bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
HIF signaling in osteoblast-lineage cells promotes systemic breast cancer growth and metastasis in mice
Authors: Devignes Claire-Sophie , Aslan Yetki , Brenot Audrey , Devillers Audrey , Schepers Koen , Fabre Stéphanie , Chou Jonathan , Casbon Amy-Jo , Werb Zena , Provot Sylvain 
Published: January 2018

Significance
Previous work showed that primary tumors instigate systemic macroenvironmental changes supporting cancer progression and metastasis. Here, we show that activation of HIF signaling in osteoblast-lineage cells also generates systemic changes promoting breast cancer growth and dissemination in bones and outside the skeleton. Our results indicate that loss of bone homeostasis through alterations of the bone anabolism could affect breast cancer progression and present the skeleton as an important organ of the tumor macroenvironment. They also suggest that targeting the bone microenvironment could limit systemic tumor growth and dissemination in breast cancer.
Association of early- and adult-life socioeconomic circumstances with muscle strength in older age
Authors: Cheval Boris , Boisgontier Matthieu P , Orsholits Dan , Sieber Stefan , Guessous Idris , Gabriel Rainer , Stringhini Silvia , Blane David , van der Linden Bernadette W A , Kliegel Matthias , Burton-Jeangros Claudine , Courvoisier Delphine S , Cullati Stéphane 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Background
socioeconomic circumstances (SEC) during a person’s lifespan influence a wide range of health outcomes. However, solid evidence of the association of early- and adult-life SEC with health trajectories in ageing is still lacking. This study assessed whether early-life SEC are associated with muscle strength in later life—a biomarker of health—and whether this relationship is caused by adult-life SEC and health behaviours.

Methods
we used data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe, a 12-year population-based cohort study with repeated measurement in six waves (2004–15) and retrospective collection of life-course data. Participants’ grip strength was assessed by using a handheld dynamometer. Confounder-adjusted logistic mixed-effect models were used to examine the associations of early- and adult-life SEC with the risk of low muscle strength (LMS) in older age.

Results
a total of 24,179 participants (96,375 observations) aged 50–96 living in 14 European countries were included in the analyses. Risk of LMS was increased with disadvantaged relative to advantaged early-life SEC. The association between risk of LMS and disadvantaged early-life SEC gradually decreased when adjusting for adult-life SEC for both sexes and with unhealthy behaviours for women. After adjusting for these factors, all associations between risk of LMS and early-life SEC remained significant for women.

Conclusion
early-life SEC are associated with muscle strength after adjusting for adult-life SEC and behavioural lifestyle factors, especially in women, which suggests that early life may represent a sensitive period for future health.
Central Blood Pressure Responses to Dietary Sodium and Potassium Interventions
Authors: Xing Xiaolong , Liu Fangchao , Yang Xueli , Huang Chen , Zhang Dingding , Chen Shufeng , Chen Jichun , Li Jianxin , Liu Zhendong , Lu Fanghong , Gu Dongfeng , Huang Jianfeng 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

BACKGROUND
To explore how central hemodynamics respond to dietary sodium and potassium interventions, and whether the responses are associated with metabolic traits.

METHODS
We conducted a dietary intervention study including a 7-day low-sodium (51.3 mmol sodium/day) intervention, a 7-day high-sodium (307.8 mmol sodium/day) intervention, and a 7-day high-sodium with potassium supplementation (60.0 mmol potassium/day) intervention among 99 northern Chinese subjects aged 18–60 years. Five metabolic traits included abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, raised blood pressure (BP), and high glucose. Central hemodynamics were measured at baseline and during each intervention.

