bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antiphospholipid antibodies and infertility
Authors: Chighizola CB , de Jesus GR 
Published: September 2014

Since the late 1980s some publications have proposed that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) may have some relationship with infertility, considering reported deleterious effects that aPL exert on trophoblast proliferation and growth. Although not included in current classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome, many physicians investigate for aPL in patients with a history of infertility, including antibodies not listed in classification criteria, and most of those patients will receive anticoagulant therapy if any of those antibodies have a result considered positive. A review of literature was conducted searching for studies that investigated the association of aPL and infertility and if aPL positivity alters in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. The definition of infertility, routine work-up to exclude other causes of infertility, definition of IVF failure as inclusion criteria and control populations were heterogeneous among studies. Most of them enrolled women over 40 years of age, and exclusion of other confounding factors was also inconsistent. Of 29 studies that assessed aPL positivity rates in infertile women, the majority had small sample sizes, implying a lack of power, and 13 (44.8%) reported higher frequency of aPL in infertile patients compared to controls, but most of them investigated a panel of non-criteria aPL tests, whose clinical significance is highly controversial. Only two studies investigated all three criteria tests, and medium-high titer of anticardiolipin cut-off conforming to international guidelines was used in one study. Considering IVF outcome, there was also disparity in this definition: few studies assessed the live birth rate, others the implantation rate. Of 14 publications that addressed the relationship between aPL and IVF outcome, only two described a detrimental effect of these autoantibodies. In conclusion, available data do not support an association between aPL and infertility, and aPL positivity does not seem to influence IVF outcome. Well-designed clinical studies recruiting women with a clear diagnosis of infertility and a high-risk aPL profile should be performed to test whether clinically relevant aPL do—or not—exert an effect on human fertility.
Whole‐liver CT texture analysis in colorectal cancer: Does the presence of liver metastases affect the texture of the remaining liver?
Authors: Rao Sheng-Xiang , Lambregts Doenja MJ , Schnerr Roald S , van Ommen Wenzel , van Nijnatten Thiemo JA , Martens Milou H , Heijnen Luc A , Backes Walter H , Verhoef Cornelis , Zeng Meng-Su , Beets Geerard L , Beets-Tan Regina GH 
Published: September 2014

BackgroundLiver metastases limit survival in colorectal cancer. Earlier detection of (occult) metastatic disease may benefit treatment and survival.ObjectiveThe objective of this article is to evaluate the potential of whole‐liver CT texture analysis of apparently disease‐free liver parenchyma for discriminating between colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with and without hepatic metastases.MethodsThe primary staging CT examinations of 29 CRC patients were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into three groups: patients without liver metastases (n  = 15), with synchronous liver metastases (n  = 10) and metachronous liver metastases within 18 months following primary staging (n  = 4). Whole‐liver texture analysis was performed by delineation of the apparently non‐diseased liver parenchyma (excluding metastases or other focal liver lesions) on portal phase images. Mean grey‐level intensity (M), entropy (E) and uniformity (U) were derived with no filtration and different filter widths (0.5 = fine, 1.5 = medium, 2.5 = coarse).ResultsMean E1.5 and E2.5 for the whole liver in patients with synchronous metastases were significantly higher compared with the non‐metastatic patients (p  = 0.02 and p  = 0.01). Mean U1.5 and U2.5 were significantly lower in the synchronous metastases group compared with the non‐metastatic group (p  = 0.04 and p  = 0.02). Texture parameters for the metachronous metastases group were not significantly different from the non‐metastatic group or synchronous metastases group (p  > 0.05), although – similar to the synchronous metastases group – there was a subtle trend towards increased E1.5, E2.5 and decreased U1.5, U2.5 values. Areas under the ROC curve for the diagnosis of synchronous metastatic disease based on the texture parameters E1.5,2.5 and U1.5,2.5 ranged between 0.73 and 0.78.ConclusionTexture analysis of the apparently non‐diseased liver holds promise to differentiate between CRC patients with and without metastatic liver disease. Further research is required to determine whether these findings may be used to benefit the prediction of metachronous liver disease.
Glenoid Bone Loss Measurement in Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation
Authors: Friedman Lisa G.M. , Ulloa Sergio A. , Braun David T. , Saad Hussein A. , Jones Morgan H. , Miniaci Anthony A. 
Published: September 2014

