bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nanostructured titanium surfaces exhibit recalcitrance towards Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation
Authors: Cao Yunyi , Su Bo , Chinnaraj Subash , Jana Saikat , Bowen Leon , Charlton Sam , Duan Pengfei , Jakubovics Nicholas S. , Chen Jinju 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTitanium-based implants are ubiquitous in the healthcare industries and often suffer from bacterial attachment which results in infections. An innovative method of reducing bacterial growth is to employ nanostructures on implant materials that cause contact-dependent cell death by mechanical rupture of bacterial cell membranes. To achieve this, we synthesized nanostructures with different architectures on titanium surfaces using hydrothermal treatment processes and then examined the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis on these surfaces. The structure obtained after a two-hour hydrothermal treatment (referred to as spear-type) showed the least bacterial attachment at short times but over a period of 6 days tended to support the formation of thick biofilms. By contrast, the structure obtained after a three-hour hydrothermal treatment (referred to as pocket-type) was found to delay biofilm formation up to 6 days and killed 47% of the initially attached bacteria by penetrating or compressing the bacteria in between the network of intertwined nano-spears. The results point to the efficacy of pocket-type nanostructure in increasing the killing rate of individual bacteria and potentially delaying longer-term biofilm formation.
Mithramycin A suppresses basal triple-negative breast cancer cell survival partially via down-regulating Krüppel-like factor 5 transcription by Sp1
Authors: Liu Rong , Zhi Xu , Zhou Zhongmei , Zhang Hailin , Yang Runxiang , Zou Tianning , Chen Ceshi 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAs the most malignant breast cancer subtype, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) does not have effective targeted therapies clinically to date. As a selective Sp1 inhibitor, Mithramycin A (MIT) has been reported to have anti-tumor activities in multiple cancers. However, the efficacy and the mechanism of MIT in breast cancer, especially TNBC, have not been studied. In this study, we demonstrated that MIT suppressed breast cancer cell survival in a dosage-dependent manner. Interestingly, TNBC cells were more sensitive to MIT than non-TNBC cells. MIT inhibited TNBC cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in vitro in time- and dosage-dependent manners. MIT suppressed TNBC cell survival, at least partially, by transcriptionally down-regulating KLF5, an oncogenic transcription factor specifically expressed in basal TNBC. Finally, MIT suppressed TNBC cell growth in a xenograft mouse model. Taken together, our findings suggested that MIT inhibits basal TNBC via the Sp1/KLF5 axis and that MIT may be used for TNBC treatment.
Cell Type-Specific Survey of Epigenetic Modifications by Tandem Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing
Authors: Mito Mari , Kadota Mitsutaka , Tanaka Kaori , Furuta Yasuhide , Abe Kuniya , Iwasaki Shintaro , Nakagawa Shinichi 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe nervous system of higher eukaryotes is composed of numerous types of neurons and glia that together orchestrate complex neuronal responses. However, this complex pool of cells typically poses analytical challenges in investigating gene expression profiles and their epigenetic basis for specific cell types. Here, we developed a novel method that enables cell type-specific analyses of epigenetic modifications using tandem chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (tChIP-Seq). FLAG-tagged histone H2B, a constitutive chromatin component, was first expressed in Camk2a-positive pyramidal cortical neurons and used to purify chromatin in a cell type-specific manner. Subsequent chromatin immunoprecipitation using antibodies against H3K4me3—a chromatin modification mainly associated with active promoters—allowed us to survey the histone modifications in Camk2a-positive neurons. Indeed, tChIP-Seq identified hundreds of H3K4me3 modifications in promoter regions located upstream of genes associated with neuronal functions and genes with unknown functions in cortical neurons. tChIP-Seq provides a versatile approach to investigating the epigenetic modifications of particular cell types in vivo.
