bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variable selection and chemometric models for discriminating symptomatic gout based on a metabolic target analysis
Authors: Sun XiaoMing , Pei Dong , Huang XinYi , Di DuoLong , Liu Yun 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn clinical practice, uric acid is frequently used as a diagnostic criterion in gout. However, gout is commonly confused with other diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, soft tissue joint injury, and hyperuricosuric calcium oxalate urolithiasis. Two new strategies—graphical index of separation and subwindow permutation analysis—were applied to understand the metabolic changes induced by gout. Metabolic target analysis was performed using high performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector. Compared with the nongout samples, the concentrations of uric acid, uracil, inosine, adenosine, and tryptophan are different in gout samples, and these metabolites could be used as important diagnostic markers. However, the uric acid, uracil, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and adenine concentrations differed between acute and chronic gout. We confirmed the metabolic disorder of uracil during the basic development of gout. In the gout and nongout groups, the recognition rate of the model reached 0.98, whereas the value of recognition ability was only 0.79 when uric acid was used as a single variable. In the acute and chronic class of gout, the recognition rate of the model was 0.90 and that of uric acid was only 0.62. Variable selection combined with chemometric models can be used as a supplementary method for the diagnosis and prognosis of gout in clinical practice.
Design of Protein‐Coated Carbon Nanotubes Loaded with Hydrophobic Drugs through Sacrificial Templating of Mesoporous Silica Shells
Authors: Fiegel Vincent , Harlepp Sebastien , Begin‐Colin Sylvie , Begin Dominique , Mertz Damien 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOne key challenge in the fields of nanomedicine and tissue engineering is the design of theranostic nanoplatforms able to monitor their therapeutic effect by imaging. Among current developed nano‐objects, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were found suitable to combine imaging, photothermal therapy, and to be loaded with hydrophobic drugs. However, a main problem is their resulting low hydrophilicity. To face this problem, an innovative method is developed here, which consists in loading the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with drugs followed by a protein coating around them. The originality of this method relies on first covering CNTs with a sacrificial template mesoporous silica (MS) shell grafted with isobutyramide (IBAM) binders on which a protein nanofilm is strongly adhered through IBAM‐mediated physical cross‐linking. This concept is first demonstrated without drugs, and is further improved with the suitable loading of hydrophobic drugs, curcumin (CUR) and camptothecin (CPT), which are retained between the CNTs and human serum albumin (HSA) layer. Such novel nanocomposites with favorable photothermal properties are very promising for theranostic systems, drug delivery, and phototherapy applications.
Carbon‐Dots‐Based Lab‐On‐a‐Nanoparticle Approach for the Detection and Differentiation of Antibiotics
Authors: Qiao Li'na , Qian Sihua , Wang Yuhui , Yan Shifeng , Lin Hengwei 
Published: January 2018

AbstractFluorescent carbon dots (CDs) have received considerable attention in recent years due to their superior optical properties. To take further advantages of these unique features, herein, a CDs‐based “lab‐on‐a‐nanoparticle” approach for the detection and discrimination of antibiotics is developed. The sensing platform was designed based on the different channel's fluorescence recoveries or further quenching of the full‐color emissive CDs (F‐CDs) and metal ion ensembles upon the addition of antibiotics. The F‐CDs exhibited unusually comparable emission intensity nearly across the entire visible spectrum even as the excitation wavelength is shifted, making it very suitable for the construction of multi‐channel sensing systems. The sensing platform was fabricated on the basis of the competing interaction of metal ions with the F‐CDs and antibiotics. Three metal ions (i.e., Cu2+, Ce3+ and Eu3+) can efficiently quench the fluorescence of the F‐CDs. Upon the addition of antibiotics, the fluorescent intensities either recovered at different emission wavelengths or were further quenched to various degrees. The fluorescence response patterns at different emission wavelength were characteristic for each antibiotic and can be quantitatively differentiated by standard statistical methods (e.g., hierarchical clustering analysis and principal component analysis). Moreover, as an example, the proposed method was applied for quantitative detection of oxytetracycline with a limit of detection to be 0.06 μm. Finally, the sensing system was successfully employed for residual antibiotics detection and identification in real food samples.
Fluoride‐Catalyzed Esterification of Amides
Authors: Wu Hongxiang , Guo Weijie , Daniel Stelck , Li Yue , Liu Chao , Zeng Zhuo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn recent years, it has been demonstrated that amide carbon–nitrogen bonds can be activated and selectively cleaved using transition metal catalysts. However, these methodologies have been restricted to specific amides; a one‐to‐one relationship exists between the catalytic system and the amides and also uses large amounts of transition‐metal catalysts and ligands. Hence, we now report a general strategy for esterification of common amides using fluoride as a catalyst. This method shows high functional group tolerance, and notably it requires only a slight excess of the alcohol nucleophile, which is a rare case in transition‐metal‐free amide transformations. Moreover, this approach may provide a new understanding for further studies on esterification of amides and is expected to stimulate the development of alternative methods for direct functionalization of amides.
Processing Difficulty Increases Perceived Competence of Brand Acronyms
Authors: Kim Hae Joo , Dempsey Melanie A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractUnlike previous work that shows that processing fluency leads to positive evaluations, the present research demonstrates that processing difficulty can lead to positive inferences of a brand. In three experiments, we show that when a brand acronym is difficult to pronounce, it is evaluated favourably with respect to competence relative to warmth. In contrast, easy‐to‐pronounce acronyms are perceived as similarly warm and competent. We find that individuals perceive a difficult‐to‐pronounce acronym to be more psychologically distant than an easy‐to‐pronounce one. Furthermore, they perceive competence as a more fitting characteristic of a distant brand than warmth is. We find that this relative fit of competence over warmth results in higher competence evaluations. Theoretical and applied contributions of the findings are discussed. Copyright © 2018 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dominance of Endozoicomonas bacteria throughout coral bleaching and mortality suggests structural inflexibility of the Pocillopora verrucosa microbiome
Authors: Pogoreutz Claudia , Rädecker Nils , Cárdenas Anny , Gärdes Astrid , Wild Christian , Voolstra Christian R. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe importance of Symbiodinium algal endosymbionts and a diverse suite of bacteria for coral holobiont health and functioning are widely acknowledged. Yet, we know surprisingly little about microbial community dynamics and the stability of host‐microbe associations under adverse environmental conditions. To gain insight into the stability of coral host‐microbe associations and holobiont structure, we assessed changes in the community structure of Symbiodinium and bacteria associated with the coral Pocillopora verrucosa under excess organic nutrient conditions. Pocillopora‐associated microbial communities were monitored over 14 days in two independent experiments. We assessed the effect of excess dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and excess dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Exposure to excess nutrients rapidly affected coral health, resulting in two distinct stress phenotypes: coral bleaching under excess DOC and severe tissue sloughing (>90% tissue loss resulting in host mortality) under excess DON. These phenotypes were accompanied by structural changes in the Symbiodinium community. In contrast, the associated bacterial community remained remarkably stable and was dominated by two Endozoicomonas phylotypes, comprising on average 90% of 16S rRNA gene sequences. This dominance of Endozoicomonas even under conditions of coral bleaching and mortality suggests the bacterial community of P. verrucosa may be rather inflexible and thereby unable to respond or acclimatize to rapid changes in the environment, contrary to what was previously observed in other corals. In this light, our results suggest that coral holobionts might occupy structural landscapes ranging from a highly flexible to a rather inflexible composition with consequences for their ability to respond to environmental change.