Background: Shoulder instability can cause both soft tissue injury and bone defects, requiring both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for a thorough workup, which results in high patient costs and radiation exposure. Prior studies in cadaveric and nonclinical models have shown promise in assessing preoperative bone loss utilizing MRI. Purpose: To evaluate the utility of MRI in detecting and evaluating glenoid bone defects in a clinical setting. The aim was to establish whether similar information could be determined by utilizing MRI and CT in a population with recurrent instability. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: CT and MRI scans of 22 shoulders were read by 4 orthopaedic surgeons. The CT images were obtained on a 2-dimensional CT scanner. Vertical measurements were taken from the superior glenoid tubercle and directed inferiorly along the glenoid; horizontal measurements were taken across the widest part of the face of the glenoid and were perpendicular within one-half of 1° to the vertical measurement. The same protocol was followed for MRI measurements. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated. Results: There was a moderate amount of agreement between examiners for the height measurements on MRI (ICC, 0.53) and a substantial agreement for the CT images (ICC, 0.64). The width measurements for MRI had a moderate amount of agreement (ICC, 0.41), while the CT images had a fair agreement (ICC, 0.39). The height measurements between the measurements of MRI and CT images had an overall ICC of 0.43, while the width measurements had an overall ICC of 0.41, both of which were considered a moderate amount of agreement. Conclusion: There is moderate correlation between MRI and CT scans when measuring the glenoid, indicating that taking the length-to-height ratio measurements across the glenoid is a promising way to estimate the glenoid defect. At present, a complete workup of a patient with shoulder instability includes both a CT scan and an MRI. Future research that establishes precisely how MRI misestimates CT measurements of the glenoid can perhaps obviate the need for 2 scans.
TET2 mutations predict response to hypomethylating agents in myelodysplastic syndrome patients
Authors: Bejar Rafael , Lord Allegra , Stevenson Kristen , Bar-Natan Michal , Pérez-Ladaga Albert , Zaneveld Jacques , Wang Hui , Caughey Bennett , Stojanov Petar , Getz Gad , Garcia-Manero Guillermo , Kantarjian Hagop , Chen Rui , Stone Richard M. , Neuberg Donna , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. 
Published: September 2014

Key Points
Higher abundance TET2 mutations are associated with increased response to hypomethylating agents, particularly when ASXL1 is not mutated. TP53 and PTPN11 mutations are associated with shorter overall survival after hypomethylating agent treatment, but do not predict response.
Immunohistochemistry as a valuable tool to assess CD30 expression in peripheral T-cell lymphomas: high correlation with mRNA levels
Authors: Bossard Céline , Dobay Maria Pamela , Parrens Marie , Lamant Laurence , Missiaglia Edoardo , Haioun Corinne , Martin Antoine , Fabiani Bettina , Delarue Richard , Tournilhac Olivier , Delorenzi Mauro , Gaulard Philippe , de Leval Laurence 
Published: September 2014

Key Points
IHC is a valuable clinical tool for assessing CD30+ PTCL patients who may respond to CD30-targeting treatment. CD30 mRNA and protein expression are highly correlated.
Human T-follicular helper and T-follicular regulatory cell maintenance is independent of germinal centers
Authors: Wallin Elizabeth F. , Jolly Elaine C. , Suchánek Ondřej , Bradley J. Andrew , Espéli Marion , Jayne David R. W. , Linterman Michelle A. , Smith Kenneth G. C. 
Published: September 2014