Prediction is Production: The missing link between language production and comprehension
Authors: Martin Clara D. , Branzi Francesca M. , Bar Moshe 
Published: January 2018

AbstractLanguage comprehension often involves the generation of predictions. It has been hypothesized that such prediction-for-comprehension entails actual language production. Recent studies provided evidence that the production system is recruited during language comprehension, but the link between production and prediction during comprehension remains hypothetical. Here, we tested this hypothesis by comparing prediction during sentence comprehension (primary task) in participants having the production system either available or not (non-verbal versus verbal secondary task). In the primary task, sentences containing an expected or unexpected target noun-phrase were presented during electroencephalography recording. Prediction, measured as the magnitude of the N400 effect elicited by the article (expected versus unexpected), was hindered only when the production system was taxed during sentence context reading. The present study provides the first direct evidence that the availability of the speech production system is necessary for generating lexical prediction during sentence comprehension. Furthermore, these important results provide an explanation for the recruitment of language production during comprehension.
Combination Therapy Strategy of Quorum Quenching Enzyme and Quorum Sensing Inhibitor in Suppressing Multiple Quorum Sensing Pathways of P. aeruginosa
Authors: Fong July , Zhang Chaodong , Yang Renliang , Boo Zhao Zhi , Tan Soon Keat , Nielsen Thomas E. , Givskov Michael , Liu Xue-Wei , Bin Wu , Su Haibin , Yang Liang 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe threat of antibiotic resistant bacteria has called for alternative antimicrobial strategies that would mitigate the increase of classical resistance mechanism. Many bacteria employ quorum sensing (QS) to govern the production of virulence factors and formation of drug-resistant biofilms. Targeting the mechanism of QS has proven to be a functional alternative to conventional antibiotic control of infections. However, the presence of multiple QS systems in individual bacterial species poses a challenge to this approach. Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSI) and quorum quenching enzymes (QQE) have been both investigated for their QS interfering capabilities. Here, we first simulated the combination effect of QQE and QSI in blocking bacterial QS. The effect was next validated by experiments using AiiA as QQE and G1 as QSI on Pseudomonas aeruginosa LasR/I and RhlR/I QS circuits. Combination of QQE and QSI almost completely blocked the P. aeruginosa las and rhl QS systems. Our findings provide a potential chemical biology application strategy for bacterial QS disruption.
Novel multifunctional cheese-like 3D carbon-BN as a highly efficient adsorbent for water purification
Authors: Liu Zhenya , Fang Yi , Jia Huichao , Wang Chong , Song Qianqian , Li Lanlan , Lin Jing , Huang Yang , Yu Chao , Tang Chengchun 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn this paper, a novel three dimensional carbon boron nitride (3D C-BN) was successfully prepared. The obtained material has porous cheese-like structure and pore size ranging from 2 nm to 100 nm. Attractively, the 3D C-BN, which combines the adsorption advantages of BN and carbon together, exhibits excellent adsorption properties for organic dyes, oils and heavy metal ions. The maximum removal capacities of 3D C-BN for methyl blue (MB) and congo red (CR) are 408 mg g−1 and 307 mg g−1, respectively. Furthermore, 3D C-BN can quickly and efficiently remove oils (salad oil, gasoline and pump oil) and heavy metal ions (Cr3+, Cd2+ and Ni2+) from waste water. The macro bulk 3D C-BN, which is more convenient to use than powdered materials, can be reused by burning or heating in air and still maintains high adsorption capacity. Significantly, these superior performances can find practical application in water purification.
Plasmodium dihydrofolate reductase is a second enzyme target for the antimalarial action of triclosan
Authors: Bilsland Elizabeth , van Vliet Liisa , Williams Kevin , Feltham Jack , Carrasco Marta P. , Fotoran Wesley L. , Cubillos Eliana F. G. , Wunderlich Gerhard , Grøtli Morten , Hollfelder Florian , Jackson Victoria , King Ross D. , Oliver Stephen G. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMalaria, caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, leads to over half a million deaths per year, 90% of which are caused by Plasmodium falciparum. P. vivax usually causes milder forms of malaria; however, P. vivax can remain dormant in the livers of infected patients for weeks or years before re-emerging in a new bout of the disease. The only drugs available that target all stages of the parasite can lead to severe side effects in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency; hence, there is an urgent need to develop new drugs active against blood and liver stages of the parasite. Different groups have demonstrated that triclosan, a common antibacterial agent, targets the Plasmodium liver enzyme enoyl reductase. Here, we provide 4 independent lines of evidence demonstrating that triclosan specifically targets both wild-type and pyrimethamine-resistant P. falciparum and P. vivax dihydrofolate reductases, classic targets for the blood stage of the parasite. This makes triclosan an exciting candidate for further development as a dual specificity antimalarial, which could target both liver and blood stages of the parasite.