Genome‐wide comparisons reveal a clinal species pattern within a holobenthic octopod—the Australian Southern blue‐ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae)
Authors: Morse Peter , Kjeldsen Shannon R. , Meekan Mark G. , Mccormick Mark I. , Finn Julian K. , Huffard Christine L. , Zenger Kyall R. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe southern blue‐ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa (Hoyle, 1883) lacks a planktonic dispersal phase, yet ranges across Australia's southern coastline. This species’ brief and holobenthic life history suggests gene flow might be limited, leaving distant populations prone to strong genetic divergence. This study used 17,523 genome‐wide SNP loci to investigate genetic structuring and local adaptation patterns of H. maculosa among eight sampling sites along its reported range. Within sites, interrelatedness was very high, consistent with the limited dispersal of this taxon. However, inbreeding coefficients were proportionally lower among sites where substructuring was not detected, suggesting H. maculosa might possess a mechanism for inbreeding avoidance. Genetic divergence was extremely high among all sites, with the greatest divergence observed between both ends of the distribution, Fremantle, WA, and Stanley, TAS. Genetic distances closely followed an isolation by geographic distance pattern. Outlier analyses revealed distinct selection signatures at all sites, with the strongest divergence reported between Fremantle and the other Western Australian sites. Phylogenetic reconstructions using the described sister taxon H. fasciata (Hoyle, 1886) further supported that the genetic divergence between distal H. maculosa sites in this study was equivalent to that of between established heterospecifics within this genus. However, it is advocated that taxonomic delineations within this species should be made with caution. These data indicate that H. maculosa forms a clinal species pattern across its geographic range, with gene flow present through allele sharing between adjacent populations. Morphological investigations are recommended for a robust resolution of the taxonomic identity and ecotype boundaries of this species.
Circulating plasmablasts are elevated and produce pathogenic anti‐endothelial cell autoantibodies in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Blum Lisa K. , Cao Richard R.L. , Sweatt Andrew J. , Bill Matthew , Lahey Lauren J. , Hsi Andrew C. , Lee Casey S. , Kongpachith Sarah , Ju Chia‐Hsin , Mao Rong , Wong Heidi H. , Nicolls Mark R. , Zamanian Roham T. , Robinson William H. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIdiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a devastating pulmonary vascular disease in which autoimmune and inflammatory phenomena are implicated. B cells and autoantibodies have been associated with IPAH and identified as potential therapeutic targets. However, the specific populations of B cells involved and their roles in disease pathogenesis are not clearly defined. We aimed to assess the levels of activated B cells (plasmablasts) in IPAH, and to characterize recombinant antibodies derived from these plasmablasts. Blood plasmablasts are elevated in IPAH, remain elevated over time, and produce IgA autoantibodies. Single‐cell sequencing of plasmablasts in IPAH revealed repertoires of affinity‐matured antibodies with small clonal expansions, consistent with an ongoing autoimmune response. Recombinant antibodies representative of these clonal lineages bound known autoantigen targets and displayed an unexpectedly high degree of polyreactivity. Representative IPAH plasmablast recombinant antibodies stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells to produce cytokines and overexpress the adhesion molecule ICAM‐1. Together, our results demonstrate an ongoing adaptive autoimmune response involving IgA plasmablasts that produce anti‐endothelial cell autoantibodies in IPAH. These antibodies stimulate endothelial cell production of cytokines and adhesion molecules, which may contribute to disease pathogenesis. These findings suggest a role for mucosally‐driven autoimmunity and autoimmune injury in the pathogenesis of IPAH.
Objective assessment of induced acute pain in neonatology with the Newborn Infant Parasympathetic Evaluation index
Authors: Cremillieux C. , Makhlouf A. , Pichot V. , Trombert B. , Patural H. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackgroundObjective tools are needed to improve pain assessment in newborns. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the Newborn Infant Parasympathetic Evaluation (NIPE) index and two pain scales during a painful procedure in premature infants.MethodEach baby born at least at 26 weeks of gestational age (GA) undergoing a planned painful procedure in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was eligible. NIPE index, heart rate variability (HRV) indices and Neonatal Acute Pain scale (DAN) were recorded across three periods: the first at rest 5 min before the painful procedure (T1), the second during it (T2) and the third 3 min after the end of it (T3). The Premature Infant Pain Profile‐Revised (PIPP‐R) pain scale was recorded at T2.ResultsSixty‐four recordings were performed in 29 preterm infants (mean GA = 29.9 ± 4.2 weeks). Twenty‐eight tachograms were coupled to NIPE for analysis. We did not find a correlation between the NIPE index and DAN and PIPP‐R at the pain time T2. Between T1 and T2, heart rate was higher (159 ± 16 vs. 169 ± 12, p < 0.001). Considering the linear HRV indices, we did not observe a modification in parasympathetic or sympathetic activity, while for the nonlinear HRV indices (H exponent, Approximate and conditional Entropy), a significant change towards a loss of physiological chaotic cardiac behaviour was detected.ConclusionsThe NIPE index seems to be not reliable to assess acute pain in the preterm infant, but other HRV indices could be explored as additional tools next to pain scales in NICUs.SignificanceThe NIPE monitor was developed for objective pain assessment in neonates based on HFnu variations, but it does not seem reliable enough for assessing acute pain in real time in preterm neonates. Pain assessment in preterm babies still relies on pain scales.
