systems for sealer penetration into dentinal tubules. Single‐rooted‐human teeth were divided into 5 experimental groups (n = 15) and a control group (n = 5), according to final irrigation protocols: standard needle irrigation (SNI); Vibringe; Vibringe + NaviTip FX (Vibringe NFX); Endo Spray (ES); and passive‐ultrasonic‐irrigation (PUI). Following obturation of the root canals, the percentage of the sealer penetration was measured at different depths using stepwise CLSM analysis. The sealer penetration in the experimental groups was significantly higher than the control group at all levels (p < .05). No significant differences were observed between Vibringe and SNI or Vibringe NFX, ES, and PUI at all depths (p > .05). The Vibringe NFX, ES, and PUI groups allowed deeper sealer penetration than SNI at 100, 250, and 500 μm levels (p < .05). The irrigant activation, the needle design, and the application form (syringe or spray) may impact the quality of the seal that is achieved with root canal filling.
Impact of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio on survival for hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection
Authors: Hung Hao‐Chien , Lee Jin‐Chiao , Cheng Chih‐Hsien , Wu Tsung‐Han , Wang Yu‐Chao , Lee Chen‐Fang , Wu Ting‐Jung , Chou Hong‐Shiue , Chan Kun‐Ming , Lee Wei‐Chen 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundNeutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) represents a pro‐tumor inflammatory environment and host immunity. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of subsequent NLR for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver resection.MethodsA total of 672 patients had liver resection for HCC were included in this study. NLR at diagnosis of HCC and HCC recurrence were collected. NLR at 2.5 was used as cut‐off value to calculate its prognostic effect.ResultsAccording to NLR cut‐off value, the patients with NLR >2.5 had larger tumor size, higher histology grade, and higher rates of tumor multiplicity and vascular invasion. After a median follow‐up of 76.3 months, 437 (65.0%) patients had tumor recurrence. The 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year recurrence‐free survival were 77.4%, 55.2% and 44.8% in NLR ≤2.5 group, compared to 64.1%, 45.2% and 35.5% in NLR >2.5 group (P = 0.016). When patients had tumor recurrence, 5‐year post‐recurrent survival was best in the patients staying with NLR ≤2.5 all the time and decreased from 45.9% to 24.6% if NLR was ≤2.5 at resection and became >2.5 at recurrence (P = 0.013).ConclusionHigh NLR was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor. Subsequent change of NLR between liver resection and HCC recurrence could predict post‐recurrent survival.
Do female offenders differ? Comparing the criminal histories of serious violent perpetrators with a control sample
Authors: Coleman Rebecca , Almond Louise , McManus Michelle 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIn view of earlier research, female offenders have not received as much attention as male perpetrators. Thus, the research aimed to gain insight into the types of offences committed by serious violent female offenders (n = 206; those who had committed grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, or homicide) and to explore differences with control female perpetrators (n = 447); control offenders were matched according to age and year of offence of the serious violent offenders. The purpose was to, therefore, gather an understanding of female offenders and to determine if the serious violent perpetrators differed from the control sample. A UK police force provided data of offences committed between April 2001 and April 2011. Descriptive information was analysed, with comparisons being made using Mann–Whitney U tests and chi‐square analyses. About 72.3% (n = 149) of serious violent offenders had one or more recorded convictions and were significantly more likely to have committed a previous violent offence than the control sample. On the other hand, control perpetrators had a higher likelihood of having previously committed a theft‐related offence, when compared to serious violent females. Therefore, the findings indicate the types of offences committed by female offenders and highlight the differences between serious violent perpetrators and offenders in the control sample. The implications and limitations are discussed.
