bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antidiabetic Activities of an LC/MS Fingerprinted Aqueous Extract of Fagonia cretica L. in Preclinical Models
Authors: Nazir Imran , ur Rahman Nisar , Alvi Zunaira , Hafizur Rahman M. , Sendker Jandirk , Zhang Tao , Frankish Neil , Sheridan Helen 
Published: April 2017

AbstractDiabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and one of the most important public health challenges facing mankind. Fagonia cretica is a medicinal plant used widely in the Punjab in Pakistan. A recent survey has demonstrated that traditional healers and herbalists frequently use this plant to treat diabetes. In the current study, the traditional medicine was prepared as a tea, and the profile of the main metabolites present in the traditional medicine was analysed via LC/MS/MS. The extract was shown to contain a number of phenolic glycosides including quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-glycoside, kaempferol-3(6′-malonylglucoside), isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, and isorhamnetin 3-(6″-malonylglucoside) in addition to two unidentified sulphonated saponins. The traditional medicine inhibits α-glucosidase in vitro with an IC50 of 4.62 µg/mL. The hypoglycaemic effect of the traditional medicine was evaluated in normoglycaemic and streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats, using glibenclamide as an internal control. The preparation (250 or 500 mg/kg body weight) was administered once a day for 21 consecutive days. The dose of 500 mg/kg was effective in the management of the disease, causing a 45 % decrease in the plasma glucose level at the end of the experimental period. Histological analysis of pancreatic sections confirmed that streptozotocin/nictotinamide treatment caused destruction of pancreatic islet cells, while pancreatic sections from the treatment groups showed that both the extract and glibenclamide partially prevented this deterioration. The mechanism of this protective effect is unclear. However, such a finding suggests that ingestion of the tea could confer additional benefits and should be investigated further.
Beta-Ecdysone Protects Mouse Osteoblasts from Glucocorticoid-Induced Apoptosis In Vitro
Authors: Dai Wei-Wei , Wang Li-Bo , Jin Guo-Qin , Wu Hong-Jin , Zhang Jie , Wang Cheng-Long , Wei Yuan-Ji , Lee Joon-Ho , Lay Yu-An , Yao Wei 
Published: April 2017

AbstractGlucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is a common form of secondary osteoporosis. Glucocorticoids affect both bone formation and resorption, and prolonged glucocorticoid exposure can suppress osteoblast activities. beta-Ecdysone, found in many plants, is involved in protein synthesis, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and immunologic modulation. Here, we evaluated the effects of beta-ecdysone on osteoblast viability by assessing apoptosis following treatment with excess glucocorticoids. Mouse bone marrow stromal cells were induced to differentiate and grow into osteoblasts, and then treated with 10 µM glucocorticoid and 10, 1, or 0.1 µM beta-ecdysone. The expression levels of osteoblast growth and differentiation factors (runt-related transcription factor 2, osteogenic protein-1, and alkaline phosphatase), apoptosis-related genes (transformation-related protein 53, ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein, caspase-3, and caspase-8), and Akt1 and phospho-Akt (Thr308) were then assessed via alkaline phosphatase staining, acridine orange-propidium iodide staining, annexin V/PI apoptosis assay, real-time RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses. Notably, treatment with 10 µM glucocorticoid resulted in reduced osteoblast viability and the specific activity of alkaline phosphatase as well as reduced runt-related transcription factor 2, osteogenic protein-1, and alkaline phosphatase mRNA expression in vitro, indicating that glucocorticoid inhibited osteogenic differentiation. Moreover, glucocorticoid treatment yielded increased transformation-related protein 53, ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein, caspase-3, and caspase-8 expression and decreased Akt1 and phospho-Akt levels, indicating glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. Meanwhile, beta-ecdysone inhibited glucocorticoid function, preserving the expression of Akt1 and phospho-Akt and reducing the expression of transformation-related protein 53, ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein, caspase-3, and caspase-8. Thus, beta-ecdysone prevented glucocorticoid-induced osteoblast apoptosis in vitro. These data highlight the potential for beta-ecdysone as a treatment for preventing the effects of glucocorticoid on bone growth.
Metabolism of Curcumin in Human Breast Cancer Cells: Impact of Sulfation on Cytotoxicity
Authors: Jamil Qurrat , Jaerapong Natharath , Zehl Martin , Jarukamjorn Kanokwan , Jäger Walter 
Published: April 2017