Far field superfocusing along with enhanced near field emission from hybrid spiral plasmonic lens inscribed with nano corrals slit diffractor
Authors: Jain Priyanshu , Maiti Tanmoy 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHere, we have numerically calculated electric field intensity and phase of the emission from various hybrid spiral plasmonic lenses (HSPL) in near field as well as in far-field. We have proposed a novel HSPL inscribed with nano corrals slit (NCS) and compared its focusing ability with other HSPLs inscribed with circular slit and circular grating. With the use of nano corrals slit, we have been able to improve light intensity in the far-field without compromising near-field intensity. Our NCS-HSPL outperforms other HSPLs and standalone SPL in near-field as well as far-field. We have also found that proposed circular slit diffractor is far more superior than previously reported circular grating diffractor. We have been able to extend the focal length of hybrid plasmonic lens upto 3 um and observed a two-fold increment in the far field intensity compared to existing spiral plasmonic lens even though size of focal spot remains same. Optical complex fields produced by NCS based HSPL can be used for various applications such as super resolution microscopy, nanolithography, bioimaging and sensing, angular momentum detectors, etc. Moreover, enhanced near-field intensity in conjunction with far-field superfocusing with reasonable focal length may lead to the development of novel multifunctional lab-on-chip devices.
Intraocular inflammatory cytokines in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration before and after initiation of intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF inhibitor
Authors: Sato Tomohito , Takeuchi Masaru , Karasawa Yoko , Enoki Toshio , Ito Masataka 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a cause of blindness in people older than 50 years. Accumulating evidence indicates the involvement of systemic and local inflammation in the pathogenesis and progression of AMD. Aflibercept is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, and intravitreal injection of aflibercept (IVA) is the approved treatments of neovascular AMD (nAMD), but the effect on inflammatory response remains unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the profiles of inflammatory cytokines in the aqueous humor of nAMD patients before and after initiation of IVA. In nAMD patients, IP-10 level was significantly higher and IL-6 level was significantly lower compared with those of cataract patients as controls. Logistic regression analysis identified IP-10 as a positive factor and IL-6 a negative factor associated with the pathogenesis of nAMD. In addition, IP-10 level correlated positively with the mean thickness of macula in the central 1-mm diameter circle. After initiation of IVA, IP-10 level was further elevated, and correlated negatively with VEGF level. These data suggest that IP-10 plays a critical role as an antiangiogenic factor and at the same time an inflammatory factor in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of nAMD eyes at onset and after IVA initiation.
Serum uric acid levels in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Fan , Zhang Qin , Ke Yaqiong , Hao Jianbo , Lu Ling , Lu Nannan , Chen Xiling 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe pathogenic mechanism of ALS remains unclear. However, increasing evidence has indicated that uric acid (UA) may play a protective role in the pathogenesis of ALS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum UA levels and ALS. A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted up to 31st August, 2017, using keywords. A random-effects model or fixed-effects model was used to calculate the pooled estimate according to the inter-group heterogeneity. Finally, we indentified 8 case-control and 3 cohort studies. The results indicated that patients with ALS had significant decreased levels of serum UA compared to healthy controls (standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.72, 95% CI [−0.98,−0.46], P < 0.001). Increased serum UA levels were associated with lower all-cause mortality risk among ALS patients (risk ratio (RR) = 0.70, 95% CI [0.57, 0.87], P = 0.001). To summarize, there is an inverse association between serum UA levels and risk of death among ALS patients. Randomized controlled trials with high quality are required to elucidate the role of UA on ALS.