Textural features of dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI derived model‐free and model‐based parameter maps in glioma grading
Authors: Xie Tian , Chen Xiao , Fang Jingqin , Kang Houyi , Xue Wei , Tong Haipeng , Cao Peng , Wang Sumei , Yang Yizeng , Zhang Weiguo 
Published: August 2017

BackgroundPresurgical glioma grading by dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI) has unresolved issues.PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the ability of textural features derived from pharmacokinetic model‐based or model‐free parameter maps of DCE‐MRI in discriminating between different grades of gliomas, and their correlation with pathological index.Study TypeRetrospective.SubjectsForty‐two adults with brain gliomas.Field Strength/Sequence3.0T, including conventional anatomic sequences and DCE‐MRI sequences (variable flip angle T1‐weighted imaging and three‐dimensional gradient echo volumetric imaging).AssessmentRegions of interest on the cross‐sectional images with maximal tumor lesion. Five commonly used textural features, including Energy, Entropy, Inertia, Correlation, and Inverse Difference Moment (IDM), were generated.ResultsAll textural features of model‐free parameters (initial area under curve [IAUC], maximal signal intensity [Max SI], maximal up‐slope [Max Slope]) could effectively differentiate between grade II (n = 15), grade III (n = 13), and grade IV (n = 14) gliomas (P < 0.05). Two textural features, Entropy and IDM, of four DCE‐MRI parameters, including Max SI, Max Slope (model‐free parameters), vp (Extended Tofts), and vp (Patlak) could differentiate grade III and IV gliomas (P < 0.01) in four measurements. Both Entropy and IDM of Patlak‐based Ktrans and vp could differentiate grade II (n = 15) from III (n = 13) gliomas (P < 0.01) in four measurements. No textural features of any DCE‐MRI parameter maps could discriminate between subtypes of grade II and III gliomas (P < 0.05). Both Entropy and IDM of Extended Tofts‐ and Patlak‐based vp showed highest area under curve in discriminating between grade III and IV gliomas. However, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of these features revealed relatively lower inter‐observer agreement. No significant correlation was found between microvascular density and textural features, compared with a moderate correlation found between cellular proliferation index and those features.Data ConclusionTextural features of DCE‐MRI parameter maps displayed a good ability in glioma grading.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1099–1111.
Optimized inversion‐time schedules for quantitative T1 measurements based on high‐resolution multi‐inversion EPI
Authors: Cohen Ouri , Polimeni Jonathan R. 
Published: August 2017

PurposeDemonstrate an optimized multi‐inversion echo‐planar imaging technique to accelerate quantitative T1 mapping by judicious selection of inversion times for each slice.MethodsSlice ordering is optimized to maximize discrimination between tissues with different T1 values. The optimized slice orderings are tested in the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine/National Institute of Standards and Technology phantom and compared with an unoptimized 21‐measurement acquisition. The utility of the method is demonstrated in a healthy subject in vivo at 3 T and validated with a gold‐standard inversion‐recovery sequence. The in vivo precision of our technique was tested by repeated scans of the same subject within a scan session and across scan sessions, occurring 28 days apart.ResultsPhantom measurements yielded good agreement (R2 = 0.99) between the T1 estimates from the proposed optimized protocol, reference values from the National Institute of Standards and Technology phantom and gold‐standard inversion‐recovery values, as well as a negligible estimation bias that was slightly lower than that from the unoptimized 21‐measurement protocol (0.74 versus 19 ms). The range of values for the scan–rescan coefficient of variation was 0.86 to 0.93 (within session) and 0.83 to 0.92 (across sessions) across all scan durations tested.ConclusionsOptimized slice orderings allow faster quantitative T1 mapping. The optimized sequence yielded accurate and precise T1 maps. Magn Reson Med 79:2101–2112, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Melt‐cast Energetic Salts: Dipotassium and Diaminoguanidinium N,N′‐Dinitro‐N,N′‐Bis(3‐dinitromethyl‐furazanate‐4‐yl)methylenediamine
Authors: Ma Qing , Gu Hao , Huang Jinglun , Liu Dabin , Li Jinshan , Fan Guijuan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDiaminoguanidinium N,N′‐dinitro‐N,N′‐bis(3‐dinitromethyl‐furazanate‐4‐yl)methylenediamine (5), a new melt‐cast energetic salt, was designed and synthesized via metathesis reaction from dipotassium N,N′‐dinitro‐N,N′‐bis(3‐dinitromethyl‐furazanate‐4‐yl)methylenediamine (4) by using condensation of 3‐amino‐4‐chloroximinofurazan (1), followed by a mixture of fuming nitric acid and trifluoroacetic anhydride and then KI reduction. The target products were thoroughly characterized by NMR spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy (IR), elementary analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction was employed for analyzing the crystal structure of 5. Compound 4 not only exhibits two‐stages in decomposition properties but also behaves sensitivities as primary explosive (IS: 2.5 J, FS: 216 N). Compound 5 exhibits excellent thermal stability (onset m.p. 113 °C, onset dec. 282 °C) which is superior to those of RDX and approach those of TNT. Different from RDX, 5 exhibits better impact and friction sensitivity (IS: 20 J, FS: 128 N). Worth noting that, the detonation velocity of 5 (D: 8500 m s−1) is comparable with that of RDX.