Assessment of efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine acetate for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Sanchez‐Larsen A. , Sopelana D. , Diaz‐Maroto I. , Perona‐Moratalla A.B. , Gracia‐Gil J. , García‐Muñozguren S. , Palazón‐García E. , Segura T. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackgroundAntiepileptic drugs are the first‐line treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine are the most studied with well‐known efficacy. Eslicarbazepine acetate is a third‐generation antiepileptic drug that has not previously been evaluated for the treatment of TN. We aim to assess the efficacy, tolerability and safety of eslicarbazepine for TN.Design and MethodsRetrospective, open‐label, multicentric, intention‐to‐treat study. We included patients older than 18 years who met the ICHD‐3 beta diagnostic criteria for TN. We evaluated the variation of intensity and frequency of pain paroxysms before and after treatment with eslicarbazepine. Secondary objectives assessed were tolerability and safety of eslicarbazepine.ResultsEighteen patients were included, 15 women, mean age 65.2 years old, mean follow‐up 21.1 months. The mean number of drugs tested before eslicarbazepine was 2; 10 patients used eslicarbazepine as monotherapy. After the treatment with ESL, the median of pain intensity improved from 9.5 to 2.5 (p < 0.001) and the median of pain paroxysms frequency improved from 70 episodes per week to 0.37 (p < 0.001). Responder rate was 88.9%; 44.4% became asymptomatic after treatment. Sixty‐one per cent of patients presented some adverse event; four patients discontinued eslicarbazepine for this reason. Despite this, 16 patients (88.9%) noticed a good subjective tolerance to eslicarbazepine. The retention rate at 6 months was 77.8% and at 12 months 61.1%.ConclusionsOur study supports the hypothesis that eslicarbazepine acetate is an effective, safe and well‐tolerated treatment for the treatment of TN. Further studies are warranted to corroborate these results.SignificanceEslicarbazepine acetate has shown to be an effective, safe and well‐tolerated drug for TN. This is the first study that evaluated the efficacy of this drug on TN in humans.
Pain and sensitization after total knee replacement or nonsurgical treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis: Identifying potential predictors of outcome at 12 months
Authors: Arendt‐Nielsen L. , Simonsen O. , Laursen M.B. , Roos E.M. , Rathleff M.S. , Rasmussen S. , Skou S.T. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackgroundThis study is a secondary analysis of 12‐month follow‐ups from two parallel, randomized controlled trials (RCT) in painful knee osteoarthritis patients. RCT1: Total knee replacement (TKR) followed by nonsurgical treatment compared with nonsurgical treatment. RCT2: Nonsurgical treatment compared with usual care. The aims were to investigate (1) possible predictors of treatment outcome after TKR and nonsurgical interventions at 12 months, (2) associations between pain intensity and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) (pain sensitization) at baseline and after 12 months and (3) possible gender differences.MethodEach RCT included 100 patients. Pain intensities, PPTs and number of painful sites were assessed at baseline and after 12 months.ResultsIn all groups, pain improved and pain sensitization decreased. In RCT1, the TKR group had the greatest improvements in pain. In RCT2 the nonsurgical group had the greatest improvement, with no between‐group differences in PPTs. Lower PPTs at baseline predicted higher pain after TKR. Baseline pain intensity and PPT levels were associated with the number of painful sites. Subjects with the highest pain and lowest PPTs at baseline showed the largest relative improvement in pain and sensitization but were still experiencing highest absolute pain and lowest PPTs after 12 months (combined cohorts).ConclusionLow PPTs at baseline predicted worse pain outcome after TKR, but did not predict outcome after nonsurgical interventions. The number of painful sites was weakly associated with pain and PPTs, and the higher pain/lower PPTs, the higher pain/lower PPTs at 12 months with females showing the lowest PPT values.SignificanceHuman experimental pain assessment was used to assess the degree of pain sensitization in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis. High sensitization before TKR predicted worse outcome. Outcome after nonsurgical interventions could not be predicted.
