bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic approach to subcutaneous nodules in patients with neuroendocrine tumours treated with depot somatostatin analogs: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Chicharro P. , Paniagua A. , Rodríguez‐Jiménez P. , Ibañes S. , Cortina B. , Riveiro J. , Sampedro‐Núñez M.Á. , Fraga J. , Marazuela M. , Daudén E. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe presence of cutaneous nodules in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP‐NETs) receiving depot somatostatin analogs (SSAs) is a diagnostic challenge as differential diagnosis between injection site reactions and metastases is essential.ObjectiveTo characterize the clinical, radiological, cytological and histopathological features of subcutaneous nodules in patients with GEP‐NETs treated with SSAs.Materials and methodsRetrospective, cross‐sectional study of patients with GEP‐NETs treated with SSAs in whom subcutaneous nodules were detected on routine abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans. High resolution and colour Doppler ultrasonography was performed. Those patients with inconclusive radiological studies went through fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and/or biopsy.ResultsTwelve patients (five males, seven females) were included (six midgut carcinoid NETs, six pancreatic NETs). Three patients received intramuscular depot octreotide, seven subcutaneous lanreotide, and two both treatments. CT scan findings were nonspecific. Sonography revealed a hyperechoic pattern in recent injections, and a hypoechoic pattern with a characteristic hyperechoic peripheral rim in long‐term injections (more than 3 months after injection). On colour Doppler sonography, nodules showed no signs of intralesional vascularity. Fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed in five patients, revealing a characteristic acellular proteinaceous material. Biopsy in four patients showed different reactional infiltrates around the acellular material.ConclusionsHigh resolution and colour Doppler ultrasonography may be very useful for the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous nodules in patients with GEP‐NETs treated with SSAs. FNAC and a biopsy are useful tests for confirmation of the diagnosis in patients with inconclusive findings. We propose a management algorithm.
Diversity of Cercomonad Species in the Phyllosphere and Rhizosphere of Different Plant Species with a Description of Neocercomonas epiphylla (Cercozoa, Rhizaria) a Leaf‐Associated Protist
Authors: Flues Sebastian , Blokker Malte , Dumack Kenneth , Bonkowski Michael 
Published: January 2018

AbstractCercomonads are among the most abundant and diverse groups of heterotrophic flagellates in terrestrial systems and show an affinity to plants. However, we still lack basic knowledge of plant‐associated protists. We isolated 75 Cercomonadida strains from the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of plants from three functional groups: grasses (Poa sp.), legumes (Trifolium sp.) and forbs (Plantago sp.), representing 28 OTUs from the genera Cercomonas, Neocercomonas and Paracercomonas. The community composition differed clearly between phyllosphere and rhizosphere, but was not influenced by plant species identity. From these isolates we describe three novel cercomonad species including Neocercomonas epiphylla that was consistently and exclusively isolated from the phyllosphere. For each new species we provide a detailed morphological description as well as an 18S rDNA gene sequence as a distinct marker of species identity. Our data contribute to a better resolution of the systematics of cercomonads and their association with plants, by describing three novel species and adding gene sequences of 10 new cercomonad genotypes and of nine previously described species. In view of the functional importance of cercozoan communities in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of plants, a more detailed understanding of their composition, function and predator–prey interactions are clearly required.
Protistology Conferences: The Beginnings. The First International Protozoology Conference (Prague 1961) and the Tribute to Otto Jírovec, its Spiritual Father
Authors: Vávra Jiří 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTwo events have helped to shape protozoology/protistology as a specific scientific discipline. The first such event was the creation of the Society of Protozoologists in the U.S. in 1947 (and of its Journal of Protozoology, first published in 1954), the second event was the First International Conference on Protozoology, held in 1961 in Prague. The history of the Society of Protozoologists was comprehensively treated by Corliss (1998); the history of the Prague Conference is presented here as reminiscences and personal interpretation of events of the author, who was one of the conference organizers and a member of the organization committee. Special attention is given to the personality and scientific accomplishments of Otto Jírovec, the 1961 conference spiritual father and president. It is concluded that the Prague Conference, while establishing the tradition of protistology meetings, helped protistology to attain its present status as a fundamental science discipline, which discovers and interprets the web of life at one of its, basic, “microbial” levels. Protists literally permeate the earth biosphere and in a way represent the “dark matter” of the living world, still awaiting many discoveries.