Key Points
RTX treatment results in loss of human GC B cells. Human Tfh and Tfr cells do not require GC B cells for their maintenance.
Investigation of extended-gate field-effect transistor pH sensors based on different-temperature-annealed bi-layer MWCNTs-In2O3 films
Authors: Hung Shang-Chao , Cheng Nai-Jen , Yang Cheng-Fu , Lo Yuan-Pin 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
In this paper, indium (In) films were deposited on glass substrates using DC sputtering method. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and dispersant were dissolved in alcohol, and the mixed solution was deposited on the In films using the spray method. The bi-layer MWCNTs-In2O3 films were annealed at different temperatures (from room temperature to 500°C) in O2 atmosphere. The influences of annealing temperature on the characteristics of the bi-layer MWCNTs-In2O3 films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. A separative extended-gate field-effect transistor (EGFET) device combined with a bi-layer MWCNTs-In2O3 film was constructed as a pH sensor. The influences of different annealing temperatures on the performances of the EGFET-based pH sensors were investigated. We would show that the pH sensitivity was dependent on the thermal oxygenation temperature of the bi-layer MWCNTs-In2O3 films.
PI3K/Akt regulates survival during differentiation of human macrophages by maintaining NF-κB-dependent expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-xL
Authors: Busca Aurelia , Saxena Mansi , Iqbal Salma , Angel Jonathan , Kumar Ashok 
Published: September 2014

AbstractResistance to apoptosis is an important characteristic that human macrophages acquire during differentiation from monocytes. However, the intracellular mechanisms that mediate the development of resistance are not well understood. We have used M-CSF-stimulated primary human monocytes and PMA-treated THP1 cells to study apoptosis resistance during differentiation of human macrophages. Our results indicate that PI3K/Akt distinctively regulates survival of macrophages during and after differentiation. More specifically, a signaling pathway consisting of PI3K/Akt-NF-κB-Bcl-xL regulates cell survival during the differentiation process. PI3K/Akt-mediated activation of NF-κB plays a key role in survival of differentiating macrophages by specifically sustaining antiapoptotic Bcl-xL expression. With the use of pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA for Akt and Bcl-xL, we show that in the absence of Akt-dependent Bcl-xL expression during differentiation, cells undergo caspase-mediated apoptosis. In contrast, in differentiated macrophages, Bcl-xL expression is independent of PI3K/Akt activation. Taken together, these results suggest that survival of macrophages is distinctly regulated during and after differentiation. Our results also suggest new, potential therapeutic targets to modulate differentiation and survival of this cell type.
Laboratory measurements of seismic attenuation in sandstone: Strain versus fluid saturation effects
Authors: Tisato Nicola , Quintal Beatriz 
Published: September 2014

In the past few decades, great attention has been focused on uncovering the physics of seismic wave attenuation in fluid-saturated rocks. However, the relationship among many variables affecting attenuation is still not completely clear. For instance, although the role of strain in enhancing friction dissipation is relatively well known for dry rocks, it remains unclear how and how much it affects attenuation in fluid-saturated rocks. We experimentally measured attenuation in the extensional mode in Berea sandstone at strains between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and at frequencies in the seismic bandwidth (1–100 Hz). These strains were similar to those typically observed in seismic exploration ([Formula: see text]). We also measured the transient fluid pressure caused when a stepwise stress was applied resulting in such strains. For the studied strain range, our results indicated that: (1) the overall attenuation in dry Berea sandstone increased linearly with strain, (2) the frequency-dependent component of attenuation, which was associated with fluid saturation, was approximately insensitive to strain, and (3) the overall attenuation can be considered as a sum of a frequency-independent and a frequency-dependent components.
Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer (NEPC) Progressing From Conventional Prostatic Adenocarcinoma: Factors Associated With Time to Development of NEPC and Survival From NEPC Diagnosis—A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis
Authors: Wang Hai Tao , Yao Yan Hong , Li Bao Guo , Tang Yong , Chang Ji Wu , Zhang Jiao 
Published: September 2014

