bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lectin complement pathway proteins in healthy individuals
Authors: Troldborg A , Hansen A , Hansen S W K , Jensenius J C , Stengaard-Pedersen K , Thiel S 
Published: December 2016

Summary
Since the discovery of the lectin pathway of complement activation, numerous clinical cohorts have been examined for one or more proteins, with the intention of uncovering the functions of the proteins or with the aim of discovering new biomarkers or diagnostic tools. To unveil the abnormal, it is pivotal to know the normal. Our aim was to describe the concentrations of the 11 known proteins of the lectin pathway in serum and plasma and to uncover possible gender differences, age and diurnal variations, which must be taken into account for investigation in different cohorts. We examined the concentrations of all lectin pathway proteins mannan-binding lectin (MBL), H-ficolin, L-ficolin, M-ficolin, collectin-K1, collectin-L1, MBL-associated serine protease 2 (MASP-2), MASP-3, MBL-associated protein of 44 kDa (MAp44) and MAp19 in 300 Danish blood donors in serum and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasma in established assays, and we further developed a new assay to measure MASP-1 in the same samples. We found significant differences in concentrations between serum and plasma for all proteins except for MBL and MASP-3. H-ficolin, M-ficolin and MAp19 displayed convincing diurnal variation. H-ficolin, in particular, halved from morning to the middle of the night. There were gender differences for most proteins, whereas age did not seem to influence concentration. The present study underlines the necessity of considering which material to use, correct matching and a trial design that takes the nature of the protein into account in order for the outcome of cohort studies to have significant relevance.
Social preferences for the design of biodiversity offsets for shorebirds in Australia
Authors: Rogers Abbie A. , Burton Michael P. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractUnderstanding the social acceptability of biodiversity offsets is important to the design of offset policy. We used a discrete choice experiment to quantify preferences of Australians for a migratory shorebird offset in the context of an oil and gas development project. We surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1371 respondents on their preferences for current and prospective offset‐policy characteristics via an online questionnaire to inform policy design of the social dimensions related to offset acceptability. The majority of respondents accepted offsetting as a means to allow economic development; the option to reject development (and an offset) was selected in 13% of possible offset scenarios. Substituting protection of a species affected by the development with protection of a more endangered species was a desirable policy characteristic, as was having the offset implemented by a third party or the government rather than the company responsible for the development. Direct offset activities (e.g., improving degraded habitat) were preferred over indirect activities (e.g., a research program), and respondents were strongly against locating the offset at a site other than where the impact occurred. Positive and negative characteristics of offsets could be traded off by changing the number of birds protected by the offset. Our results show that Australians are likely to support increased flexibility in biodiversity‐offset policies, particularly when undesirable policy characteristics are compensated for.
Vitamin D deficiency: What does it mean for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? a compherensive review for pulmonologists
Authors: Kokturk Nurdan , Baha Ayse , Oh Yeon‐Mok , Young Ju Jung , Jones Paul W. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractObjectivesVitamin D deficiency and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are both under‐recognized health problems, world‐wide. Although Vitamin D has long been known for calcemic effects it also has less known noncalcemic effects. Recent data have shown that Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with COPD and correlates with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and FEV1 decline. The objective of this work was to review the current literature on vitamin D deficiency in relation with COPD.Data sourceA literature search, using the words “vitamin D” and “COPD”, was undertaken in Pubmed database.ResultsThe noncalcemic effects of vitamin D relating with COPD may be summarised as increasing antimicrobial peptide production, regulation of inflammatory response and airway remodelling. Vitamin D inhibits the production of several proinflammatory cytokines and leads to suppression Th1 and Th17 responses which may be involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. Vitamin D insufficiency may also contribute to chronic respiratory infections and airway colonization so returning vitamin D concentrations to an optimal range in patients with COPD might reduce bacterial load and concomitant exacerbations.Vitamin D is also important for COPD‐related comorbodities such as osteoporosis, muscle weakness and cardiovascular diseases. Data about the effect of Vitamin D supplementation on those comorbidities in relation with COPD are been scarce.ConclusionImproving the blood level of Vitamin D into the desired range may have a beneficial effect bones and muscles, but more studies are needed to test to test that hypothesis.
Measuring sedentary behaviors in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using wrist‐worn accelerometers
Authors: Atkins Christopher , Baxter Mark , Jones Andrew , Wilson Andrew 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIntroductionIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients suffer increasing functional limitation with disease worsening disease. Increasing time in sedentary behavior has been associated with poorer quality of life. Determining thresholds for activity in patients with respiratory disease is difficult due to variable cardiorespiratory limitations between individuals. Measuring sedentary behavior is not confounded by this limitation and may be a better measurement of activity in patients with respiratory disease.ObjectivesTo measure sedentary time in patients with IPF using wrist‐worn accelerometers.MethodsThirty‐nine IPF patients wore a GENEActiv actiwatch continually for 7 days. Participants underwent measurement of forced vital capacity, diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide and 6‐min walk distance (6MWD).ResultsValid data was captured from 35 of 39 participants (89.7%). Mean acceleration intensity recorded in the most active 5 h of each day (in milli‐g) were 43.8 milli‐g and sedentary time was 551.7 min per day. Daily sedentary time correlated moderately with M5 values (Pearson correlation −0.366, P = .030). Only M5 values predicted sedentary time. No variability in sedentary time was seen by day of the week. There was a trend toward higher 1 and 2‐year mortality with increasing sedentary time.ConclusionsWrist‐worn accelerometers reliably collected data and were well tolerated. IPF patients spent long periods of time in sedentary behaviors. Of the standard clinical measures used, 6MWD predicted daily activity but not sedentary time; no clinical measures predicted sedentary time. Increased sedentary time may be associated with poorer outcomes in IPF patients.
Chest computed tomography scores in patients with cystic fibrosis colonized with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Gur Michal , Spinelli Elena , Tridello Gloria , Baltieri Susanna , Pinali Lucia , Montemezzi Stefania , Bentur Lea , Assael Baroukh Maurice 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundMethicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF), with increasing incidence in recent years. We examined the association between bacterial colonization in the sputum (MRSA with or without pseudomonas (PA)) and computed tomography (CT) scores in CF patients.MethodsMRSA patients were divided according to PA status based on at least three consecutive sputum cultures; controls were patients without MRSA (with or without PA), matched for gender and age at CT. Clinical data and CT scores were compared between groups.ResultsOf 33 patients with MRSA, 14 had no PA (MRSA + PA−) and 19 had also PA (MRSA + PA+). MRSA + PA− and MRSA + PA+ patients had CT scores similar to their controls PA+ (38.25 ± 20.18 vs. 32.22 ± 18.74, P = .4, and 41.88 ± 18.18 vs. 45.33 ± 11.5, P = .4, respectively). Although MRSA + PA− had worse CT scores than their matched PA− controls, their mean FEV1 values were similar.ConclusionsColonization with MRSA in CF is associated with structural CT changes at least similar to those in PA. A cause and effect relationship cannot be established. The current findings call for a larger study assessing longitudinally the impact of MRSA acquisition and eradication protocols.
Prognosis of teeth in the line of jaw fractures
Authors: Aulakh Kamaldeep K. , Gumber Tejinder Kaur , Sandhu Sumeet 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackground/AimThe decision as to whether teeth in the line of jaw fractures should be extracted or retained remains a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to assess the prognosis of teeth directly in the line of, and adjacent to, jaw fracture sites.Materials and methodsThe study consisted of 50 patients with facial fractures in the dentate region, the diagnosis of which was made on the basis of clinical and radiographic examinations. A total of 124 teeth were present in 69 fracture sites (50 patients), of which 89 teeth were evaluated both, clinically (tooth mobility, pocket depth, pulp sensibility) and with periapical radiographs (degree of fracture displacement, marginal bone loss, root resorption).ResultsThe results revealed that 61.9% of teeth in directly in the line of fractures showed no response to electric pulp testing compared with 48.9% teeth adjacent to fractures. The maximum frequency of non‐responsive teeth was observed in Type I fractures followed by Type II fractures. Response to pulp tests was highly significant at postoperative 3‐ and 6‐month periods (Wilcoxon's test). There was continuous reduction in the measurement for mean pocket depth at both test and control sites of teeth. The measurement of marginal bone levels of teeth in the line of fractures revealed a significant reduction (P < 0.01) from preoperative to postoperative 7‐day period only. In teeth adjacent to fracture sites, the mean marginal bone levels of control site and test sites were not significant at any time interval. There was no difference in postoperative complications pertaining to whether the tooth at the fracture site was extracted or retained.ConclusionsTeeth in line of jaw fractures should not be removed on a prophylactic basis and should be followed up clinically and radiographically to determine any treatment needs.
High prevalence of MiTF staining in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: caution in the use of melanocytic markers in sarcoma
Authors: Choy Bonnie , Hyjek Elizabeth , Montag Anthony G , Pytel Peter , Haydon Rex , Luu Hue H , Zhen Chao J , Long Bradley C , Kadri Sabah , Segal Jeremy P , Furtado Larissa V , Cipriani Nicole A 
Published: December 2016

AimsThe diagnosis of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) may be challenging, as other lesions with undifferentiated spindle cell morphology must be excluded, including melanoma. Microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MiTF) stains naevi and epithelioid melanomas, as well as some mesenchymal neoplasms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of MiTF and melanocytic markers in UPS and a subset of atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX).Methods and resultsMiTF, SOX10, Melan‐A, HMB45 and S100 immunostaining was performed on resection specimens from 19 UPSs and five AFXs. Next‐generation sequencing of 50 genes was performed in UPSs to exclude dedifferentiated melanoma. In 17 of 19 UPSs (89%), tumour cells showed nuclear positivity for MiTF that was not eliminated by casein block. Three showed focal nuclear staining for HMB45, which was eliminated by casein block. One showed focal nuclear vacuole staining for S100 with red but not brown chromogen. None expressed SOX10 or Melan‐A. Mutational analysis of 15 UPSs with adequate DNA showed no mutations within hotspot regions of BRAF, KIT, or NRAS. Four of five AFXs (80%) stained with MiTF; other markers were negative.ConclusionThere is a high prevalence of nuclear MiTF expression in UPSs (89%) and AFXs (80%). Rare UPSs showed non‐specific nuclear HMB45 or S100 staining. These findings argue against using MiTF in isolation to differentiate between UPS or AFX and melanoma, and caution in interpreting focal staining for a single additional melanocytic marker. Casein block may eliminate non‐specific staining. MiTF should be used to support a diagnosis of melanoma only if multiple melanocytic markers are positive.
The transcription factor PPARα is overexpressed and is associated with a favourable prognosis in IDH‐wildtype primary glioblastoma
Authors: Haynes Harry R , White Paul , Hares Kelly M , Redondo Juliana , Kemp Kevin C , Singleton William G B , Killick‐Cole Clare L , Stevens Jonathan R , Garadi Krishnakumar , Guglani Sam , Wilkins Alastair , Kurian Kathreena M 
Published: December 2016

AimsPPARα agonists are in current clinical use as hypolipidaemic agents and show significant antineoplastic effects in human glioblastoma models. To date however, the expression of PPARα in large‐scale glioblastoma datasets has not been examined. We aimed to investigate the expression of the transcription factor PPARα in primary glioblastoma, the relationship between PPARα expression and patients’ clinicopathological features and other molecular markers associated with gliomagenesis.Methods and resultsWith protein immunoblotting techniques and reverse transcription quantitative real‐time PCR, PPARα was found to be significantly overexpressed in glioblastoma compared with control brain tissue (P = 0.032 and P = 0.005). PPARA gene expression was found to be enriched in the classical glioblastoma subtype within The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Although not associated with overall survival when assessed by immunohistochemistry, cross‐validation with the TCGA dataset and multivariate analyses identified PPARA gene expression as an independent prognostic marker for overall survival (P = 0.042). Finally, hierarchical clustering revealed novel, significant associations between high PPARA expression and a putative set of glioblastoma molecular mediators including EMX2, AQP4, and NTRK2.ConclusionsPPARα is overexpressed in primary glioblastoma and high PPARA expression functions as an independent prognostic marker in the glioblastoma TCGA dataset. Further studies are required to explore genetic associations with high PPARA expression and to analyse the predictive role of PPARα expression in glioblastoma models in response to PPARα agonists.
Two‐node‐connected star problem
Authors: Recoba Rodrigo , Robledo Franco , Romero Pablo , Viera Omar 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIn this study, a two‐node‐connected star problem (2NCSP) is introduced. We are given a simple graph and internal and external costs for each link of the graph. The goal is to find the minimum‐cost spanning subgraph, where the core is two‐node‐connected and the remaining external nodes are connected to the core. First, we show that the 2NCSP belongs to the class of NP‐hard computational problems. Therefore, a greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) heuristic is developed, enriched with a variable neighborhood descent (VND). The neighborhood structures include exact integer linear programming models to find the best paths and two‐node‐connected replacements, as well as a shaking operation in order to prevent being trapped in a local minima. The ring star problem (RSP) represents a relevant model in network optimization, where the core is a ring instead of an arbitrary two‐node‐connected graph. We contrast our GRASP/VND methodology with a previous reference work on the RSP in order to highlight the effectiveness of our heuristic. The heuristic is competitive, and the best results produced for several instances so far are under study. In this study, a discussion of the results and trends for future work are provided.
Fragmented QRS Is a Novel Risk Factor for Ventricular Arrhythmic Events After Receiving Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: IGARASHI MIYAKO , TADA HIROSHI , YAMASAKI HIRO , KUROKI KENJI , ISHIZU TOMOKO , SEO YOSHIHIRO , MACHINO TAKESHI , MURAKOSHI NOBUYUKI , SEKIGUCHI YUKIO , NOGUCHI YUICHI , NOGAMI AKIHIKO , AONUMA KAZUTAKA 
Published: December 2016

Fragmented QRS and Ventricular Arrhythmias After CRTIntroductionA fragmented QRS (fQRS) is reported to be associated with a poor prognosis or sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with Brugada syndrome or ischemic heart disease. However, no studies have clarified the impact of the presence of an fQRS on SCD or ventricular arrhythmic events in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This study aimed to clarify this point in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy.Methods and ResultsThis study included 137 heart failure patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy who received CRT (NYHA functional class: II/III/IV = 25/84/28). The 12‐lead ECGs before and after CRT were analyzed. The presence of an fQRS was decided in accordance with the definition in previous papers. Before the CRT, an fQRS was observed in 67 patients (fQRS‐pre; 49%). However, it was masked in 35 (52% of fQRS‐pre) patients after the CRT. Inversely, in 70 patients in whom an fQRS was absent before the CRT, it appeared after the CRT in 15 (21%) patients. As a result, 47 patients (34%) had an fQRS after the CRT (fQRS‐post), and it was less than that before the CRT (P = 0.014). During 18 months of follow‐up, SCD or ventricular arrhythmic events were observed more frequently in patients with an fQRS‐post than in those without (36.2% vs. 3.3%, P < 0.001). A Cox regression analysis revealed that an fQRS‐post was significantly associated with those events (hazard ratio = 9.18; 95% confidence interval = 2.45–34.48, P = 0.001).ConclusionIn patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy who received CRT, an fQRS‐post was independently associated with SCD or ventricular arrhythmic events.
Role and regulation of p27 in neuronal apoptosis
Authors: Jaiswal Surbhi , Sharma Pushkar 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIt is necessary for the cell‐cycle machinery of neurons to be suppressed to promote differentiation and maintenance of their terminally differentiated state. Reactivation of the cell cycle in response to neurotoxic insults leads to neuronal cell death and some cell‐cycle‐related proteins contribute to the process. p27 kip1 (p27), an inhibitor of cyclin‐dependent kinases, prevents unwarranted cyclin‐dependent kinase activation. In this study, we have elucidated a novel mechanism via which p27 promotes apoptosis of neurons stimulated by neurotoxic amyloid peptide Aβ42 (Amyloid β1‐42 peptide). Co‐immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that p27 promotes interaction between Cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and cyclin D1, which is induced by Aβ42 in cortical neurons. As a result, Cdk5 is sequestered from its neuronal activator p35 resulting in kinase deactivation. The depletion of p27, which was achieved by specific siRNA, restored Cdk5/p35 interaction by preventing association between Cdk5 and cyclin D1 and also abrogated Aβ42 induced apoptosis of cortical neurons. Furthermore, analysis of cell cycle markers suggested that p27 may play a role in Aβ42 induced aberrant cell cycle progression of neurons, which may result in apoptosis. These findings provide novel insights into how p27, which otherwise performs important neuronal functions, may become deleterious to neurons under neurotoxic conditions.
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Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 channels mediate Na‐K‐Cl‐co‐transporter‐induced brain edema after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Lu Kwok‐Tung , Huang Tai‐Chun , Tsai Ya‐Hsin , Yang Yi‐Ling 
Published: December 2016

AbstractNa+‐K+‐2Cl− co‐transporter (NKCC1) plays an important role in traumatic brain injury (TBI)‐induced brain edema via the MAPK cascade. The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) channel participates in neurogenic inflammation, pain transmission, and edema. In this study, we investigated the relationship between NKCC1 and TRPV4 and the related signaling pathways in TBI‐induced brain edema and neuronal damage. TBI was induced by the calibrated weight‐drop device. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into sham and experimental groups for time‐course studies of TRPV4 expression after TBI. Hippocampal TRPV4, NKCC1, MAPK, and PI‐3K cascades were analyzed by western blot, and brain edema was also evaluated among the different groups. Expression of hippocampal TRPV4 peaked at 8 h after TBI, and phosphorylation of the MAPK cascade and Akt was significantly elevated. Administration of either the TRPV4 antagonist, RN1734, or NKCC1 antagonist, bumetanide, significantly attenuated TBI‐induced brain edema through decreasing the phosphorylation of MEK, ERK, and Akt proteins. Bumetanide injection inhibited TRPV4 expression, which suggests NKCC1 activation is critical to TRPV4 activation. Our results showed that hippocampal NKCC1 activation increased TRPV4 expression after TBI and then induced severe brain edema and neuronal damage through activation of the MAPK cascade and Akt‐related signaling pathway.
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DNA base excision repair proteins APE‐1 and XRCC‐1 are overexpressed in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Santana Thalita , Sá Melka Coêlho , de Moura Santos Edilmar , Galvão Hébel Cavalcanti , Coletta Ricardo D. , Freitas Roseana de Almeida 
Published: December 2016

BackgroundDNA repair systems play a critical role in protecting the human genome from damage caused by carcinogens. Modifications in DNA repair genes may be responsible for tumor development and resistance of malignant cells to chemotherapeutic agents. The major pathway for oxidative DNA damage repair is the base excision repair pathway. This study aimed to assess the immunoexpression of DNA repair proteins APE‐1 and XRCC‐1 and its association with clinical, histologic, and survival parameters in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma, to investigate a possible role for those proteins in tumor behavior.MethodsThe expression of APE‐1 and XRCC‐1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 82 cases of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Histopathological grading was performed for each case. Pearson's chi‐square and Fisher's exact tests were used to determine the association between protein expressions and clinicopathological features of tumors, whereas Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression were used to analyze disease‐specific and disease‐free survival. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.ResultsAPE‐1 was highly expressed in the nucleus and cytoplasm in 64.6% of cases, and XRCC‐1 showed overexpression only in the nucleus in 61% of cases. High expression of XRCC‐1 was significantly associated with tumors at early clinical stages (I and II, P < 0.01) and nodal status (P = 0.03). Both proteins were not associated with other clinical parameters, histopathological grading, or survival.ConclusionsDNA base excision repair proteins APE‐1 and XRCC‐1 are upregulated in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma, and XRCC‐1 expression is associated with better clinical staging and nodal status.