Streamlining the Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings by Structured Under‐Specification and Probabilistic Triage
Authors: Tecchio Paolo , Gregory Jeremy , Olivetti Elsa , Ghattas Randa , Kirchain Randolph 
Published: January 2018

SummaryLife cycle thinking plays an important role in sustainable development in the building sector. However, the complexity of data collection and scope definition limits life cycle assessment (LCA) applications. Even if the inventory data have already been collected, tabulated, and indexed, the method is still time‐consuming, which may be discouraging for designers. This study demonstrates how the LCA of buildings can be robustly streamlined using structured underspecification of impact data combined with an effective and efficient triage of the data collection. Tests were conducted with a series of building typologies that were analyzed with a cradle‐to‐gate approach. The probabilistic triage approach was tested to identify selected activities requiring detailed specification because they contribute most to total impact, thereby reducing data gathering effort. Impacts such as global warming, acidification, eutrophication, and smog creation were assessed, and results showed that 40% to 46% of the bill of materials components represent 75% of total impacts of single‐family houses and multifamily buildings. By specifying only a prioritized subset of the bill of materials to the highest level of specificity, results proved to be reasonably accurate and obtainable with less effort.
Sphingosine 1‐phosphate receptors regulate TLR4‐induced CXCL5 release from astrocytes and microglia
Authors: O'Sullivan Sinead A. , O'Sullivan Catherine , Healy Luke M. , Dev Kumlesh K. , Sheridan Graham K. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSphingosine 1‐phosphate receptors (S1PR) are G protein‐coupled and compose a family with five subtypes, S1P1R–S1P5R. The drug Gilenya® (Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) (Fingolimod; FTY720) targets S1PRs and was the first oral therapy for patients with relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The phosphorylated form of FTY720 (pFTY720) binds S1PRs causing initial agonism, then subsequent receptor internalization and functional antagonism. Internalization of S1P1R attenuates sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P)‐mediated egress of lymphocytes from lymph nodes, limiting aberrant immune function in MS. pFTY720 also exerts direct actions on neurons and glial cells which express S1PRs. In this study, we investigated the regulation of pro‐inflammatory chemokine release by S1PRs in enriched astrocytes and microglial cultures. Astrocytes and microglia were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and increases in C‐X‐C motif chemokine 5 (CXCL5), also known as LIX (lipopolysaccharide‐induced CXC chemokine) expression were quantified. Results showed that pFTY720 attenuated LPS‐induced CXCL5 (LIX) protein release from astrocytes, as did the S1P1R selective agonist, SEW2871. In addition, pFTY720 blocked messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) transcription of the chemokines, (i) CXCL5/LIX, (ii) C‐X‐C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) also known as interferon gamma‐induced protein 10 (IP10) and (iii) chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) also known as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1). Interestingly, inhibition of sphingosine kinase attenuated LPS‐induced increases in mRNA levels of all three chemokines, suggesting that LPS‐TLR4 (Toll‐like receptor 4) signalling may enhance chemokine expression via S1P‐S1PR transactivation. Lastly, these observations were not limited to astrocytes since we also found that pFTY720 attenuated LPS‐induced release of CXCL5 from microglia. These data highlight a role for S1PR signalling in regulating the levels of chemokines in glial cells and support the notion that pFTY720 efficacy in multiple sclerosis may involve the direct modulation of astrocytes and microglia.