RESULTS
Central systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), and augmentation index (AIx@75) significantly decreased during low-sodium intervention, increased during high-sodium intervention, and then decreased during potassium supplementation. We observed potential linear trends toward significance of central SBP and PP responses to low-sodium intervention, and significant linear trends of responses to high-sodium intervention as the number of metabolic traits grows. For example, among participants with 0 or 1, 2 or 3, and 4 or 5 metabolic traits, central SBP responses to high-sodium intervention were 8.8 [95% confidence interval (5.8, 11.8)], 9.3 (7.1, 11.6), and 14.0 (11.6, 16.3) mmHg, respectively (P for trend = 0.009). Significant linear trends of central SBP and DBP responses to potassium supplementation were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS
Central BP and AIx@75 were lowered by sodium reduction and potassium supplementation, and elevated by sodium-loading. The responses of central BP were pronounced among individuals with metabolic traits clustering.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION
Trial Number NCT00721721 (The current study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov; https://clinicaltrials.gov).
How to design a single-cell RNA-sequencing experiment: pitfalls, challenges and perspectives
Authors: Dal Molin Alessandra , Di Camillo Barbara 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe sequencing of the transcriptome of single cells, or single-cell RNA-sequencing, has now become the dominant technology for the identification of novel cell types in heterogeneous cell populations or for the study of stochastic gene expression. In recent years, various experimental methods and computational tools for analysing single-cell RNA-sequencing data have been proposed. However, most of them are tailored to different experimental designs or biological questions, and in many cases, their performance has not been benchmarked yet, thus increasing the difficulty for a researcher to choose the optimal single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) experiment and analysis workflow. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the current available experimental and computational methods developed to handle single-cell RNA-sequencing data and, based on their peculiarities, we suggest possible analysis frameworks depending on specific experimental designs. Together, we propose an evaluation of challenges and open questions and future perspectives in the field. In particular, we go through the different steps of scRNA-seq experimental protocols such as cell isolation, messenger RNA capture, reverse transcription, amplification and use of quantitative standards such as spike-ins and Unique Molecular Identifiers (UMIs). We then analyse the current methodological challenges related to preprocessing, alignment, quantification, normalization, batch effect correction and methods to control for confounding effects.
PhenoRank: reducing study bias in gene prioritization through
simulation
Authors: Cornish Alex J , David Alessia , Sternberg Michael J E 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Motivation
Genome-wide association studies have identified thousands of loci associated with human disease, but identifying the causal genes at these loci is often difficult. Several methods prioritize genes most likely to be disease causing through the integration of biological data, including protein–protein interaction and phenotypic data. Data availability is not the same for all genes however, potentially influencing the performance of these methods.

Results
We demonstrate that whilst disease genes tend to be associated with greater numbers of data, this may be at least partially a result of them being better studied. With this observation we develop PhenoRank, which prioritizes disease genes whilst avoiding being biased towards genes with more available data. Bias is avoided by comparing gene scores generated for the query disease against gene scores generated using simulated sets of phenotype terms, which ensures that differences in data availability do not affect the ranking of genes. We demonstrate that whilst existing prioritization methods are biased by data availability, PhenoRank is not similarly biased. Avoiding this bias allows PhenoRank to effectively prioritize genes with fewer available data and improves its overall performance. PhenoRank outperforms three available prioritization methods in cross-validation (PhenoRank area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]=0.89, DADA AUC = 0.87, EXOMISER AUC = 0.71, PRINCE AUC = 0.83, P &lt; 2.2 × 10−16).

Availability and implementation
PhenoRank is freely available for download at https://github.com/alexjcornish/PhenoRank.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
From genetics to response to injury: vascular smooth muscle cells in aneurysms and dissections of the ascending aorta
Authors: Michel Jean-Baptiste , Jondeau Guillaume , Milewicz Dianna M 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) play a crucial role in both the pathogenesis of Aneurysms and Dissections of the ascending thoracic aorta (TAAD) in humans and in the associated adaptive compensatory responses, since thrombosis and inflammatory processes are absent in the majority of cases. Aneurysms and dissections share numerous characteristics, including aetiologies and histopathological alterations: vSMC disappearance, medial areas of mucoid degeneration, and extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown. Three aetiologies predominate in TAAD in humans: (i) genetic causes in heritable familial forms, (ii) an association with bicuspid aortic valves, and (iii) a sporadic degenerative form linked to the aortic aging process. Genetic forms include mutations in vSMC genes encoding for molecules of the ECM or the TGF-β pathways, or participating in vSMC tone. On the other hand, aneurysms and dissections, whatever their aetiologies, are characterized by an increase in wall permeability leading to transmural advection of plasma proteins which could interact with vSMCs and ECM components. In this context, blood-borne plasminogen appears to play an important role, because its outward convection through the wall is increased in TAAD, and it could be converted to active plasmin at the vSMC membrane. Active plasmin can induce vSMC disappearance, proteolysis of adhesive proteins, activation of MMPs and release of TGF-β from its ECM storage sites. Conversely, vSMCs could respond to aneurysmal biomechanical and proteolytic injury by an epigenetic phenotypic switch, including constitutional overexpression and nuclear translocation of Smad2 and an increase in antiprotease and ECM protein synthesis. In contrast, such an epigenetic phenomenon is not observed in dissections. In this context, dysfunction of proteins involved in vSMC tone are interesting to study, particularly in interaction with plasma protein transport through the wall and TGF-β activation, to establish the relationship between these dysfunctions and ECM proteolysis.
On linear-quadratic optimal control of implicit difference equations
Authors: Bankmann Daniel , Voigt Matthias 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn this work we investigate explicit and implicit difference equations and the corresponding infinite time horizon linear-quadratic optimal control problem. We derive conditions for feasibility of the optimal control problem as well as existence and uniqueness of optimal controls under certain weaker assumptions compared to the standard approaches in the literature which are using algebraic Riccati equations. To this end, we introduce and analyse a discrete-time Lur’e equation and a corresponding Kalman–Yakubovich–Popov (KYP) inequality. We show that solvability of the KYP inequality can be characterized via the spectral structure of a certain palindromic matrix pencil. The deflating subspaces of this pencil are finally used to construct solutions of the Lur’e equation. The results of this work are transferred from the continuous-time case. However, many additional technical difficulties arise in this context.
Asymptotics of Hankel Determinants With a One-Cut Regular Potential and Fisher–Hartwig Singularities
Authors: Charlier Christophe 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
We obtain asymptotics of large Hankel determinants whose weight depends on a one-cut regular potential and any number of Fisher–Hartwig singularities. This generalises two results: (1) a result of Berestycki, Webb, and Wong [5] for root-type singularities and (2) a result of Its and Krasovsky [37] for a Gaussian weight with a single jump-type singularity. We show that when we apply a piecewise constant thinning on the eigenvalues of a random Hermitian matrix drawn from a one-cut regular ensemble, the gap probability in the thinned spectrum, as well as correlations of the characteristic polynomial of the associated conditional point process, can be expressed in terms of these determinants.
Using Iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycles to Improve Teaching Pedagogy
Authors: Murray Elizabeth J. 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
Most students entering nursing programs today are members of Generation Y or the Millennial generation, and they learn differently than previous generations. Nurse educators must consider implementing innovative teaching strategies that appeal to the newest generation of learners. The Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle is a framework that can be helpful when planning, assessing, and continually improving teaching pedagogy. This article describes the use of iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to implement a change in teaching pedagogy.
Utilization of Apical Vaginal Support Procedures at Time of Inpatient Hysterectomy Performed for Benign Conditions: A National Estimate
Authors: Ross Whitney Trotter , Meister Melanie R. , Shepherd Jonathan P. , Olsen Margaret A. , Lowder Jerry L. 
Published: January 2018