AbstractCurcumin is a natural polyphenol with promising anticancer properties that undergoes pronounced metabolism in humans. In order to determine whether metabolism of curcumin also occurs in tumor cells and whether biotransformation has any impact on cytotoxicity, metabolism experiments were conducted with hormone-dependent ZR-75-1 and hormone-independent MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. By using HPLC-ESI-Qq-TOF-MS, it was possible to identify one main metabolite, namely curcumin sulfate, in both cell lines. Its concentration in the cytoplasm and culture medium was 1.6- to 1.7-fold higher in ZR-75-1 cells than in MDA-MB-231 cells, concomitant with a 2-fold higher IC50 value in the ZR-75-1 cell line (14 µM compared to 7.3 µM). The net result of sulfation seems to lower the intracellular concentration of curcumin, thereby decreasing its growth inhibitory activity. Interestingly, for the first time, we also found the formation of a curcumin dimer in the cytoplasm but not in the cellular medium of both cell lines. Compared to curcumin sulfate, however, its maximal intracellular concentrations were up to 4-fold lower, indicating only a minor contribution to the overall curcumin clearance. In conclusion, our data elucidated the metabolism of curcumin in breast cancer cells, which must be considered in humans following oral uptake of dietary curcumin as a chemopreventive agent.
Modeling language family expansions
Authors: Wichmann Søren 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
This paper presents properties of a computer simulation of language migration. It takes as input a simulated phylogeny and a database of today’s populated places. At each time step, a language moves within a geographical quadrilateral defined by the minimal number, ch, of choices of populated places within the quadrilateral. The result is a constrained random walk defined by a combination of the ch parameter and the landscape, which comes into play via the restriction of the walk to populated places. The distribution of move distances is qualitatively similar across values of ch and resembles a Gamma distribution. Through comparisons with densities of real-world language families, the values of ch which yield the closest fits between real and simulated data are found.
Patient and provider perspectives on the potential value and use of a bilingual online patient portal in a Spanish-speaking safety-net population
Authors: Ochoa Alejandro , Kitayama Ken , Uijtdehaage Sebastian , Vermillion Michelle , Eaton Michael , Carpio Felix , Serota Martin , Hochman Michael E 
Published: April 2017

Abstract

Objective
To assess patient and provider perspectives on the potential value and use of a bilingual patient portal in a large safety-net health system serving predominantly Spanish-speaking patients.

Materials and Methods
We captured patient and provider perspectives through the administration of surveys to assess Internet access, barriers, and facilitators to patient portal adoption, along with portal preferences. We report on these survey results using descriptive and comparative statistics.

Results
Four hundred patients (82% response rate) and 59 providers (80% response rate) participated in the study. Although 73% of providers believed that the patient portal would increase patient satisfaction, just 39% planned to recommend portal use to patients, citing concerns related to time and reimbursement. In contrast, 72% of patients believed the patient portal would strengthen the patient-provider relationship and 77% believed it would improve the quality of care. Latino patients in particular believed the patient portal would strengthen the patient-provider relationship. Seventy-five percent of patients reported interest in a mobile version of the portal.

Discussion
Patients from a safety-net health system, most of whom were Spanish-speaking, reported a high level of interest in the patient portal. Providers at the same health system expressed reluctance about the portal due to concerns related to time and reimbursement.