Building collagen IV smart scaffolds on the outside of cells
Authors: Brown Kyle L. , Cummings Christopher F. , Vanacore Roberto M. , Hudson Billy G. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCollagen IV scaffolds assemble through an intricate pathway that begins intracellularly and is completed extracellularly. Multiple intracellular enzymes act in concert to assemble collagen IV protomers, the building blocks of collagen IV scaffolds. After being secreted from cells, protomers are activated to initiate oligomerization, forming insoluble networks that are structurally reinforced with covalent crosslinks. Within these networks, embedded binding sites along the length of the protomer lead to the “decoration” of collagen IV triple helix with numerous functional molecules. We refer to these networks as “smart” scaffolds, which as a component of the basement membrane enable the development and function of multicellular tissues in all animal phyla. In this review, we present key molecular mechanisms that drive the assembly of collagen IV smart scaffolds.
Peripheral blood monocyte count reflecting tumor‐infiltrating macrophages is a predictive factor of adverse pathology in radical prostatectomy specimens
Authors: Hayashi Takuji , Fujita Kazutoshi , Nojima Satoshi , Hayashi Yujiro , Nakano Kosuke , Ishizuya Yu , Wang Cong , Yamamoto Yoshiyuki , Kinouchi Toshiro , Matsuzaki Kyosuke , Kawamura Norihiko , Jingushi Kentaro , Kawashima Atsunari , Nagahara Akira , Ujike Takeshi , Uemura Motohide , Imamura Ryoichi , Morii Eiichi , Nonomura Norio 
Published: August 2017

BackgroundTumor‐infiltrating macrophages, which are thought to be derived from blood monocytes, interact with tumor cells to promote cancer progression. The aim of this study was to assess the association of peripheral blood monocyte count with pathological findings and local tumor‐infiltrating macrophages in prostatectomy specimens.MethodsPreoperative peripheral blood monocyte counts were retrospectively assessed for their associations with pathological findings (pathological T stage, Gleason Score, extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and surgical margin) and biochemical recurrence of 248 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. Local tumor‐infiltrating macrophages were also evaluated immunohistochemically for their association with peripheral monocyte counts.ResultsThe peripheral monocyte counts of the patients with extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, or primary Gleason ≥4 were significantly higher than those of the patients without each of these pathological findings (P < 0.001, P = 0.034, and P = 0.004, respectively). Peripheral monocyte count was a significant predictor of adverse pathology and postoperative biochemical recurrence in localized prostate cancer by multivariate analysis (P = 0.001 and P = 0.041, respectively). Both the density and the count of tumor‐infiltrating macrophages correlated significantly with the peripheral blood monocyte count (Spearman rank correlation coefficients were 0.463 and 0.649, respectively, P < 0.001).ConclusionsPeripheral blood monocyte count reflecting local tumor‐infiltrating macrophages was a predictive factor for tumor progression and prognosis in patients with localized prostate cancer. Elucidating the mechanism of the interaction of peripheral monocytes with tumor‐infiltrating macrophages is necessary.