(Abstracted from Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017;217:436.e1–436.e8)
The most critical component of apical vaginal support is compromised at time of total hysterectomy unless specific apical support procedures (ASPs) are performed. When level I support is lost in women without prolapse and not reestablished in those with prolapse, these patients may be at risk of future vaginal vault prolapse.
Foley Catheterisation Versus Oral Misoprostol for Induction of Labour in Hypertensive Women in India (INFORM): A Multicentre, Open-Label, Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Mundle Shuchita , Bracken Hillary , Khedikar Vaishali , Mulik Jayashree , Faragher Brian , Easterling Thomas , Leigh Simon , Granby Paul , Haycox Alan , Turner Mark A. , Alfirevic Zarko , Winikoff Beverly , Weeks Andrew D. 
Published: January 2018

(Abstracted from Lancet 2017;390:669–680)
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy such as preeclampsia are leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide and can be reduced by an expeditious delivery. In places where resources are scarce (both personnel and equipment to carefully monitor mother and child during labor), 2 inexpensive methods of induction to more quickly get active labor going are recommended by the World Health Organization: use of a transcervical Foley catheter or low-dose oral misoprostol pills.
Aspirin Versus Placebo in Pregnancies at High Risk for Preterm Preeclampsia
Authors: Rolnik Daniel L. , Wright David , Poon Liona C. , O’Gorman Neil , Syngelaki Argyro , de Paco Matallana Catalina , Akolekar Ranjit , Cicero Simona , Janga Deepa , Singh Mandeep , Molina Francisca S. , Persico Nicola , Jani Jacques C. , Plasencia Walter , Papaioannou George , Tenenbaum-Gavish Kinneret , Meiri Hamutal , Gizurarson Sveinbjorn , Maclagan Kate , Nicolaides Kypros H. 
Published: January 2018

(Abstracted from N Engl J Med 2017;377:613–622)
Since 1979, multiple studies have shown that low-dose aspirin in pregnancy can lower the occurrence of preeclampsia. Subsequent studies have shown that doses greater than 100 mg/d started before 16 weeks of gestation are most effective.
Children’s Recognition of Emotional Prosody in Spectrally Degraded Speech Is Predicted by Their Age and Cognitive Status
Authors: Tinnemore Anna R. , Zion Danielle J. , Kulkarni Aditya M. , Chatterjee Monita 
Published: January 2018

Objectives:
It is known that school-aged children with cochlear implants show deficits in voice emotion recognition relative to normal-hearing peers. Little, however, is known about normal-hearing children’s processing of emotional cues in cochlear implant–simulated, spectrally degraded speech. The objective of this study was to investigate school-aged, normal-hearing children’s recognition of voice emotion, and the degree to which their performance could be predicted by their age, vocabulary, and cognitive factors such as nonverbal intelligence and executive function.

Design:
Normal-hearing children (6–19 years old) and young adults were tested on a voice emotion recognition task under three different conditions of spectral degradation using cochlear implant simulations (full-spectrum, 16-channel, and 8-channel noise-vocoded speech). Measures of vocabulary, nonverbal intelligence, and executive function were obtained as well.

Results:
Adults outperformed children on all tasks, and a strong developmental effect was observed. The children’s age, the degree of spectral resolution, and nonverbal intelligence were predictors of performance, but vocabulary and executive functions were not, and no interactions were observed between age and spectral resolution.

Conclusions:
These results indicate that cognitive function and age play important roles in children’s ability to process emotional prosody in spectrally degraded speech. The lack of an interaction between the degree of spectral resolution and children’s age further suggests that younger and older children may benefit similarly from improvements in spectral resolution. The findings imply that younger and older children with cochlear implants may benefit similarly from technical advances that improve spectral resolution.
S1 Sacrectomy for Re-recurrent Rectal Cancer: Our Experience with Reconstruction Using an Expandable Vertebral Body Replacement Device
Authors: Lee Daniel Jin Keat , Wang Kelvin Yafan , Sagar Peter Michael , Timothy Jake 
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:
R0 resection is achieved by high sacrectomy for local recurrence of colorectal cancer, but significant rates of perioperative complications and long-term patient morbidity are associated with this procedure. In this report, we outline our unique experience of using an expandable cage for vertebral body reconstruction following S1 sacrectomy in a 66-year-old patient with re-recurrent rectal cancer. We aim to highlight several key steps, with a view to improving postoperative outcomes.

TECHNIQUE:
A midline laparotomy was performed with the patient in supine Lloyd-Davies position, demonstrating recurrence of tumor at the S1 vertebral body. Subtotal vertebral body excision of S1 with sparing of the posterior wall and ventral foramina was completed by using an ultrasonic bone aspirator. Reconstruction was performed using an expandable corpectomy spacer system. The system was assembled and expanded in situ to optimally bridge the corpectomy. The device was secured into the L5 and S2 vertebrae by means of angled end plate screws superiorly and inferiorly. Bone grafts were positioned adjacent to the implant after this.

RESULTS:
Total operating time was 266 minutes with 350 mL of intraoperative blood loss. There were no immediate postoperative complications. The patient did not report any back pain at the time of discharge, and no neurological deficit was reported or identified. Postoperative CT scan showed excellent vertebral alignment and preservation of S1 height.

CONCLUSION:
We conclude that high sacrectomy with an expandable metal cage is feasible in the context of re-recurrent rectal cancer when consideration is given to the method of osteotomy and vertebral body replacement.
Survival Benefit of Japanese Extended Lymphadenectomy for Clinically Node-Negative and Node-Positive Colorectal Cancers
Authors: Ouchi Akira , Komori Koji , Kimura Kenya , Kinoshita Takashi , Shimizu Yasuhiro , Nagino Masato 
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND:
The impact of extended lymphadenectomy for colorectal cancer is still not sufficiently clear.

OBJECTIVE:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the survival benefit of extended lymphadenectomy compared with nonextended lymphadenectomy for clinically node-negative and node-positive colorectal cancers.

DESIGN:
The present study was a retrospective cohort study that used prospectively collected data and a propensity score matching method.

SETTINGS:
The present study was conducted at a single specialized colorectal surgery department.

PATIENTS:
Of the 1314 patients who underwent radical resection with nonextended or extended lymphadenectomy between 1988 and 2007, we included 711 and 603 patients in the cN0 and cN1/2 series. Propensity score matching was applied, and 141 and 63 pairs were extracted from the cN0 and cN1/2 series.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Disease-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival of the 2 groups were calculated and compared.

RESULTS:
In the cN0 series, no differences were observed in the long-term outcomes between the nonextended and extended groups. In the cN1/2 series, the disease-free survival tended to be higher, and the cancer-specific survival and overall survival were significantly higher (log rank, p = 0.04, p = 0.02, and p = 0.01, respectively), but the frequency of local recurrence was significantly lower (p = 0.04) in the extended group.

LIMITATIONS:
The present study was limited by its nonrandomized retrospective design.

CONCLUSIONS:
Extended lymphadenectomy demonstrated a good inhibitory effect on the local recurrence rate and led to improved disease-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival of patients in the cN1/2 series. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A517.