Conclusion
Bilingual patient portal implementation has considerable potential to promote health care engagement within Spanish-speaking safety-net populations; however, lack of provider engagement in the process could undermine the effort.
Formation of the young massive cluster R136 triggered by tidally-driven colliding H i flows
Authors: Fukui Yasuo , Tsuge Kisetsu , Sano Hidetoshi , Bekki Kenji , Yozin Cameron , Tachihara Kengo , Inoue Tsuyoshi 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Understanding massive cluster formation is one of the important issues of astronomy. By analyzing the H i data, we have identified that the two H i velocity components (L- and D-components) are colliding toward the H i Ridge, in the southeastern end of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), which hosts the young massive cluster R136 and ∼400 O/Wolf–Rayet stars (Doran et al. 2013, A&A, 558, A134) including the progenitor of SN 1987A. The collision is possibly evidenced by bridge features connecting the two H i components and by complementary distributions between them. We frame a hypothesis that the collision triggered the formation of R136 and the surrounding high-mass stars as well as the H i Ridge and the Molecular Ridge. Fujimoto and Noguchi (1990, PASJ, 42, 505) advocated that the last tidal interaction between the LMC and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) induced collision of the L- and D-components about 0.2 Gyr ago. This model is consistent with numerical simulations (Bekki & Chiba 2007a, MNRAS, 381, L16). We suggest that a dense H i, cloud of 106 M⊙ partly including CO, a precursor of R136, was formed at the shock-compressed interface between the colliding L- and D-components. We suggest that part of the low-metallicity gas from the SMC was mixed in the tidal interaction based on the Planck/IRAS data of dust optical depth (Planck Collaboration 2014, A&A, 571, A11).
Complex Skill Training Transfers to Improved Performance and Control of Simpler Tasks After Stroke
Authors: Kantak Shailesh S. , Zahedi Nazaneen , McGrath Robert 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Background. Given limited therapy time, it is important to practice tasks that optimize transfer to other tasks that cannot be practiced during therapy. However, little is known about how tasks can be selected for practice to optimize generalization.
Objective. One dimension of task selection is the complexity of the task. The purpose of the current study was to test if learning of a complex motor skill with the paretic arm would transfer to a simpler unpracticed goal-directed reaching task.
Design. This is an observational study, repeated measures design.
Methods. Fifteen participants with mild-to-moderate stroke practiced a complex motor skill using their paretic arm for 2 consecutive days. Complex skill learning was quantified using change in the speed-accuracy trade-off from baseline to 1 day and 1 month post-practice. Motor transfer was assessed as the change in goal-directed planar reaching performance and kinematics from 2 baselines to 1 day and 1 month post-practice. Nine additional participants with stroke were recruited as the test-alone group who only participated in the transfer tests to rule out the effects of repeated testing.
Results. Practice improved the speed-accuracy trade-off for the practiced complex skill that was retained over a period of 1 month. Importantly, complex skill practice, but not repeated testing alone, improved the long-term performance and kinematics of the unpracticed simpler goal-directed planar reaching task. Improvements in the unpracticed transfer task (reaching) strongly correlated with improvements in the practiced complex motor skill.
Limitations. We did not have a comparison stroke group that practiced task-specific reaching movements.
Conclusions. Given the limited number of tasks that can be practiced during therapy, training complex tasks may have an added advantage of transfer to improved simpler task performance.
Effect of Dexmedetomidine and Propofol on Basal Ganglia Activity in Parkinson Disease
Authors: Martinez-Simon Antonio , Alegre Manuel , Honorato-Cia Cristina , Nuñez-Cordoba Jorge M. , Cacho-Asenjo Elena , Trocóniz Iñaki F. , Carmona-Abellán Mar , Valencia Miguel , Guridi Jorge 
Published: April 2017

Abstract

Background
Deep brain stimulation electrodes can record oscillatory activity from deep brain structures, known as local field potentials. The authors’ objective was to evaluate and quantify the effects of dexmedetomidine (0.2 μg·kg-1·h-1) on local field potentials in patients with Parkinson disease undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery compared with control recording (primary outcome), as well as the effect of propofol at different estimated peak effect site concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 μg/ml) from control recording.