Purpose An often under-recognized late manifestation of prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) is the development of treatment-related neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors related to survival after NEPC diagnosis (NEPCS) and time from initial diagnosis of PCa to development of NEPC (TTNEPC). Patients and Methods A literature search on NEPC was performed using databases such as MEDLINE and EMBASE. Studies were eligible if outcomes data (NEPCS and/or TTNEPC) were reported in patients with a prior history of PCa and histopathologically confirmed NEPC. NEPCS and TTNEPC were evaluated using the Cox regression model with the robust sandwich estimates of the covariance matrix. Results There were 54 eligible publications, contributing 123 patients. The median TTNEPC was 20 months. In multivariable analyses, the Gleason score was significantly associated with shorter TTNEPC (hazard ratio [HR], 1.66; P = .032). The median NEPCS was 7 months. In multivariable analyses, the number of organs with metastatic disease at NEPC was significantly associated with shorter NEPCS (HR, 3.31; P = .001). Type of treatment after NEPC was significantly associated with longer NEPCS, with HRs of 0.66 (radiotherapy v palliative therapy; P = .034), 0.38 (chemotherapy v palliative therapy; P = .018), and 0.29 (chemoradiotherapy v palliative therapy; P = .012), respectively. Conclusion Treatment-related NEPC is an often under-recognized late manifestation of PCa with poor prognosis. Our study found that Gleason score was the only independent factor contributing to TTNEPC. Once NEPC is diagnosed, type of treatment and the number of organs with metastatic disease were the most important factors related to survival.
Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Within the Thrombomodulin Gene (THBD) Predict Mortality in Patients With Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Authors: Rachakonda Sivaramakrishna P. , Penack Olaf , Dietrich Sascha , Blau Olga , Blau Igor Wolfgang , Radujkovic Aleksandar , Isermann Berend , Ho Anthony D. , Uharek Lutz , Dreger Peter , Kumar Rajiv , Luft Thomas 
Published: September 2014

Purpose Steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major and often fatal complication after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (alloSCT). Although the pathophysiology of steroid refractoriness is not fully understood, evidence is accumulating that endothelial cell stress is involved, and endothelial thrombomodulin (THBD) plays a role in this process. Here we assess whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the THBD gene predict outcome after alloSCT. Patients and Methods Seven SNPs within the THBD gene were studied (rs1962, rs1042579, rs1042580, rs3176123, rs3176124, rs3176126, and rs3176134) in a training cohort of 306 patients. The relevant genotypes were then validated in an independent cohort (n = 321). Results In the training cohort, an increased risk of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was associated with three of seven SNPs tested: rs1962, rs1042579 (in linkage disequilibrium with rs3176123), and rs1042580. When patients were divided into risk groups (one v no high-risk SNP), a strong correlation with NRM was observed (hazard ratio [HR], 2.31; 95% CI, 1.36 to 3.95; P = .002). More specifically, NRM was predicted by THBD SNPs in patients who later developed GVHD (HR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.61 to 5.68; P < .001) but not in patients without GVHD. In contrast, THBD SNPs did not predict incidence of acute GVHD. Multivariable analyses adjusting for clinical variables confirmed the independent effect of THBD SNPs on NRM. All findings could be reproduced in the validation cohort. Conclusion THBD SNPs predict mortality of manifest GVHD but not the risk of acquiring GVHD, supporting the hypothesis that endothelial vulnerability contributes to GVHD refractoriness.
Cabozantinib in Chemotherapy-Pretreated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Results of a Phase II Nonrandomized Expansion Study
Authors: Smith Matthew R. , Sweeney Christopher J. , Corn Paul G. , Rathkopf Dana E. , Smith David C. , Hussain Maha , George Daniel J. , Higano Celestia S. , Harzstark Andrea L. , Sartor A. Oliver , Vogelzang Nicholas J. , Gordon Michael S. , de Bono Johann S. , Haas Naomi B. , Logothetis Christopher J. , Elfiky Aymen , Scheffold Christian , Laird A. Douglas , Schimmoller Frauke , Basch Ethan M. , Scher Howard I. 
Published: September 2014

Purpose Cabozantinib (XL184), an oral inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases such as MET and VEGFR2, was evaluated in a phase II nonrandomized expansion study in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Patients and Methods Patients received open-label cabozantinib at daily starting doses of 100 mg or 40 mg until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was bone scan response, defined as ≥ 30% reduction in bone scan lesion area. Other efficacy end points included overall survival, pain, analgesic use, and biomarkers. Results One hundred forty-four patients sequentially enrolled in either a 100-mg (n = 93) or 40-mg (n = 51) study cohort. Ninety-one patients (63%) had a bone scan response, often by week 6. Treatment resulted in clinically meaningful pain relief (57% of patients) and reduction or discontinuation of narcotic analgesics (55% of patients), as well as improvements in measurable soft tissue disease, circulating tumor cells, and bone biomarkers. Improvements in each of these outcomes were observed in both cohorts: bone scan response in 73% and 45%, respectively; reductions in measurable soft tissue disease in 80% and 79%, respectively. Median overall survival was 10.8 months for the entire population. Most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were fatigue (22%) and hypertension (14%). Fewer dose reductions because of toxicity were required in the 40-mg group. Conclusion The evidence suggests that cabozantinib has clinically meaningful activity in CRPC. Cabozantinib resulted in improvements in bone scans, pain, analgesic use, measurable soft tissue disease, circulating tumor cells, and bone biomarkers. Taken together, these phase II observations warrant further development of cabozantinib in prostate cancer.
Serum Thyroglobulin (Tg) Monitoring of Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Using Sensitive (Second-Generation) Immunometric Assays Can Be Disrupted by False-Negative and False-Positive Serum Thyroglobulin Autoantibody Misclassifications
Authors: Spencer Carole , Petrovic Ivana , Fatemi Shireen , LoPresti Jonathan 
Published: September 2014

Context:Reliable thyroglobulin (Tg) autoantibody (TgAb) detection before Tg testing for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is critical when TgAb status (positive/negative) is used to authenticate sensitive second-generation immunometric assay (2GIMA) measurements as free from TgAb interference and when reflexing “TgAb-positive” sera to TgAb-resistant, but less sensitive, Tg methodologies (radioimmunoassay [RIA] or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry [LC-MS/MS]).Objective:The purpose of this study was to assess how different Kronus (K) vs Roche (R) TgAb method cutoffs for “positivity” influence false-negative vs false-positive serum TgAb misclassifications that may reduce the clinical utility of reflex Tg testing.Methods:Serum Tg2GIMA, TgRIA, and TgLC-MS/MS measurements for 52 TgAb-positive and 37 TgAb-negative patients with persistent/recurrent DTC were compared. A total of 1426 DTC sera with TgRIA of ≥1.0 μg/L had false-negative and false-positive TgAb frequencies determined using low Tg2GIMA/TgRIA ratios (&lt;75%) to indicate TgAb interference.Results:TgAb-negative patients with disease displayed Tg2GIMA, TgRIA, and TgLC-MS/MS serum discordances (% coefficient of variation = 24 ± 20%, range, 0%–100%). Of the TgAb-positive patients with disease, 98% had undetectable/lower Tg2GIMA vs either TgRIA or TgLC-MS/MS (P &lt; .01), whereas 8 of 52 (15%) had undetectable Tg2GIMA + TgLC-MS/MS associated with TgRIA of ≥1.0 μg/L. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis reported more sensitivity for TgAb method K vs R (81.9% vs 69.1%, P &lt; .001), but receiver operating characteristic curve cutoffs (&gt;0.6 kIU/L [K] vs &gt;40 kIU/L [R]) had unacceptably high false-negative frequencies (22%–32%), whereas false positives approximated 12%. Functional sensitivity cutoffs minimized false negatives (13.5% [K] vs 21.3% [R], P &lt; .01) and severe interferences (Tg2GIMA, &lt;0.10 μg/L) (0.7% [K] vs 2.4% [R], P &lt; .05) but false positives approximated 23%.Conclusions:Reliable detection of interfering TgAbs is method and cutoff dependent. No cutoff eliminated both false-negative and false-positive TgAb misclassifications. Functional sensitivity cutoffs were optimal for minimizing false negatives but have inherent imprecision (20% coefficient of variation) that, exacerbated by TgAb biologic variability during DTC monitoring, could cause TgAb status to fluctuate for patients with low TgAb concentrations, prompting unnecessary Tg method changes and disrupting Tg monitoring. Laboratories using reflexing should limit Tg method changes by considering a patient's Tg + TgAb testing history in addition to current TgAb status before Tg method selection.