PSCA regulates IL‐6 expression through p38/NF‐κB signaling in prostate cancer
Authors: Liu Luhao , Li Ermao , Luo Lianmin , Zhao Shankun , Li Futian , Wang Jiamin , Luo Jintai , Zhao Zhigang 
Published: August 2017

BackgroundProstate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored cell surface protein. We previously reported that PSCA involved in proliferation and invasion of PCa cells, however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the regulating role of PSCA gene expression in interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) autocrine of PCa cells.MethodsThe stable knockdown‐PSCA and ectopically overexpressed‐PSCA vector were constructed and transfected into human PCa DU145 and PC‐3M cells. The effects of PSCA overexpression or knockdown were determined in proliferation, invasion, and metastasis assays. The effect of PSCA on the expression and secretion of IL‐6 was evaluated by immunoblotting and ELISA. Subcellular localization and expression pattern of PSCA and IL‐6 protein were examined by immunohistochemistry. Its clinical significance was statistically analyzed.ResultsThe results showed that stable knockdown of PSCA delayed proliferation, migration, and invasion while overexpressing PSCA enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and the lung metastasis in vivo of PCa cells. Importantly, the PSCA involved in the IL‐6 secretion and positively regulated p38/NF‐κB/IL‐6 signaling, leading to enhanced PCa cell invasion and metastasis. Both the expression of PSCA and IL‐6 were significantly associated with poor biochemical recurrence‐free survival of patients with PCa. PSCA protein expression showed a prognostic value in overall survival as indicated by Kaplan‐Meier analysis.ConclusionsThese results indicate that PSCA regulates the expression and secretion of IL‐6 in human PCa cells through p38/NF‐κB signaling pathways. PSCA may be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for PSCA‐positive PCa.
Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy for low‐risk prostate cancer induces biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy via increased lymphangiogenesis‐related parameters
Authors: Miyata Yasuyoshi , Nakamura Yuichiro , Yasuda Takuji , Matsuo Tomohiro , Ohba Kojiro , Furusato Bungo , Fukuoka Junya , Sakai Hideki 
Published: August 2017

BackgroundThe effects of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) on pathological features and lymphangiogenesis in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) for each pre‐operative risk classification are unclear.MethodsTo clarify the anti‐cancer effects of NHT, we investigated 153 patients (non‐NHT group = 80 and NHT group = 73) who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) in Nagasaki University Hospital. Lymph vessel density and area (evaluated by D2‐40‐positive vessels), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐C and VEGF‐D expressions, and biochemical recurrence (BCR)‐free survival were compared between these two groups for each D'Amico risk classification (low = 33, intermediate = 58, high = 62 patients).ResultsIn low‐risk PCa patients, the risks of lymph vessel invasion and BCR were significantly higher in the NHT group than in the non‐NHT group (P = 0.040 and 0.022, respectively). Such significant difference was not seen in the intermediate‐ or high‐risk PCa groups. Lymph vessel density of the peri‐tumoral and intra‐tumoral areas and the lymph vessel area were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the NHT group than in the non‐NHT group in low‐risk PCa. In regard to the expression of VEGF‐C or VEGF‐D, significant difference was not detected in low‐risk PCa.ConclusionsNHT stimulated cancer cell progression and BCR via up‐regulation of lymphangiogenesis‐related parameters in patients with low‐risk PCa. Although VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D expressions were not changed by NHT, lymph vessel density and area were increased in low‐risk PCa patients. We suggest that NHT for patients with low‐risk PCa may have a high risk for BCR after RP.
Intrafocal heterogeneity of ERG protein expression and gene fusion pattern in prostate cancer
Authors: Suh Ja Hee , Park Jeong Hwan , Lee Cheol , Moon Kyung Chul 
Published: August 2017

BackgroundProstate cancer is considered to be highly heterogeneous, with various morphologic features and biologic behaviors. The TMPRSS2‐ERG gene fusion is the most frequently observed genetic aberration in prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to elucidate the intrafocal heterogeneity of ERG gene fusion status.MethodsERG immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed in samples from 168 prostate cancer patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy, and 40 cases showing ERG‐positive IHC staining were selected for tissue microarray (TMA) construction. Two to six representative cores were selected from each tumor focus. In the cases with heterogeneous ERG IHC staining intensity, the areas showing different intensities were separately selected. Using the TMA blocks, IHC and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were conducted to evaluate the heterogeneity of ERG protein expression and ERG fusion gene patterns, respectively, in a single tumor focus. Heterogeneity of ERG IHC staining was defined as the simultaneous presence of negative and positive cores in the same tumor focus. Heterogeneity of ERG FISH was defined by the presence of cores with positive and negative FISH signals or cores with break‐apart and interstitial deletion FISH signals in the same tumor focus.ResultsA total of 202 TMA cores were isolated from 40 ERG‐positive cases. Of the 202 total cores, 19 were negative for ERG IHC staining, and 46 showed 1+, 52 showed 2+, and 85 showed 3+ ERG staining intensity. Eleven cores were negative for ERG FISH signal, 119 cores showed ERG break‐apart FISH signals, and the remaining 72 cores revealed interstitial deletion. Intrafocal heterogeneity of ERG IHC staining was found in 20% (8/40) of cases, and intrafocal heterogeneity of ERG gene fusion pattern was found in 32.5% (13/40) of cases.ConclusionsIn summary, this study showed significantly frequent intrafocal heterogeneity of ERG protein expression, gene fusion status and fusion pattern. This heterogeneity can be caused by the development of subclones during cancer progression or the intermingling of different tumors.
Improved performance in CAPRI round 37 using LZerD docking and template‐based modeling with combined scoring functions
Authors: Peterson Lenna X. , Shin Woong‐Hee , Kim Hyungrae , Kihara Daisuke 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe report our group's performance for protein‐protein complex structure prediction and scoring in Round 37 of the Critical Assessment of PRediction of Interactions (CAPRI), an objective assessment of protein‐protein complex modeling. We demonstrated noticeable improvement in both prediction and scoring compared to previous rounds of CAPRI, with our human predictor group near the top of the rankings and our server scorer group at the top. This is the first time in CAPRI that a server has been the top scorer group. To predict protein‐protein complex structures, we used both multi‐chain template‐based modeling (TBM) and our protein‐protein docking program, LZerD. LZerD represents protein surfaces using 3D Zernike descriptors (3DZD), which are based on a mathematical series expansion of a 3D function. Because 3DZD are a soft representation of the protein surface, LZerD is tolerant to small conformational changes, making it well suited to docking unbound and TBM structures. The key to our improved performance in CAPRI Round 37 was to combine multi‐chain TBM and docking. As opposed to our previous strategy of performing docking for all target complexes, we used TBM when multi‐chain templates were available and docking otherwise. We also describe the combination of multiple scoring functions used by our server scorer group, which achieved the top rank for the scorer phase.
Analysis of deep learning methods for blind protein contact prediction in CASP12
Authors: Wang Sheng , Sun Siqi , Xu Jinbo 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHere we present the results of protein contact prediction achieved in CASP12 by our RaptorX‐Contact server, which is an early implementation of our deep learning method for contact prediction. On a set of 38 free‐modeling target domains with a median family size of around 58 effective sequences, our server obtained an average top L/5 long‐ and medium‐range contact accuracy of 47% and 44%, respectively (L = length). A complete implementation has an average accuracy of 59% and 57%, respectively. Our deep learning method formulates contact prediction as a pixel‐level image labeling problem and simultaneously predicts all residue pairs of a protein using a combination of two deep residual neural networks, taking as input the residue conservation information, predicted secondary structure and solvent accessibility, contact potential, and coevolution information. Our approach differs from existing methods mainly in (1) formulating contact prediction as a pixel‐level image labeling problem instead of an image‐level classification problem; (2) simultaneously predicting all contacts of an individual protein to make effective use of contact occurrence patterns; and (3) integrating both one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional deep convolutional neural networks to effectively learn complex sequence‐structure relationship including high‐order residue correlation. This paper discusses the RaptorX‐Contact pipeline, both contact prediction and contact‐based folding results, and finally the strength and weakness of our method.