Methods
A nonrandomized, nonblinded controlled clinical trial was carried out to assess the change in local field potentials activity over time in 10 patients with Parkinson disease who underwent deep brain stimulation placement surgery (18 subthalamic nuclei). The relationship was assessed between the activity in nuclei in the same patient at a given time and repeated measures from the same nucleus over time.

Results
No significant difference was observed between the relative beta power of local field potentials in dexmedetomidine and control recordings (−7.7; 95% CI, −18.9 to 7.6). By contrast, there was a significant decline of 12.7% (95% CI, −21.3 to −4.7) in the relative beta power of the local field potentials for each increment in the estimated peak propofol concentrations at the effect site relative to the control recordings.

Conclusions
Dexmedetomidine (0.2 μg·kg-1·h-1) did not show effect on local field potentials compared with control recording. A significant deep brain activity decline from control recording was observed with incremental doses of propofol.
Human papilloma virus and lupus: the virus, the vaccine and the disease
Authors: Segal Yahel , Calabrò Michele , Kanduc Darja , Shoenfeld Yehuda 
Published: April 2017

Purpose of review
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a well known, widespread autoimmune disease, involving multiple organ systems, with a multifaceted, widely unmapped etiopathogenesis. Recently, a new aspect of morbidity has been described among SLE patients: infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). We set out to review data regarding the intricate relationship between the two and attempt to determine whether HPV may pose as a contributing factor to the development of SLE.

Recent findings
We relate to epidemiological, molecular and clinical data. We have found evidence in all these fields suggesting HPV to be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE: increased prevalence of HPV infection among SLE patients; vast molecular homology between viral peptides and human proteins associated with SLE; several reports of SLE development post-HPV vaccination. Our findings suggest a possible involvement of HPV infection in the induction of SLE, via a mechanism of immune cross-reaction due to molecular homology.

Summary
We review clinical, epidemiological and molecular data suggesting involvement of HPV infection in the pathogenesis of SLE. We suggest that these findings may justify the development of new HPV vaccines containing viral peptides that bear no homology to the human proteome, in order to avoid possible adverse immune cross-reactivity.
Body composition assessment in the prediction of osteoporotic fractures
Authors: Hars Mélany , Trombetti Andrea 
Published: April 2017

Purpose of review
To give an overview of recent research findings and insights on the role of body composition assessment in fracture risk prediction.

Recent findings
While there is to date little doubt that bone mineral density (BMD) is a main pathogenic factor of osteoporotic fractures, recent studies have emphasized the independent contribution of body composition components, especially lean mass, to fracture risk. In this article, we address body composition changes with aging, before to focus on recent studies addressing the contribution of lean and fat mass to fracture risk, together with some hypothesized mechanisms and clinical implications.

Summary
Recent compelling evidence suggest that clinicians should recognize the potential role of muscle wasting in determining fracture risk among older adults and that measures of lean mass, especially appendicular lean mass – which can be assessed simultaneously with the BMD measurement – should be considered in fracture risk assessment beyond BMD and clinical risk factors. More evidence is needed to support certain fat-related indicators in fracture risk prediction, but regional adiposity measures appear promising. Further studies in the field should help to elucidate whether interventions effective at attenuate, prevent, or ultimately reverse skeletal lean mass loss or fat accumulation, may prevent fractures.
Neuron-Specific Enolase Predicts Poor Outcome After Cardiac Arrest and Targeted Temperature Management: A Multicenter Study on 1,053 Patients
Authors: Streitberger Kaspar Josche , Leithner Christoph , Wattenberg Michael , Tonner Peter. H. , Hasslacher Julia , Joannidis Michael , Pellis Tommaso , Di Luca Elena , Födisch Markus , Krannich Alexander , Ploner Christoph J. , Storm Christian 
Published: April 2017

