bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolic connectomics targeting brain pathology in dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Caminiti Silvia P , Tettamanti Marco , Sala Arianna , Presotto Luca , Iannaccone Sandro , Cappa Stefano F , Magnani Giuseppe , Perani Daniela ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)
Published: June 2016

Dementia with Lewy bodies is characterized by α-synuclein accumulation and degeneration of dopaminergic and cholinergic pathways. To gain an overview of brain systems affected by neurodegeneration, we characterized the [18F]FDG-PET metabolic connectivity in 42 dementia with Lewy bodies patients, as compared to 42 healthy controls, using sparse inverse covariance estimation method and graph theory. We performed whole-brain and anatomically driven analyses, targeting cholinergic and dopaminergic pathways, and the α-synuclein spreading. The first revealed substantial alterations in connectivity indexes, brain modularity, and hubs configuration. Namely, decreases in local metabolic connectivity within occipital cortex, thalamus, and cerebellum, and increases within frontal, temporal, parietal, and basal ganglia regions. There were also long-range disconnections among these brain regions, all supporting a disruption of the functional hierarchy characterizing the normal brain. The anatomically driven analysis revealed alterations within brain structures early affected by α-synuclein pathology, supporting Braak’s early pathological staging in dementia with Lewy bodies. The dopaminergic striato-cortical pathway was severely affected, as well as the cholinergic networks, with an extensive decrease in connectivity in Ch1-Ch2, Ch5-Ch6 networks, and the lateral Ch4 capsular network significantly towards the occipital cortex. These altered patterns of metabolic connectivity unveil a new in vivo scenario for dementia with Lewy bodies underlying pathology in terms of changes in whole-brain metabolic connectivity, spreading of α-synuclein, and neurotransmission impairment.
Migraine classification using magnetic resonance imaging resting-state functional connectivity data
Authors: Chong Catherine D , Gaw Nathan , Fu Yinlin , Li Jing , Wu Teresa , Schwedt Todd J 
Published: June 2016

Background This study used machine-learning techniques to develop discriminative brain-connectivity biomarkers from resting-state functional magnetic resonance neuroimaging ( rs-fMRI) data that distinguish between individual migraine patients and healthy controls. Methods This study included 58 migraine patients (mean age = 36.3 years; SD = 11.5) and 50 healthy controls (mean age = 35.9 years; SD = 11.0). The functional connections of 33 seeded pain-related regions were used as input for a brain classification algorithm that tested the accuracy of determining whether an individual brain MRI belongs to someone with migraine or to a healthy control. Results The best classification accuracy using a 10-fold cross-validation method was 86.1%. Resting functional connectivity of the right middle temporal, posterior insula, middle cingulate, left ventromedial prefrontal and bilateral amygdala regions best discriminated the migraine brain from that of a healthy control. Migraineurs with longer disease durations were classified more accurately (>14 years; 96.7% accuracy) compared to migraineurs with shorter disease durations (≤14 years; 82.1% accuracy). Conclusions Classification of migraine using rs-fMRI provides insights into pain circuits that are altered in migraine and could potentially contribute to the development of a new, noninvasive migraine biomarker. Migraineurs with longer disease burden were classified more accurately than migraineurs with shorter disease burden, potentially indicating that disease duration leads to reorganization of brain circuitry.
Correlation between circulating osteopontin level in systemic lupus erythematosus and disease activity and associations between osteopontin polymorphisms and disease susceptibility: A meta-analysis
Authors: Lee Y H , Song G G 
Published: June 2016

Objective This study aimed to systemically review the evidence regarding the relationship between circulating blood osteopontin (OPN) level and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), correlation between serum OPN levels and SLE activity, and association between OPN polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis on the serum/plasma OPN levels in SLE patients and healthy controls, correlation coefficients between the circulating OPN level and SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) in SLE patients, and the association between OPN polymorphisms and SLE risk. Results Nine studies with 1938 SLE patients and 3037 controls were included. Meta-analysis revealed that, compared with the control group, the OPN level was significantly higher in the SLE group (SMD = 0.965, 95% CI = 0.337–1.393, p = 0.001) and in the SLE group with renal disease (SMD = 2.219, 95% CI = 0.681–3.757, p = 0.005). Meta-analysis of correlation coefficients showed a trend of positive correlation between the circulating OPN level and SLEDAI (correlation coefficient = 0.590, 95% CI = −0.025 to 0.881, p = 0.059). While no association was found between SLE and the OPN 707 T/C and 1083 G/A polymorphisms, a significant association was identified between the OPN 1239 C allele and SLE (OR = 1.192, 95% CI = 1.008–1.410, p = 0.040), and between the OPN 9250 C allele and SLE in Asians (OR = 2.070, 95% CI = 1.570–2.730, p = 2.5 × 10−7). Conclusions Our meta-analysis revealed a significantly higher circulating OPN level in SLE patients, a trend of positive correlation between OPN levels and SLE activity, and a significant association between OPN 1239 C/A and 9250 C/T polymorphisms, and SLE development.
The association of perceived conflict with sadness for long-term care residents with moderate and severe dementia
Authors: O'Rourke Hannah M , Fraser Kimberly D , Duggleby Wendy , Keating Norah 
Published: June 2016

Objectives Research into the lived experiences of long-term care residents with dementia has identified perceived conflict, and its impact on sadness, as priorities for quality of life from the perspectives of people with dementia. However, whether and to what extent perceived conflict and sadness are associated has not been previously tested in this population. This study tested the associations between perceived conflicts with staff, family or friends and co-residents and their experience of sadness, and whether cognitive impairment or functional dependence modified these associations. Methods The study design was cross-sectional, correlational retrospective. Participants were 5001 residents of 613 long-term care facilities in Ontario, Canada with moderate and severe dementia. Clinical administrative data collected from 2012 to 2013 using the Resident Assessment Instrument 2.0 were used to measure the person's perception of conflicts with family/friends, staff, or co-residents, as well as verbal and non-verbal indicators of sadness. Hypotheses were tested using logistic regression, with cluster correction. Results Sadness (adjusting for age, sex, family/friend contact, pain, cognitive impairment, and functional dependence) was positively associated with perceived conflicts with family or friends (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.26–2.88; p = 0.002) and staff (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.07–2.13; p = 0.020). These associations did not differ depending on the level of cognitive impairment or functional dependence. The association between co-resident conflict and sadness was statistically significant for people with moderate (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.45–2.82; p < 0.001) but not for those with severe dementia (OR 1.18; 95% CI 0.72–1.91; p = 0.511). Conclusion Long-term care residents with dementia who perceive conflict with others require support to maintain high quality relationships, particularly with family and friends. Future research should rigorously assess the modifiability of perceived conflict for people with moderate and severe dementia, and whether interventions to ameliorate perceived conflict result in decreased sadness and improved quality of life.
An objective functional evaluation of the flexor carpi ulnaris set of triple tendon transfer in radial nerve palsy
Authors: Latheef L. , Bhardwaj P. , Sankaran A. , Sabapathy S. R. 
Published: June 2016

This study reports an objective assessment of postoperative function of 11 triple transfers for high radial palsies, using pronator teres for wrist extension, flexor carpi ulnaris for finger extension and palmaris longus for thumb extension. The mean follow-up was 3.3 years. Assessment was done by recording the active ranges of wrist motion, grip strength, wrist and finger strength and work simulation. The mean strength and range of wrist extension were 42% and 86%, respectively, of the contralateral wrist. Other measured movements were within the functional range and work simulation confirmed good restoration of function. The mean DASH score was 3.45, with no patient reporting any specific functional complaints. This study shows that even though the range of wrist motion and the strength of the wrist and fingers are less than normal, hand function remains good. We conclude that the flexor carpi ulnaris set of tendon transfer works well. Level of evidence: 3
Analysis of variation in the surgical treatment of patients with distal radial fractures in the Netherlands
Authors: Walenkamp M. M. J. , Mulders M. A. M. , Goslings J. C. , Westert G. P. , Schep N. W. L. 
Published: June 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the variation in surgical treatment rates of patients with distal radius fractures across Dutch hospitals. We obtained all reimbursement data for the treatment of distal radius fractures for 2012 and 2013 categorized by hospital. The surgical rate across hospitals was corrected for possible explanatory variables using linear regression analyses. We analysed a total of 95,754 reimbursements. The operative rate ranged from 0% to 23%, with a mean of 9.6%. Hospital type, the percentage of females, the percentage of patients over 65, the mean age, average socioeconomic status and the total number of patients treated explained only 2.6% of the observed differences in the operative rate among hospitals in 2012 and 11.6% in 2013. Our results suggest that subjective factors, such as surgeon’s opinions and preferences, significantly influence therapeutic decisions in patients with distal radius fractures. Level of evidence: III
Efficacy of the Omnipod Insulin Management System on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Previously Treated With Multiple Daily Injections or Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion
Authors: Layne Jennifer E. , Parkin Christopher G. , Zisser Howard 
Published: June 2016

Background: Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) treatment with a tubeless patch pump has not been previously evaluated in a large cohort of patients. Methods: This multisite, retrospective study evaluated glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes (n = 873) after 3 months treatment the Omnipod® insulin management system (Insulet Corporation, Billerica, MA) compared to prior treatment with multiple daily injections (MDI) (78.1%) or CSII (21.9%). The primary outcome was change in HbA1c from baseline at 3 months post–Omnipod treatment initiation. Secondary outcomes included shifts in HbA1c to target levels, change in total daily dose (TDD) of insulin and in the frequency and severity of hypoglycemic episodes. Results: HbA1c was significantly improved at 3 months post–Omnipod treatment for the total population (mean ± SD): −0.6% ± 1.3 ( P < .001). HbA1c was also significantly lower compared to MDI: −0.3% ± 1.3, −0.4% ± 1.4, −0.8% ± 1.3 and −0.6% ± 1.3 ( P = .002 to P < .001) and CSII: −0.3% ± 0.8, −1.1% ± 1.6 ( P < .01), −0.4% ± 1.1 ( P < .001), and −0.5% ± 1.1 ( P < .001) for pediatric, adolescent, adult, and total populations, respectively. There was a 37.9% change increase in the proportion of patients ≥18 years and a 39.3% change increase in those <18 years achieving ADA treatment targets ( P = .004 to P < .001). There was a 16.4% change decrease in TDD of insulin at 3 months for the total population ( P < .001). The frequency of self-reported hypoglycemia decreased significantly ( P < .001) by 1.0 ± 2.4 episodes per week. Conclusions: Treatment with the Omnipod insulin management system was associated with clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in glycemic control, reduction in daily insulin requirement and reduction in the frequency and severity of hypoglycemic episodes.
Evaluation of French-language internet sites dealing with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Guéguen Antoine , Maillart Elisabeth , Gallice Thibault , Allaf Bashar 
Published: June 2016

Background Information available on the internet has changed patient–neurologist relationships. Its evaluation for multiple sclerosis is only partial, regardless of the language used. Objective We aim to evaluate the content quality and ranking indexes of French-language sites dealing with multiple sclerosis. Methods Two French terms and three search engines were used to identify the sites whose ranking indexes were calculated according to their positions on each page designated by the search engines. Three evaluators used the DISCERN questionnaire to assess the content quality of the 25 selected sites. The sites were classified according to the mean of the evaluators’ grades. Grading agreement between evaluators was calculated. Ranking indexes were computed as a rank/100. Results Content level was deemed mediocre, with poor referencing of the information provided. The naïve and two expert evaluators’ grades differed. Content quality disparity was found within the different website categories, except for institutional sites. No correlation was found between content quality and ranking index. Conclusion The information available was heterogeneous. Physicians should guide patients in their internet searches for information so that they can benefit from good-quality input which is potentially able to improve their management.
Merestinib blocks Mnk kinase activity in acute myeloid leukemia progenitors and exhibits antileukemic effects in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Kosciuczuk Ewa M. , Saleiro Diana , Kroczynska Barbara , Beauchamp Elspeth M. , Eckerdt Frank , Blyth Gavin T. , Abedin Sameem M. , Giles Francis J. , Altman Jessica K. , Platanias Leonidas C. 
Published: June 2016

Key Points
Merestinib blocks Mnk kinase activity in acute myeloid leukemia cells. Merestinib suppresses human leukemic progenitors and exhibits potent antileukemic effects in a xenograft mouse model.
The Impact of Surgery and Stored Red Blood Cell Transfusions on Nitric Oxide Homeostasis
Authors: Nagababu Enika , Scott Andrew V. , Johnson Daniel J. , Goyal Aakshit , Lipsitz Joshua A. , Barodka Viachaslau M. , Berkowitz Dan E. , Frank Steven M. 
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND:Cell-free hemoglobin (Hb) forms in stored red blood cells (RBCs) as a result of hemolysis. Studies suggest that this cell-free Hb may decrease nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, potentially leading to endothelial dysfunction, vascular injury, and multiorgan dysfunction after transfusion. We tested the hypothesis that moderate doses of stored RBC transfusions increase cell-free Hb and decrease NO availability in postoperative surgical patients.METHODS:Twenty-six patients undergoing multilevel spine fusion surgery were studied. We compared those who received no stored RBCs (n= 9) with those who received moderate amounts (6.1 ± 3.0 units) of stored RBCs over 3 perioperative days (n= 17). Percent hemolysis (cell-free Hb), RBC-NO (heme-NO), and plasma nitrite and nitrate were measured in samples from the stored RBC bags and from patients’ blood, before and after surgery.RESULTS:Posttransfusion hemolysis was increased approximately 3.5-fold over preoperative levels (P= 0.0002) in blood samples collected immediately after surgery but not on postoperative days 1 to 3. Decreases in both heme-NO (by approximately 50%) and plasma nitrite (by approximately 40%) occurred postoperatively, both in nontransfused patients (P= 0.036 andP= 0.026, respectively) and transfused patients (P= 0.0068 andP= 0.003, respectively) and returned to preoperative baseline levels by postoperative day 2 or 3. Postoperative plasma nitrite and nitrate were decreased significantly in both groups, and this change was slower to return to baseline in the transfused patients, suggesting that blood loss and hemodilution from crystalloid administration contribute to this finding.CONCLUSIONS:The decrease in NO metabolites occurred irrespective of stored RBC transfusions, suggesting this decrease may be related to blood loss during surgery and hemodilution rather than to scavenging of NO or inhibition of NO synthesis by stored RBC transfusions.
Habitat-specific foraging strategies in Australasian gannets
Authors: Wells Melanie R. , Angel Lauren P. , Arnould John P. Y. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACT
Knowledge of top predator foraging adaptability is imperative for predicting their biological response to environmental variability. While seabirds have developed highly specialised techniques to locate prey, little is known about intraspecific variation in foraging strategies with many studies deriving information from uniform oceanic environments. Australasian gannets (Morus serrator) typically forage in continental shelf regions on small schooling prey. The present study used GPS and video data loggers to compare habitat-specific foraging strategies at two sites of contrasting oceanographic regimes (deep water near the continental shelf edge, n=23; shallow inshore embayment, n=26), in south-eastern Australia. Individuals from the continental shelf site exhibited pelagic foraging behaviours typical of gannet species, using local enhancement to locate and feed on small schooling fish; in contrast only 50% of the individuals from the inshore site foraged offshore, displaying the typical pelagic foraging strategy. The remainder adopted a strategy of searching sand banks in shallow inshore waters in the absence of conspecifics and other predators for large, single prey items. Furthermore, of the individuals foraging inshore, 93% were male, indicating that the inshore strategy may be sex-specific. Large inter-colony differences in Australasian gannets suggest strong plasticity in foraging behaviours, essential for adapting to environmental change.
Using light to tell the time of day: sensory coding in the mammalian circadian visual network
Authors: Brown Timothy M. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACT
Circadian clocks are a near-ubiquitous feature of biology, allowing organisms to optimise their physiology to make the most efficient use of resources and adjust behaviour to maximise survival over the solar day. To fulfil this role, circadian clocks require information about time in the external world. This is most reliably obtained by measuring the pronounced changes in illumination associated with the earth's rotation. In mammals, these changes are exclusively detected in the retina and are relayed by direct and indirect neural pathways to the master circadian clock in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei. Recent work reveals a surprising level of complexity in this sensory control of the circadian system, including the participation of multiple photoreceptive pathways conveying distinct aspects of visual and/or time-of-day information. In this Review, I summarise these important recent advances, present hypotheses as to the functions and neural origins of these sensory signals, highlight key challenges for future research and discuss the implications of our current knowledge for animals and humans in the modern world.
How embryos escape from danger: the mechanism of rapid, plastic hatching in red-eyed treefrogs
Authors: Cohen Kristina L. , Seid Marc A. , Warkentin Karen M. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTEnvironmentally cued hatching allows embryos to escape dangers and exploit new opportunities. Such adaptive responses require a flexibly regulated hatching mechanism sufficiently fast to meet relevant challenges. Anurans show widespread, diverse cued hatching responses, but their described hatching mechanisms are slow, and regulation of timing is unknown. Arboreal embryos of red-eyed treefrogs, Agalychnis callidryas, escape from snake attacks and other threats by very rapid premature hatching. We used videography, manipulation of hatching embryos and electron microscopy to investigate their hatching mechanism. High-speed video revealed three stages of the hatching process: pre-rupture shaking and gaping, vitelline membrane rupture near the snout, and muscular thrashing to exit through the hole. Hatching took 6.5–49 s. We hypothesized membrane rupture to be enzymatic, with hatching enzyme released from the snout during shaking. To test this, we displaced hatching embryos to move their snout from its location during shaking. The membrane ruptured at the original snout position and embryos became trapped in collapsed capsules; they either moved repeatedly to relocate the hole or shook again and made a second hole to exit. Electron microscopy revealed that hatching glands are densely concentrated on the snout and absent elsewhere. They are full of vesicles in embryos and release most of their contents rapidly at hatching. Agalychnis callidryas' hatching mechanism contrasts with the slow process described in anurans to date and exemplifies one way in which embryos can achieve rapid, flexibly timed hatching to escape from acute threats. Other amphibians with cued hatching may also have novel hatching mechanisms.
Fabrication of Densely Packed HKUST-1 Metal Organic Framework Thin Layers on a Cu Substrate through a Controlled Dissolution of Cu
Authors: Tanihara Yasutomo , Nozaki Ai , Kuwahara Yasutaka , Mori Kohsuke , Yamashita Hiromi 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
An alternative approach to fabricate thin layers of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) on metal substrates without any needs of specific apparatuses was developed. Cu substrates were immersed into acid solution containing 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3BTC) organic linker for the MOFs synthesis, where in-situ dissolved Cu2+ ions were assembled to form [Cu3(BTC)2] (HKUST-1; BTC: 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) crystals on the Cu substrates. The optimization of the choice of acids, solvents and preparation conditions were carried out to fabricate densely packed MOFs thin layers on Cu substrates. Use of a low-polarity solvent, benzyl alcohol (ε = 13), afforded a best balance between a dissolution rate of Cu and a coordination rate of the ligands, which led to the formation of a homogeneous thin layer composed of densely deposited small HKUST-1 crystals with a thickness of up to ca. 5 µm on the Cu substrates. The thus synthesized MOFs thin layers exhibited a gas-adsorption property for H2 and CO2 with an excellent mechanical stability, making this method a promising approach to functionalize metal substrates.