Comparative pharmacology and toxicology of tramadol and tapentadol
Authors: Faria J. , Barbosa J. , Moreira R. , Queirós O. , Carvalho F. , Dinis‐Oliveira R.J. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractModerate‐to‐severe pain represents a heavy burden in patients’ quality of life, and ultimately in the society and in healthcare costs. The aim of this review was to summarize data on tramadol and tapentadol adverse effects, toxicity, potential advantages and limitations according to the context of clinical use. We compared data on the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of tramadol and tapentadol, after an extensive literature search in the US National Library of Medicine (PubMed). Tramadol is a prodrug that acts through noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake inhibition, with a weak opioid component added by its metabolite O‐desmethyltramadol. Tapentadol does not require metabolic activation and acts mainly through noradrenaline reuptake inhibition and has a strong opioid activity. Such features confer tapentadol potential advantages, namely lower serotonergic, dependence and abuse potential, more linear pharmacokinetics, greater gastrointestinal tolerability and applicability in the treatment of chronic and neuropathic pain. Although more studies are needed to provide clear guidance on the opioid of choice, tapentadol shows some advantages, as it does not require CYP450 system activation and has minimal serotonergic effects. In addition, it leads to less side effects and lower abuse liability. However, in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that tramadol and tapentadol cause similar toxicological damage. In this context, it is important to underline that the choice of opioid should be individually balanced and a tailored decision, based on previous experience and on the patient's profile, type of pain and context of treatment.SignificanceThis review underlines the need for a careful prescription of tramadol and tapentadol. Although both are widely prescribed synthetic opioid analgesics, their toxic effects and potential dependence are not completely understood yet. In particular, concerning tapentadol, further research is needed to better assess its toxic effects.
Dilution destabilizes engineered ligand-coated nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions
Authors: Wan Jiamin , Kim Yongman , Mulvihill Martin J. , Tokunaga Tetsu K. 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

It is commonly true that a diluted colloidal suspension is more stable over time than a concentrated one because dilution reduces collision rates of the particles and therefore delays the formation of aggregates. However, this generalization does not apply for some engineered ligand-coated nanoparticles (NPs). We observed the opposite relationship between stability and concentration of NPs. We tested 4 different types of NPs: CdSe-11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, CdTe-polyelectrolytes, Ag-citrate, and Ag-polyvinylpyrrolidone. The results showed that dilution alone induced aggregation and subsequent sedimentation of the NPs that were originally monodispersed at very high concentrations. Increased dilution caused NPs to progressively become unstable in the suspensions. The extent of the dilution impact on the stability of NPs is different for different types of NPs. We hypothesize that the unavoidable decrease in free ligand concentration in the aqueous phase following dilution causes detachment of ligands from the suspended NP cores. The ligands attached to NP core surfaces must generally approach exchange equilibrium with free ligands in the aqueous phase; therefore, ligand detachment and destabilization are expected consequences of dilution. More studies are necessary to test this hypothesis. Because the stability of NPs determines their physicochemical and kinetic behavior including toxicity, dilution-induced instability needs to be understood to realistically predict the behavior of engineered ligand-coated NPs in aqueous systems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1301–1308. © 2018 SETAC