Objective:Outcome prediction after cardiac arrest is important to decide on continuation or withdrawal of intensive care. Neuron-specific enolase is an easily available, observer-independent prognostic biomarker. Recent studies have yielded conflicting results on its prognostic value after targeted temperature management.Design, Setting, and Patients:We analyzed neuron-specific enolase serum concentrations 3 days after nontraumatic in-hospital cardiac arrest and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and outcome of patients from five hospitals in Germany, Austria, and Italy. Patients were treated at 33°C for 24 hours. Cerebral Performance Category was evaluated upon ICU discharge. We performed case reviews of good outcome patients with neuron-specific enolase greater than 90 μg/L and poor outcome patients with neuron-specific enolase less than or equal to 17 μg/L (upper limit of normal).Measurements and Main Results:A neuron-specific enolase serum concentration greater than 90 μg/L predicted Cerebral Performance Category 4–5 with a positive predictive value of 99%, false positive rate of 0.5%, and a sensitivity of 48%. All three patients with neuron-specific enolase greater than 90 μg/L and Cerebral Performance Category 1–2 had confounders for neuron-specific enolase elevation. An neuron-specific enolase serum concentration less than or equal to 17 μg/L excluded Cerebral Performance Category 4–5 with a negative predictive value of 92%. The majority of 14 patients with neuron-specific enolase less than or equal to 17 μg/L who died had a cause of death other than hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Specificity and sensitivity for prediction of poor outcome were independent of age, sex, and initial rhythm but higher for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest than for in-hospital cardiac arrest patients.Conclusion:High neuron-specific enolase serum concentrations reliably predicted poor outcome at ICU discharge. Prediction accuracy differed and was better for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest than for in-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Our “in-the-field” data indicate 90 μg/L as a threshold associated with almost no false positives at acceptable sensitivity. Confounders of neuron-specific enolase elevation should be actively considered: neuron-specific enolase–producing tumors, acute brain diseases, and hemolysis. We strongly recommend routine hemolysis quantification. Neuron-specific enolase serum concentrations less than or equal to 17 μg/L argue against hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy incompatible with reawakening.
Physician Variation in Time to Antimicrobial Treatment for Septic Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department
Authors: Peltan Ithan D. , Mitchell Kristina H. , Rudd Kristina E. , Mann Blake A. , Carlbom David J. , Hough Catherine L. , Rea Thomas D. , Brown Samuel M. 
Published: April 2017

Objectives:
Delayed initiation of appropriate antimicrobials is linked to higher sepsis mortality. We investigated interphysician variation in septic patients’ door-to-antimicrobial time.

Design:
Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:
Emergency department of an academic medical center.

Subjects:
Adult patients treated with antimicrobials in the emergency department between 2009 and 2015 for fluid-refractory severe sepsis or septic shock. Patients who were transferred, received antimicrobials prior to emergency department arrival, or were treated by an attending physician who cared for less than five study patients were excluded.

Interventions:
None.

Measurements and Main Results:
We employed multivariable linear regression to evaluate the association between treating attending physician and door-to-antimicrobial time after adjustment for illness severity (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score), patient age, prehospital or arrival hypotension, admission from a long-term care facility, mode of arrival, weekend or nighttime admission, source of infection, and trainee involvement in care. Among 421 eligible patients, 74% received antimicrobials within 3 hours of emergency department arrival. After covariate adjustment, attending physicians’ (n = 40) median door-to-antimicrobial times varied significantly, ranging from 71 to 359 minutes (p = 0.002). The percentage of each physician’s patients whose antimicrobials began within 3 hours of emergency department arrival ranged from 0% to 100%. Overall, 12% of variability in antimicrobial timing was explained by the attending physician compared with 4% attributable to illness severity as measured by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (p < 0.001). Some but not all physicians started antimicrobials later for patients who were normotensive on presentation (p = 0.017) or who had a source of infection other than pneumonia (p = 0.006). The adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality increased by 20% for each 1 hour increase in door-to-antimicrobial time (p = 0.046).

Conclusions:
Among patients with severe sepsis or septic shock receiving antimicrobials in the emergency department, door-to-antimicrobial times varied five-fold among treating physicians. Given the association between antimicrobial delay and mortality, interventions to reduce physician variation in antimicrobial initiation are likely indicated.