Cromolyn Reduces Levels of the Alzheimer’s Disease-Associated Amyloid β-Protein by Promoting Microglial Phagocytosis
Authors: Zhang Can , Griciuc Ana , Hudry Eloise , Wan Yu , Quinti Luisa , Ward Joseph , Forte Angela M. , Shen Xunuo , Ran ChongZhao , Elmaleh David R. , Tanzi Rudolph E. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAmyloid-beta protein (Aβ) deposition is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aβ deposition triggers both pro-neuroinflammatory microglial activation and neurofibrillary tangle formation. Cromolyn sodium is an asthma therapeutic agent previously shown to reduce Aβ levels in transgenic AD mouse brains after one-week of treatment. Here, we further explored these effects as well as the mechanism of action of cromolyn, alone, and in combination with ibuprofen in APPSwedish-expressing Tg2576 mice. Mice were treated for 3 months starting at 5 months of age, when the earliest stages of β-amyloid deposition begin. Cromolyn, alone, or in combination with ibuprofen, almost completely abolished longer insoluble Aβ species, i.e. Aβ40 and Aβ42, but increased insoluble Aβ38 levels. In addition to its anti-aggregation effects on Aβ, cromolyn, alone, or plus ibuprofen, but not ibuprofen alone, increased microglial recruitment to, and phagocytosis of β-amyloid deposits in AD mice. Cromolyn also promoted Aβ42 uptake in microglial cell-based assays. Collectively, our data reveal robust effects of cromolyn, alone, or in combination with ibuprofen, in reducing aggregation-prone Aβ levels and inducing a neuroprotective microglial activation state favoring Aβ phagocytosis versus a pro-neuroinflammatory state. These findings support the use of cromolyn, alone, or with ibuprofen, as a potential AD therapeutic.
Neurorrafia hemiipoglosso-facial após dissecção intratemporal do nervo facial: análise retrospectiva de 13 pacientes
Authors: Martins Roberto S. , Siqueira Mario G. 
Published: January 2018

Resumo
Introdução: Apesar de a neurorrafia hipoglosso-facial ser considerada uma técnica efetiva para o tratamento da paralisia facial após uma lesão proximal do nervo facial, a freqüente atrofia da hemilíngua no pós-operatório conseqüente à secção completa do nervo hipoglosso é uma complicação muitas vezes incapacitante. Uma das técnicas utilizadas para evitar essa complicação é a neurorrafia hemiipoglosso-facial. Nessa técnica, o nervo facial é dissecado no seu canal, seccionado, deslocado caudalmente e suturado com metade do nervo hipoglosso na região cervical. Objetivo: Analisar retrospectivamente os resultados da técnica de neurorrafia hemiipoglosso-facial em 13 pacientes. Método: Os resultados foram avaliados por meio da classificação da paralisia facial na escala de House-Brackmann. Resultados: A idade média dos pacientes foi de 42,2 anos e a cirurgia foi realizada no período médio de 6,8 meses após a lesão do nervo facial. Em todos os pacientes, a paralisia era completa. A maioria dos pacientes (70%) apresentou melhora significativa da paralisia facial, de completa para graus II e III. Nenhum paciente apresentou sintomas relacionados à disfunção da hemilíngua. Uma correlação positiva foi identificada entre a idade e o resultado (p < 0,05) e entre o tempo da lesão até a cirurgia e o resultado final (p < 0,05). Conclusões: Concluímos que a neurorrafia hemiipoglosso-facial apresenta bons resultados funcionais, sem complicações significativas. Recomenda-se que a cirurgia seja realizada em um menor tempo possível após a lesão confirmada do nervo facial.
Fisiopatologia do traumatismo raquimedular. Uma revisão
Authors: do Amaral Sergio Henrique , Silva Marcelo Nery , Soares Viterbo Marcelo Barletta , Giraldi Mauricio , Brito Pereira Clemente Augusto de 
Published: January 2018

ResumoA compreensão dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos envolvidos no traumatismo raquimedular é essencial para possibilitar uma mudança no prognóstico atual do paciente com lesão medular. É apresentada, neste artigo, uma revisão dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos da lesão medular traumática.