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Assessment of the general quality of sunscreen products available in Palestine and method verification of the sun protection factor using Food and Drug Administration guidelines
Authors: Zaid Abdel Naser , Jaradat Nidal , Darwish Saja , Nairat Sura , Shamlawi Rawan , Hamad Yasmeen , Hussein Fatema , Issa Linda 
Published: January 2018

SummaryBackgroundSunlight exposure affects all skin types causing skin tanning, burns or even skin cancer. Sunscreens were invented to prevent these outcomes by scattering or absorbing the UV light.AimsThis study aimed to verify the effectiveness of Mansur method in SPF measurement and to find out how much reliable the labeled sun protection factor (SPF) value for the products that are imported to Palestine knowing that they are considered as cosmetics and they don't undergo tests by the Ministry Of Health (MOH).MaterialsIn this research, sun protection factor (SPF) was determined for 16 commercially available sunscreen products using Mansur equation which was also validated; moreover sunscreen classification, product phase determination and pH measurement were also done.ResultsSun protection factor values were mostly 50, 43.75% of the analyzed samples were close to the labeled SPF, 31.25% were under the labeled value, and 25% SPF value above the labeled value. All samples exhibited a pH close to skin pH. 62% of them were found to be O/W. Cosmetic companies and importers should focus on pediatric sunscreens, since only 12.5% are pediatric sunscreens.ConclusionsMinistry Of Health should ask prove about the quality of an SPF value of sunscreens for final registration of these products. More instructions should be available on the label regarding the proper use especially, if they are not water proof.
Association of two groups of phytoplasma with various symptoms in some wooden and herbaceous plants
Authors: Azimi Mohammad , Mehrabi‐Koushki Mehdi , Farokhinejad Reza 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDuring 2015–2016, wooden and herbaceous plants growing in parks, boulevards, fields, gardens and forests in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran, were visually inspected for symptoms resembling phytoplasma. Fifty‐one symptomatic samples from nine different species and one symptomless sample from each plant were collected. Leaf midribs, petioles and the parts of stem cambium were separated and freeze‐dried. Total DNA was extracted using CTAB‐based method and tested for phytoplasma using a nested PCR assay. The expected size amplicons of 16S rDNA were sequenced and compared to those of reference phytoplasmas by BLASTn search and phylogenetic analysis. The consensus 16S rDNA sequence of the detected phytoplasma in narrow cattail related to reference phytoplasma group 16SrVI, “Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii” while in the other plants were related to reference phytoplasma subgroup 16SrII–D, “Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia.” All isolates showed 98%–99% sequence identity to members of their reference groups. To our knowledge, this is the first report of “Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia”‐related strains infecting the plants of Acacia salicina, Alternanthera ficoidea, Melaleuca citrine, Citrus aurantium throughout the world and Celosia christata in Iran. Furthermore, this study is the first to report the association of a “Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii”‐related strain with Typha angustifolia worldwide.
Phylogeny and species delineation in the marine diatomPseudo‐nitzschia(Bacillariophyta) usingcox1,LSU, andITS2rRNAgenes: A perspective in character evolution
Authors: Lim Hong Chang , Tan Suh Nih , Teng Sing Tung , Lundholm Nina , Orive Emma , David Helena , Quijano‐Scheggia Sonia , Leong Sandric Chee Yew , Wolf Matthias , Bates Stephen S. , Lim Po Teen , Leaw Chui Pin 
Published: January 2018

Analyses of the mitochondrialcox1, the nuclear‐encoded large subunit (LSU), and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2)RNAcoding region ofPseudo‐nitzschiarevealed that theP. pseudodelicatissimacomplex can be phylogenetically grouped into three distinct clades (Groups I–III), while theP. delicatissimacomplex forms another distinct clade (Group IV) in both theLSUandITS2 phylogenetic trees. It was elucidated that comprehensive taxon sampling (sampling of sequences), selection of appropriate target genes and outgroup, and alignment strategies influenced the phylogenetic accuracy. Based on the genetic divergence,ITS2 resulted in the most resolved trees, followed bycox1andLSU. The morphological characters available forPseudo‐nitzschia, although limited in number, were overall in agreement with the phylogenies when mapped onto theITS2 tree. Information on the presence/absence of a central nodule, number of rows of poroids in each stria, and of sectors dividing the poroids mapped onto theITS2 tree revealed the evolution of the recently diverged species. The morphologically based species complexes showed evolutionary relevance in agreement with molecular phylogeny inferred fromITS2 sequence–structure data. The data set of the hypervariable region ofITS2 improved the phylogenetic inference compared to thecox1andLSUdata sets. The taxonomic status ofP. cuspidataandP. pseudodelicatissimarequires further elucidation.
