bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impairments in Cognitive Function and Brain Connectivity in Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis
Authors: Cheng Hsien-Lin , Lin Chun-Jen , Soong Bing-Wen , Wang Pei-Ning , Chang Feng-Chi , Wu Yu-Te , Chou Kun-Hsien , Lin Ching-Po , Tu Pei-Chi , Lee I-Hui 
Published: August 2012

Background and Purpose—
Severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis has been associated with cognitive impairment, but it is unknown whether this association is attributable to effects on brain connectivity. We present cognitive network abnormalities in a group of patients at a presymptomatic stage.

Methods—
Seventeen patients with ≥70% asymptomatic stenosis of unilateral internal carotid artery were compared with 26 healthy controls utilizing a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, the dizziness handicap inventory, and multimodality neuroimaging including diffusion tensor imaging and resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging. Longitudinally, assessments were completed in a subgroup of 10 patients at 3 months after carotid artery stenting.

Results—
Compared with the healthy controls, the patients had worse dizziness scores, poorer memory, complex visuo-spatial performances, and lower whole-brain mean fractional anisotropy. The Scheltens scores of leukoaraiosis/infarction were not different between groups. Their seed-based functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging showed marked decrements of interhemispheric and intrahemispheric, ipsilaterally to carotid stenosis, functional connectivity in the frontoparietal network. In the default mode network, the intrahemispheric functional connectivity was bilaterally impaired. Importantly, the disrupted mean fractional anisotropy in the patients significantly correlated with the attention and verbal memory functions. After successful carotid artery stenting, small but measurable increments of the mean fractional anisotropy and little functional connectivity in the default mode network ipsilateral-to-carotid artery stenting were noted.

Conclusions—
We identified for the first time distinct patterns of network disruption that correlate with cognitive fragility in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Brain connectivity may provide early and useful biomarkers for brain ischemia and reperfusion.
White Matter Lesion Severity in Mild Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients and Functional Outcome After 1 Year
Authors: Leonards Christopher O. , Ipsen Nils , Malzahn Uwe , Fiebach Jochen B. , Endres Matthias , Ebinger Martin 
Published: August 2012

Background and Purpose—
To determine if severity of visually assessed white matter disease is associated with disability after ischemic stroke.

Methods—
In this Berlin “Cream & Sugar” substudy, all first ischemic stroke patients who received magnetic resonance imaging and completed follow-up between January 2009 and December 2010, were enrolled. Severity of white matter disease was assessed on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery or T2-weighted sequences using the Wahlund and Fazekas visual scales. Functional outcome was assessed after 1 year using the modified Rankin Scale (follow-up [FU] modified Rankin Scale [mRS]).

Results—

Of 101 patients (37% female; median age, 67 years; interquartile range, 54–75; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 1; interquartile range, 0–2), median FU mRS was 1 (interquartile range, 0–2). Binary logistical regression adjusted for age (at 5-year intervals), acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, fasting glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, creatinine, C-reactive protein quartiles, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure revealed that Fazekas scores of 2 and 3 independently associated with FU mRS (Fazekas score 2: adjusted odds ratio, 8.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.35–30.09;
P
=0.001; Fazekas score 3: adjusted odds ratio, 4.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–16.96;
P
=0.044). Wahlund scores >10 were significantly associated with FU mRS when fasting glucose levels were removed from the regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 12.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.91–77.54;
P
=0.008).

Conclusion—
Severe white matter disease defined by standard criteria in acute ischemic stroke patients is associated with disability at 1 year and can be assessed quickly using visual rating scales.

Clinical Trial Registration Information—

URLs:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
and
https://eudract.ema.europa.eu
. Unique identifiers: NCT 01378468 and 2009-010356-97.
Dramatic Recovery in Acute Ischemic Stroke Is Associated With Arterial Recanalization Grade and Speed
Authors: Mazighi Mikael , Meseguer Elena , Labreuche Julien , Serfaty Jean-Michel , Laissy Jean-Pierre , Lavallée Philippa C. , Cabrejo Lucie , Guidoux Céline , Lapergue Bertrand , Klein Isabelle F. , Olivot Jean-Marc , Rouchaud Aymeric , Desilles Jean-Philippe , Schouman-Claeys Elisabeth , Amarenco Pierre 
Published: August 2012

Background and Purpose—
Dramatic recovery (DR) is a predictor of stroke outcome among others. However, after successful recanalization, systematic favorable outcome is not the rule. We sought to analyze the impact of recanalization on DR in patients with acute ischemic stroke eligible for any revascularization strategies (either intravenous or endovascular).

Methods—
We analyzed data collected between April 2007 and May 2011 in our prospective clinical registry. All patients with acute ischemic stroke with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≥10 at admission and an identification of arterial status before treatment were included. DR was defined as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≤3 at 24 hours or a decrease of ≥10 points within 24 hours.

Results—

DR occurred in 75 of 255 patients with acute ischemic stroke (29.4%). Patients with persistent occlusion had a low DR rate (11.1%) than those with no documented occlusion (36.5%) and those with occlusion followed by recanalization (35.3%; both
P
<0.001). Among patients with recanalization monitored by angiography, DR was higher among patients with complete recanalization than among those with partial recanalization (46.8% versus 14.3%;
P
<0.001) and increased with tertiles of time to recanalization (
P
trend
=0.002). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, grade and time to recanalization appeared independently associated with DR; the adjusted ORs were 4.17 (95% CI, 1.61–10.77) for complete recanalization and 1.24 (95% CI, 1.04–1.48) for each 30-minute time decrease. Patients with versus without DR more frequently had modified Rankin Scale ≤1 (67.6% versus 9.0%;
P
<0.001) and less frequently had hemorrhage (17.3% versus 33.9%;
P
=0.024).

Conclusions—
DR is strongly associated with favorable clinical outcome and is dependent on complete recanalization and time to recanalization.
Educational History Is an Independent Predictor of Cognitive Deficits and Long-Term Survival in Postacute Patients With Mild to Moderate Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Ojala-Oksala Johanna , Jokinen Hanna , Kopsi Valtteri , Lehtonen Kalevi , Luukkonen Liisa , Paukkunen Antti , Seeck Lotte , Melkas Susanna , Pohjasvaara Tarja , Karhunen Pekka , Hietanen Marja , Erkinjuntti Timo , Oksala Niku 
Published: August 2012

Background and Purpose—
Poststroke cognitive decline and white matter lesions (WML) are related to poor poststroke survival. Whether cognitive reserve as reflected by educational history associates with cognitive decline, recurrent strokes, and poststroke mortality independent of WML is not known.

Methods—
A total of 486 consecutive acute mild/moderate ischemic stroke patients subjected to comprehensive neuropsychological assessment (n=409) and magnetic resonance imaging (n=395) 3 months poststroke were included in the study and followed-up for up to 12 years. Odds ratios (OR) for logistic and hazard ratios for Cox regression analyses are reported (OR and hazard ratio ≤1 indicates a beneficial effect).

Results—

Long educational history (per tertile) was associated with lower frequency of executive dysfunction in models adjusted for age, sex, marital status, and stroke severity (OR, 0.75;
P
<0.05) but not when adding WML as a covariate. In contrast, educational history was independently associated with less memory impairment (OR, 0.67;
P
<0.01), aphasia (OR, 0.69;
P
<0.05), visuospatial and constructive deficits (OR, 0.70;
P
<0.05), Mini-Mental State Examination score <25 (OR, 0.53;
P
<0.0001), and dementia (OR, 0.66;
P
<0.01). In Cox regression analysis, educational history was not associated with recurrent strokes, but it associated independently with favorable poststroke survival (hazard ratio, 0.86;
P
<0.05).

Conclusions—
Long educational history associates with less poststroke cognitive deficits, dementia, and favorable long-term survival independent of age, gender, marital status, stroke severity, and WML in patients with mild/moderate ischemic stroke. This supports the hypothesis that educational history as a proxy indicator of cognitive reserve protects against deficits induced by acute stroke.
In vitro comparison of two different methods of cell washing
Authors: Smith T , Riley W , FitzGerald D 
Published: August 2012

The storage of red blood cells (RBC) results in increased concentrations of plasma free hemoglobin, potassium, glucose, and lactate, among other undesirable substances. These concentrations continue to increase as RBC products age and can cause deleterious effects to the patient. In the setting of cardiac surgery, the autotransfusion devices are routinely used to wash blood that is shed from the surgical site. These devices could also be used to wash stored RBC units obtained from the blood bank. The objective of this study was to compare the product created by washing a unit of RBCs with the AutoLog autotransfusion device in the operating room to the washed products from a standard cell washer in the blood bank. Eleven outdated RBC units (stored for >42 days at 4°C) were split in half. One half was washed using the Medtronic AutoLog device; the other half was washed using the blood bank’s Cobe 2991 Cell Processor. Analytes were measured on samples from the unwashed parent unit and from the washed daughter units. The parameters measured included hematocrit, free hemoglobin, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), potassium, glucose, and pH. When compared to the original untreated RBCs, the glucose, lactate, and potassium levels were decreased when washed in an autotranfusion device. Additionally, the free hemoglobin and LDH levels were significantly lower with the Medtronic Autolog cell saver than in the COBE 2991 Cell Processor. Washing the RBC donor units in an autotransfusion device prior to transfusion can effectively attenuate the increases seen in glucose, potassium, free hemoglobin, and LDH associated with RBC storage lesion.
Neuropathic pruritus (itch) in neuromyelitis optica
Authors: Elsone Liene , Townsend Tristan , Mutch Kerry , Das Kumar , Boggild Mike , Nurmikko Turo , Jacob Anu 
Published: August 2012

Background: Neuropathic pruritus (itch) is an uncommon, but well described, symptom in neurology. There are itch-specific neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. We noted excessive pruritus in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Objective: We aimed to explore the characteristics of pruritus in NMO patients. Methods: We reviewed case records of a well-defined cohort of 45 serial aquaporin-4 antibody-positive patients visiting the national NMO service. All patients were interviewed. Results: Of the 45 antibody-positive NMO patients, 44 had myelitis and 12 of those 44 (27.3%) patients reported pruritus within a week of other symptoms of transverse myelitis with central cord involvement. In three patients, pruritus was the first symptom of a relapse, while in one case, pruritus was the very first symptom of the index episode of NMO. Conclusion: Neuropathic pruritus seems to be a common, but under-recognised symptom of myelitis associated with NMO.
Optic neuritis interferes with optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging correlations
Authors: Zimmermann Hanna , Freing Alina , Kaufhold Falko , Gaede Gunnar , Bohn Elena , Bock Markus , Oberwahrenbrock Timm , Young Kim-Lea , Dörr Jan , Wuerfel Jens T , Schippling Sven , Paul Friedemann , Brandt Alexander U 
Published: August 2012

Background: Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thinning is associated with brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS). An influence of optic neuritis is well documented but sparsely investigated. Recently, the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL) has been shown to provide superior information regarding visual function and retinal neurodegeneration as compared with RNFL. Objective: To investigate the association of white and grey matter brain volume with peripapillary RNFL and macular GCL in MS patients with and without a history of optic neuritis. Methods: 63 patients with relapsing–remitting MS were included in a two-centre cross-sectional prospective study. All patients underwent retinal examination with spectral domain optical coherence tomography and 1.5 T MRI for determination of normalized brain volume (NBV), white matter volume (NWMV) and grey matter volume (NGMV). Results: Both RNFL and GCL were associated with NBV, NWMV and NGMV in eyes without previous optic neuritis. This association is disrupted in the case of NGMV following optic neuritis. Conclusions: Both RNFL and GCL as parameters of neuro-axonal damage are comparably linked to whole brain as well as white and grey matter atrophy. An event of optic neuritis interferes with this relation, adding further damage to the optic nerve and disrupting especially an association with grey matter.
Training in MS: influence of two different endurance training protocols (aquatic versus overland) on cytokine and neurotrophin concentrations during three week randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bansi J , Bloch W , Gamper U , Kesselring J 
Published: August 2012

Background: The influences of exercising on cytokine response, fatigue and cardiorespiratory values are important aspects of rehabilitation in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Exercise performed within these programs is often practised in water but the effects of immersion on PwMS have not been systematically investigated. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine differences in cytokine and neurotrophin concentrations, fatigue and cardiorespiratory values in response to 3 week endurance training conducted on a cycle ergometer or an aquatic bike. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 60 MS patients (Expanded Disability Status Scale range 1.0–6.5). Resting serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), Interleukin-6, soluble receptor of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, and concentrations in response to cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), fatigue and cardiorespiratory values were determined at entry and discharge. Subjects performed daily 30 minute training at 60% of VO2max. Results: Cytokines and neurotrophins showed no significant differences between groups over the training intervention. Within the water group BDNF resting and post-CPET concentrations ( p<0.05) showed a significant increase and NGF tended to increase after the training intervention. Short-term effects on BDNF (CEPT) tended to increase at the start and significantly thereafter ( p<0.05). No changes occurred in the land group. Other cytokines and fatigue scores remained unchanged over the training period. Cardiorespiratory values improved significantly over time within both groups. Conclusion: This study indicates that aquatic training activates BDNF regulation and can be an effective training method during rehabilitation in PwMS.
Modeling wave action effects in internal combustion engine air path systems: comparison of numerical and system dynamics approaches
Authors: Stockar Stephanie , Canova Marcello , Guezennec Yann , Della Torre Augusto , Montenegro Gianluca , Onorati Angelo 
Published: August 2012

The challenge of continuously improving engine fuel economy and emissions has pushed the automotive industry to adopt more efficient procedures for modeling, system simulation and model-based control. Such procedures require accurate and computationally efficient engine system simulation models that are able to predict the cylinder charge composition and the thermodynamic conditions. To this extent, reduced-order models for unsteady compressible flow systems, namely models derived from the fundamental conservation laws without over-simplifying the topology of the engine air path, are receiving considerable interest for performance simulation and control design. This paper presents a comparative study on modeling approaches for the prediction of one-dimensional unsteady compressible flow in the internal combustion engine air path system. Specifically, the paper compares a well-known second-order, shock-capturing finite-difference scheme with two novel solution methods, namely a finite-volume method and a model-order reduction method. The study aims at evaluating the ability of each method to trade-off the prediction accuracy and robustness with the computation time, in light of potential applications to real-time simulation. This is achieved by increasing the discretization length of each method, and evaluating the accuracy of the predicted response in the time and frequency domain. The characterization of the intake and exhaust flows in the manifolds of a single-cylinder engine is considered as a case study. The results are compared for the three solution methods at different discretization lengths to evaluate the ability of each model to retain accuracy and robustness. The computation times of the different methods are also evaluated. The results presented in this paper establish a clear trade-off between accuracy, stability and computation time for each solution method. This allows one to formulate considerations on the advantages and disadvantages of each method in light of potential applications to engine performance prediction, optimization and control design.
Fundamental spray and combustion measurements of soy methyl-ester biodiesel
Authors: Nerva Jean-Guillaume , Genzale Caroline L , Kook Sanghoon , García-Oliver José M , Pickett Lyle M 
Published: August 2012

Although biodiesel has begun to penetrate the fuel market, its effect on injection processes, combustion and emission formation under diesel engine conditions remains somewhat unclear. Typical exhaust measurements from engines running biodiesel indicate that particulate matter, carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons are decreased, whereas nitrogen oxide emissions tend to be increased. However, these observations are the result of complex interactions between physical and chemical processes occurring in the combustion chamber, for which understanding is still needed. To characterize and decouple the physical and chemical influences of biodiesel on spray mixing, ignition, combustion and soot formation, a soy methyl-ester (SME) biodiesel is injected into a constant-volume combustion facility under diesel-like operating conditions. A range of optical diagnostics is performed, comparing biodiesel to a conventional #2 diesel at the same injection and ambient conditions. Schlieren high-speed imaging shows virtually the same vapour-phase penetration for the two fuels, while simultaneous Mie-scatter imaging shows that the maximum liquid-phase penetration of biodiesel is higher than diesel. Differences in the liquid-phase penetration are expected because of the different boiling-point temperatures of the two fuels. However, the different liquid-phase penetration does not affect overall mixing rate and downstream vapour-phase penetration because each fuel spray has similar momentum and spreading angle. For the biodiesel and diesel samples used in this study, the ignition delay and lift-off length are only slightly less for biodiesel compared to diesel, consistent with the fuel cetane number (51 for biodiesel, 46 for diesel). Because of the similarity in lift-off length, the differences in equivalence ratio distribution at the lift-off length are mainly affected by the oxygen content of the fuels. For biodiesel, the equivalence ratio is reduced, which, along with the fuel molecular structure and oxygen content, significantly affects soot formation downstream. Spatially resolved soot volume fraction measurements obtained by combining line-of-sight laser extinction measurements with planar laser-induced incandescence imaging show that the soot concentration can be reduced by an order of magnitude for biodiesel. These integrated measurements of spray mixing, combustion and quantitative soot concentration provide new validation data for the development of computational fluid dynamics spray, combustion and soot formation models suitable for the latest biofuels.
Altered microtubule equilibrium and impaired thrombus stability in mice lacking RanBP10
Authors: Meyer Imke , Kunert Stefan , Schwiebert Silke , Hagedorn Ina , Italiano Joseph E. , Dütting Sebastian , Nieswandt Bernhard , Bachmann Sebastian , Schulze Harald 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe crucial function of blood platelets in hemostasis is to prevent blood loss by stable thrombus formation. This process is driven by orchestrated mechanisms including several signal transduction cascades and morphologic transformations. The cytoplasmic microtubule modulator RanBP10 is a Ran and β1-tubulin binding protein that is essential for platelet granule release and mice lacking RanBP10 harbor a severe bleeding phenotype. In this study, we demonstrate that RanBP10-nullizygous platelets show normal adhesion on collagen and von Willebrand factor under flow conditions. However, using a ferric chloride-induced arterial thrombosis model, the formation of stable thrombi was significantly impaired, preventing vessel occlusion or leading to recanalization and thromboembolization. Delta-granule secretion was normal in mutant mice, whereas platelet shape change in aggregometry was attenuated. Lack of RanBP10 leads to increased β1-tubulin protein, which drives α-monomers into polymerized microtubules. In mutant platelets agonists failed to contract the peripheral marginal band or centralize granules. Pretreatment of wild-type platelets with taxol caused microtubule stabilization and phenocopied the attenuated shape change in response to collagen, suggesting that RanBP10 inhibits premature microtubule polymerization of β1-tubulin and plays a pivotal role in thrombus stabilization.
Antitumor T-cell responses contribute to the effects of dasatinib on c-KIT mutant murine mastocytoma and are potentiated by anti-OX40
Authors: Yang Yan , Liu Chengwen , Peng Weiyi , Lizée Gregory , Overwijk Willem W. , Liu Yang , Woodman Scott E. , Hwu Patrick 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTargeted and immune-based therapies are thought to eradicate cancer cells by different mechanisms, and these approaches could possibly complement each other when used in combination. In this study, we report that the in vivo antitumor effects of the c-KIT inhibitor, dasatinib, on the c-KIT mutant P815 mastocytoma tumor were substantially dependent on T cell–mediated immunity. We found that dasatinib treatment significantly decreased levels of Tregs while specifically enhancing tumor antigen-specific T-cell responses. We sought to further enhance this therapy with the addition of anti-OX40 antibody, which is known to provide a potent costimulatory signal to T cells. The combination of dasatinib and anti-OX40 antibody resulted in substantially better therapeutic efficacy compared with either drug alone, and this was associated with enhanced accumulation of tumor antigen-specific T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, the combination regimen inhibited the function of Tregs and also resulted in significantly up-regulated expression of the IFN-γ–induced chemokines CXCL9, 10, and 11 in the tumor microenvironment, which provides a feasible mechanism for the enhanced intratumoral CTL infiltration. These studies delineate a strategy by which targeted therapy and immunotherapy may be combined to achieve superior antitumor responses in cancer patients.