Surgical management of intracranial aneurysms in the “coiling age”
Authors: Júnior Francisco Ramos , Pinheiro Marques João Antônio , de Albuquerque Lucas Alverne Freitas , Paiva Santos Flávia de , de Almeida João Paulo Cavalcante , de Lucena João Mairton Pereira 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
Background: Intracranial aneurysm rupture is associated with substantial rates of morbidity and mortality. The classic neurosurgical treatment for such lesions is the craniotomy for clipping. However, over the last 10 years, surgery has been increasingly replaced by the endovascular technique. Objective: Analyze the results of surgery technique in a Public Health Hospital in the “coiling age”. Method: We reviewed a series of 149 patients treated for 191 aneurysms by the traditional craniotomy and clipping technique. Results: We observed an overall mortality of 12.1%, poor outcome of 8% and good outcome of 79.8%. Hunt Hess scores ≥ 3 in the pre-surgical evaluation were associated to a higher length of hospital stay (p = 0.047). Better outcome was observed in patients with Hunt Hess score < 3 comparing with patients with Hunt Hess score ≥ 3 before surgery (p < 0.000). Patients who presented with Fisher Scale grade 4 presented a poor prognosis when compared to the other groups (p = 0.016). Conclusion: Excellent results may be achieved by craniotomy to treat aneurysms, which still represents a useful technique for lesions that can not be safely treated by endovascular techniques nowadays.
Qualidade dos ensaios clínicos aleatórios em neurocirurgia publicados no Brasil
Authors: Crispim Cândido Duarte Nuno , Barbosa Fabiano Timbó 
Published: January 2018

Resumo
Contexto: O ensaio clínico aleatório é definido como um estudo prospectivo, o qual compara o efeito e o valor de intervenções em seres humanos, envolvendo um ou mais grupos, a pelo menos um grupo-controle, com alocação aleatória dos participantes e utilização de medidas de controle. A qualidade de um ensaio clínico aleatório pode ser definida como a probabilidade de um estudo planejado gerar resultados sem tendenciosidades e que se aproximem da realidade terapêutica. Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade dos ensaios clínicos aleatórios em neurocirurgia publicados no Brasil. Métodos: Este estudo é transversal e descritivo; critérios de inclusão: artigo original de ensaio clínico aleatório em neurocirurgia publicado no Brasil; critérios de exclusão: estudo experimental, estudos laboratoriais e estudos observacionais. Utilizou-se estatística descritiva para descrever as variáveis secundárias. Resultados: Entre 183 artigos publicados, 15% (27/183) foram classificados como artigos originais. Não foram identificados ensaios clínicos aleatórios. Entre os artigos originais, 63% (17/27) foram caracterizados como estudos do tipo transversal de incidência/prevalência, 30% (8/27) como coorte, 4% (1/27) como acurácia e 4% (1/27) como de revisão sistemática da literatura. Conclusão: Após busca manual e criteriosa, não foram encontradas publicações de ensaios clínicos aleatórios em neurocirurgia no Brasil.
Analysis of intracranial aneurysms treated at a University Hospital in Curitiba
Authors: Zamponi Junior Johnni Oswaldo , Carneiro da Silva Paulo Eduardo , Ramos Guilherme Zandavalli , Buchaim Guilherme Mailio , de Andrade Lucas Cunha , Macente Sala Luis Fernando 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
Objective: The aim of this paper is analyze the population and the types of intracranial aneurysms treated in the neurosurgery service of the Hospital Universitário Evangélico of Curitiba (HUEC), checking possible relations of this pathology with some risk factors and analyzing also the result of the treatment of this patients. Method: We reviewed the hospital files, surgical and out-patient notes of all patients operated on for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms from January 2006 to December 2010, composing a sample of 93 patients. The variables analyzed were gender, age, history of hypertension, smoking habit, diabetes mellitus, site of aneurysm, score scales Hunt-Hess and Fisher at hospital admission and treatment outcome of aneurysms using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Results: The patients studied were predominantly women (73%), ranging in age from 51 to 60 years (38%), with a history of hypertension (61%). At admission, the grade 1 in a Hunt-Hess scale was most frequent (31%), while grade 4 on a scale of Fisher was more prevalent (26%). Aneurysms were more frequent in the anterior circulation, mainly affecting the middle cerebral artery. The most frequent score in GOS was 5 (40%). Conclusion: Subarachnoid hemorrhage is an event that may worsen the outcome of treatment of patients with intracranial aneurysms, so there is a correlation between the amount of bleeding identified on CT and prognostic evolution.