Impact of interferon‐free regimens on the glomerular filtration rate during treatment of chronic hepatitis C in a real‐life cohort
Authors: Álvarez‐Ossorio M. J. , Sarmento e Castro R. , Granados R. , Macías J. , Morano‐Amado L. E. , Ríos M. J. , Merino D. , Álvarez E. N. , Collado A. , Pérez‐Pérez M. , Téllez F. , Martín J. M. , Méndez J. , Pineda J. A. , Neukam K. ,   the HEPAVIR‐DAA, GEHEP‐MONO, RIS‐HEP07 and RIS‐HEP13 Study Groups
Published: January 2018

SummaryLittle data are available on renal toxicity exerted by direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) in real life. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of direct‐acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus infection currently used in Spain and Portugal on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in clinical practise. From an international, prospective multicohort study, patients treated with DAAs for at least 12 weeks and with eGFR ≥30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 at baseline were selected. eGFR was determined using the CKD‐EPI formula. A total of 1131 patients were included; 658 (58%) were HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients. Among the 901 patients treated for 12 weeks, median (interquartile range) eGFR was 100 (87‐107) at baseline vs 97 (85‐105) mL/min per 1.73 m2 at week 12 of follow‐up (FU12) post‐treatment (P < .001). For HIV‐coinfected subjects who received tenofovir plus a ritonavir‐boosted HIV protease inhibitor (PI/r), baseline vs FU12 eGFR were 104 (86‐109) vs 104 (91‐110) mL/min per 1.73 m2 (P = .913). Among subjects receiving ombitasvir/paritaprevir with or without dasabuvir, eGFR did not show any significant change. Of 1100 subjects with eGFR >60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 at baseline, 22 (2%) had eGFR <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 at FU12, but none presented with eGFR <30 mL/min per 1.73 m2. In conclusion, eGFR slightly declines during therapy with all‐oral DAAs and this effect persists up to 12 weeks after stopping treatment in subjects with normal to moderately impaired renal function, regardless of HIV status. Concomitant use of tenofovir plus PI/r does not seem to have an impact on eGFR.
Efficacy of generic oral directly acting agents in patients with hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Gupta S. , Rout G. , Patel A. H. , Mahanta M. , Kalra N. , Sahu P. , Sethia R. , Agarwal A. , Ranjan G. , Kedia S. , Acharya S. K. , Nayak B. , Shalimar  
Published: January 2018

SummaryNovel direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) are now the standard of care for the management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Branded DAAs are associated with high sustained virological response at 12 weeks post‐completion of therapy (SVR12), but are costly. We aimed to assess the efficacy of generic oral DAAs in a real‐life clinical scenario. Consecutive patients with known HCV infection who were treated with generic‐oral DAA regimens (May 2015 to January 2017) were included. Demographic details, prior therapy and SVR12 were documented. Four hundred and ninety patients (mean age: 38.9 ± 12.7 years) were treated with generic DAAs in the study time period. Their clinical presentations included chronic hepatitis (CHC) in 339 (69.2%) of cases, compensated cirrhosis in 120 (24.48%) cases and decompensated cirrhosis in 31 (6.32%) cases. Genotype 3 was most common (n = 372, 75.9%) followed by genotype 1 (n = 97, 19.8%). Treatment naïve and treatment‐experienced (defined as having previous treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin) were 432 (88.2%) and 58 (11.8%), respectively. Generic DAA treatment regimens included sofosbuvir in combination with ribavirin (n = 175), daclatasvir alone (n = 149), ribavirin and peginterferon (n = 80), ledipasvir alone (n = 43), daclatasvir and ribavirin (n = 37), and ledipasvir and ribavirin (n = 6). Overall SVR12 was 95.9% (470/490) for all treatment regimens. SVR12 for treatment naïve and experienced patients was 97.0% (419/432) and 87.9% (51/58), respectively, P = .005. High SVR12 was observed with various regimens, irrespective of genotype and underlying liver disease status. There were no differences in SVR12 with 12 or 24 weeks therapy. No major adverse event occurred requiring treatment stoppage. Generic oral DAAs are associated with high SVR rates in patients with HCV infection in a real‐life clinical scenario.
Decreased Clinical Severity of Strangles in Weanlings Associated with Restricted Seroconversion to OptimizedStreptococcus equisspequiAssays
Authors: Tscheschlok L. , Venner M. , Steward K. , Böse R. , Riihimäki M. , Pringle J. 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundStreptococcus equissp.equicauses characteristic clinical signs that are most severe in young horses, including fever, purulent nasal discharge, and lymph node abscessation in the head region.Hypothesis/ObjectivesClinical, serologic, and microbiologic factors related to unexpectedly mild disease severity in a natural outbreak of strangles in immunologically naïve weanlings were investigated.AnimalsOne‐hundred and twelve warmblood weanlings.MethodsProspective longitudinal observational study of a natural outbreak of strangles. The entire cohort was examined at the peak of the outbreak by deep nasal swabs for culture and quantitative PCR (qPCR) for the presence ofS. equiand clinically and serologically in a sequential manner by an optimized ELISA from the index case throughout the outbreak until resolution. Descriptive statistics were calculated and comparisons made using a nondirectional Wilcoxon signed‐rank test.ResultsOutbreak morbidity was 53%, with 9 of 14 horses culture positive and 26 of 53 horses qPCR positive forS. equilacking clinical signs characteristic of strangles. By resolution, 91 of 112 had seroconverted to Antigen A by ELISA but seroconversion to antigen C (part of the SeM protein) was minimal. Sequencing of the isolates detected no alterations in the SeM protein, but identified a 61 bp deletion in the gene SEQ_0402.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAbsence of clinical signs alone in naïve horses may be an insufficient criterion to release horses from strangles quarantine measures. Restricted seroconversion to antigen C may have been associated with decreased clinical severity. The role of a minor gene deletion in SEQ_0402 in the virulence ofS. equiwarrants further investigation.
Persistence of hepatocellular carcinoma risk in hepatitis C patients with a response to IFN and cirrhosis regression
Authors: D'Ambrosio Roberta , Aghemo Alessio , Rumi Maria Grazia , Degasperi Elisabetta , Sangiovanni Angelo , Maggioni Marco , Fraquelli Mirella , Perbellini Riccardo , Rosenberg William , Bedossa Pierre , Colombo Massimo , Lampertico Pietro 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackground and AimIn patients with HCV‐related cirrhosis, a sustained virological response may lead to cirrhosis regression. Whether histological changes translate into prevention of long‐term complications, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma is still unknown. This was investigated in a cohort of histological cirrhotics who had been prospectively followed‐up for 10 years after the achievement of a sustained virological response to IFN.MethodsIn all, 38 sustained virological response cirrhotics who underwent a liver biopsy 5 years post‐SVR were prospectively followed to assess the impact of cirrhosis regression on clinical endpoints.ResultsDuring a follow‐up of 86 (30‐96) months from liver biopsy, no patients developed clinical decompensation, whilst 5 (13%) developed hepatocellular carcinoma after 79 (7‐88) months. The 8‐year cumulative probability of hepatocellular carcinoma was 17%, without differences between patients with or without cirrhosis regression (19% [95% CI 6%‐50%] vs 14% [95% CI 4%‐44%], P = .88). Patients who developed or did not an hepatocellular carcinoma had similar rates of residual cirrhosis (P = 1.0), collagen content (P = .48), METAVIR activity (P = .34), portal inflammation (P = .06) and steatosis (P = .17). At baseline, patients who developed an hepatocellular carcinoma had higher γGT (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00‐1.06; P = .014) and glucose (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00‐1.02; P = .012) values; moreover, they had increased Forns Score (HR 12.8, 95% CI 1.14‐143.9; P = .039), Lok Index (HR 6.24, 95% CI 1.03‐37.6; P = .046) and PLF (HR 19.3, 95% CI 1.72‐217.6; P = .016) values. One regressor died of lung cancer. The 8‐year cumulative survival probability was 97%, independently on cirrhosis regression (96% vs 100%, P = 1.0) or hepatocellular carcinoma (100% vs 97%, P = 1.0).ConclusionsPost‐SVR cirrhosis regression does not prevent hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence.