bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive rapid urinary trypsinogen‐2 dipstick test for early exclusion of post‐endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis within hours after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: Clinical diagnosis and considerations
Authors: Hama Kazuki , Sofuni Atsushi , Nakatsubo Ryosuke , Tsuchiya Takayoshi , Tanaka Reina , Tonozuka Ryosuke , Mukai Shuntaro , Yamamoto Kenjiro , Katanuma Akio , Itoi Takao 
Published: February 2024

AbstractObjectiveFew reports have explored the application of urinary trypsinogen‐2 measurement in the early diagnosis of post‐endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis, and none have demonstrated the benefits of noninvasive testing. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical application of the rapid urinary trypsinogen‐2 dipstick test (Nipro, Japan) compared with serum amylase and lipase levels for the early diagnosis of post‐ERCP pancreatitis (PEP).MethodsA total of 100 consecutive patients (54 men and 46 women) who were admitted and underwent ERCP at Tokyo Medical University Hospital from August 2021 to December 2021 were recruited. All patients underwent rapid urinary trypsinogen‐2 measurement using the dipstick test before and after ERCP. Measurements were taken 24 h before ERCP for pre‐ERCP and 1–4 h after ERCP for post‐ERCP. Additionally, serum amylase and lipase levels were measured at 8:00 a.m. of the day after ERCP (at least 8 h after ERCP), and their diagnostic abilities for PEP were compared and evaluated.ResultsPEP occurred in 5/100 patients (5%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the dipstick test for diagnosing PEP were 100%, 83.2%, 23.8%, and 100%, respectively. These results were comparable to the diagnostic performance of serum amylase and lipase levels at 8:00 a.m. on the day after ERCP (at least 8 h after ERCP). However, false positives must be considered.ConclusionThe dipstick test may be useful in clinical practice as a noninvasive screening test for the early prediction of PEP.
The first record of leucism in the Rhabdophis tigrinus (Boie, 1826) (Squamata, Colubridae) in South Korea
Authors: Park Seung‐Min , Cheon Seung‐Ju , Park Hye‐Rin , Kim Na‐Yeong , Rahman Md Mizanur , Sung Ha‐Cheol 
Published: February 2024

AbstractLeucism, in which pigmentation is lost over part or the entire body of an animal, has a range of possible genetic causes. Here, we report leucism in an individual tiger keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus) found on Jeung Island, Shinan‐gun, Jeollanam‐do, South Korea, during a survey of the distribution of reptiles in the area. The individual was observed sunbathing in the bushes next to a pond. This individual exhibited ecdysis, thus it considered that have normal feeding activity. Our report represents the first observation of leucism in R. tigrinus, and thus, further analysis is needed of this phenotype to more clearly understand its impact on the species and its natural history.
Acoustic monitoring yields informative bat population density estimates
Authors: Hoggatt Meredith L. , Starbuck Clarissa A. , O'Keefe Joy M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBat population estimates are typically made during winter, although this is only feasible for bats that aggregate in hibernacula. While it is essential to measure summer bat population sizes for management, we lack a reliable method. Acoustic surveys should be less expensive and more efficient than capture surveys, and acoustic activity data are already used as indices of population size. Although we currently cannot differentiate individual bats by their calls, we can enter call counts, information on signal and detection angles, and weather data into generalized random encounter models to estimate bat density. We assessed the utility of generalized random encounter models for estimating Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) population density with acoustic data collected at 51 total sites in six conservation areas in northeast Missouri, 2019–2021. We tested the effects of year, volancy period, conservation area, and their interactions on estimated density. Volancy period was the best predictor, with average predicted density increasing 60% from pre‐volancy (46 bats/km2) to post‐volancy (74 bats/km2); however, the magnitude of the effect differed by conservation area. We showed that passive acoustic surveys yield informative density estimates that are responsive to temporal changes in bat population size, which suggests this method may be useful for long‐term monitoring. However, we need more information to choose the most appropriate values for the density estimation formula. Future work to refine this approach should include assessments of bat behavior and detection parameters and testing the method's efficacy in areas where population sizes are known.
Neuronal small extracellular vesicles carrying miR‐181c‐5p contribute to the pathogenesis of epilepsy by regulating the protein kinase C‐δ/glutamate transporter‐1 axis in astrocytes
Authors: Ma Limin , Wu Qingyuan , You Yu , Zhang Peng , Tan Dandan , Liang Minxue , Huang Yunyi , Gao Yuan , Ban Yuenan , Chen Yangmei , Yuan Jinxian 
Published: February 2024

AbstractInformation exchange between neurons and astrocytes mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) is known to play a key role in the pathogenesis of central nervous system diseases. A key driver of epilepsy is the dysregulation of intersynaptic excitatory neurotransmitters mediated by astrocytes. Thus, we investigated the potential association between neuronal EV microRNAs (miRNAs) and astrocyte glutamate uptake ability in epilepsy. Here, we showed that astrocytes were able to engulf epileptogenic neuronal EVs, inducing a significant increase in the glutamate concentration in the extracellular fluid of astrocytes, which was linked to a decrease in glutamate transporter‐1 (GLT‐1) protein expression. Using sequencing and gene ontology (GO) functional analysis, miR‐181c‐5p was found to be the most significantly upregulated miRNA in epileptogenic neuronal EVs and was linked to glutamate metabolism. Moreover, we found that neuronal EV‐derived miR‐181c‐5p interacted with protein kinase C‐delta (PKCδ), downregulated PKCδ and GLT‐1 protein expression and increased glutamate concentrations in astrocytes both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings demonstrated that epileptogenic neuronal EVs carrying miR‐181c‐5p decrease the glutamate uptake ability of astrocytes, thus promoting susceptibility to epilepsy.
Exploring causal correlations between circulating levels of cytokines and colorectal cancer risk: A Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Meng Cong , Sun Liting , Shi Jinyao , Li Yang , Gao Jiale , Liu Yishan , Wei Pengyu , Yang Zhengyang , Yao Hongwei , Zhang Zhongtao 
Published: February 2024

AbstractColorectal cancer has the highest mortality rate of all digestive system diseases. Considering the debate about cytokines and biases that exist in traditional observational study designs, we performed a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the association of circulating cytokines with CRC risk. In this study, we used cytokine genetic variants from a recently published genome‐wide association study (GWAS) including 14,824 European‐ancestry participants. Summary‐level data for colorectal cancer were obtained from genome‐wide association analyses of the FinnGen consortium. In addition, we conducted independent supplementary analyses using genetic variation data of colorectal cancer and cytokines from a large public GWAS in 2021. Among 91 circulating factors, we only found IL‐12B to be significantly associated with CRC risk (odds ratio [OR]: 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.42; p = .046). We used 2021 data for analysis and found that higher Interleukin‐12p70 levels (IL‐12p70) were revealed to have a significant positive association with CRC risk (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.13–1.43; p < 1.22 × 10−3). Moreover, CRC was suggestively correlated with an elevated level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02–1.35; p = .026), macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF) (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.76–0.96; p = .005), IL‐13 (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.02–1.30; p = .028), IL‐10 (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.01–1.49; p = .037), and IL‐7 (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.02–1.39; p = .024). Our MR studies support that one cytokine IL‐12 is significantly associated with CRC risk and that five cytokines VEGF, M‐CSF, IL‐13, IL‐10, and IL‐7 are associated with CRC risk.
Effect of Infant Formula Zinc and Iron Level on Zinc Absorption, Zinc Status, and Immune Function in Infant Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Polberger S. , Fletcher M. P. , Graham T. W. , Vruwink K. , Gershwin M. E. , Lönnerdal B. 
Published: February 2024

SummaryTo evaluate the effects of marginal zinc (Zn) deficiency on Zn absorption and metabolism, three groups of infant rhesus monkeys (n = 4/group) were fed from birth to 5 months of age either a regular infant formula (5 mg Zn/L) or a low‐Zn formula (1 mg Zn/L). Since iron (Fe) intake may affect Zn absorption, the low‐Zn formula was given without (1 mg Fe/L) or with Fe fortification (12 mg/L). At monthly intervals, Zn absorption and retention were assessed by gavage feeding with 65Zn and whole‐body counting immediately after and on days 4, 7, and 11 after intubation. Blood samples were drawn before dosing for analyses of various potential markers of Zn status. Infants fed low‐Zn formula had slower weight gain than controls; however, length growth was similar in all groups. 65Zn retention was considerably higher in both groups fed low‐Zn formula (40%) than in the control group (20%), whereas plasma Zn levels were normal in all infants. Plasma metallothionein levels were generally very low and detectable in only 5 samples of 48; however, 4 of these were found in control infants. Neutrophil chemotaxis assessed at the end of the study was impaired in low‐Zn infants compared to controls. In addition, low‐Zn infants had increased levels of interleukin‐2 at the end of the study. No differences were seen between the groups in hemoglobin levels, total white blood cells/absolute neutrophil counts, or plasma activities of 5′‐nucleotidase or angiotensin converting enzyme. In conclusion, marginal Zn intake in infant rhesus monkeys resulted in increased Zn retention, which was not enough to completely compensate for the lower Zn intake. The higher level of iron fortification studied did not affect Zn retention significantly.
Colonic Strictures in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: Results of a Survey of 114 Cystic Fibrosis Care Centers in the United States
Authors: Freiman Joel P. , Fitzsimmons Stacey C. 
Published: February 2024

SummaryWe describe 15 cases of stricture of the colon requiring surgery in cystic fibrosis patients identified from a survey of 114 cystic fibrosis care centers in the United States. Patient ages ranged from 2 to 8 years, seven of the 15 patients were female. A history of meconium ileus was reported in nine of the 15 cases. Fibrosis of the submucosa was described in 14 surgical pathology reports. Pancreatic enzyme use history was available from 14 reports. All had taken delayed‐release products for 6‐96 months at average doses ranging from 6,700 to 29,100 units lipase/kg/meal, but only eight of them used products containing >20,000 units lipase per capsule prior to surgery.
Behavioral Intervention to Improve Calorie Intake of Children with Cystic Fibrosis: Treatment Versus Wait List Control
Authors: Stark Lori J. , Mulvihill Mary M. , Powers Scott W. , Jelalian Elissa , Keating Kristin , Creveling Susan , Byrnes‐Collins Barbara , Harwood Ivan , Passero Mary Anne , Light Michael , Miller Deborah L. , Hovell Melbourne F. 
Published: February 2024

SummaryChanges in calorie intake and weight gain were evaluated in five children with cystic fibrosis (CF) who received behavioral intervention and four children with CF who served as wait list controls. The behavioral intervention was a 6‐week group treatment that provided nutritional education plus management strategies aimed at mealtime behaviors that parents find most problematic. The control group was identified prospectively and was evaluated on all dependent measures at the same points in time pre‐ and posttreatment as the intervention group. Difference scores on calorie intake and weight gain from pre‐ to posttreatment were compared between groups using t tests for independent samples. The behavioral intervention group increased their calorie intake by 1,032 calories per day, while the control group's intake increased only 244 calories per day from pre‐ to posttreatment [t(6) = 2.826, p = 0.03]. The intervention group also gained significantly more weight (1.7 kg) than the control group (0 kg) over the 6 weeks of treatment [t(7) = 2.588, p = 0.03] and demonstrated catchup growth for weight, as indicated by improved weight Z scores (‐1.18 to ‐0.738). The control group showed a decline in weight Z scores over this same time period (‐1.715 to ‐1.76). One month posttreatment, the intervention was replicated with two of the four children from the control group. Improved calorie intake and weight gain pre‐ to posttreatment were again found in these children. At 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up study of children receiving intervention, maintenance of calorie intake and weight gain was confirmed. No changes were found on pulmonary functioning, resting energy expenditure, or activity level pre‐ to posttreatment. This form of early intervention appears to be promising in improving nutritional status and needs to be investigated over a longer period of time to evaluate the effects of treatment gains on the disease process.
Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM) Expression in Nerves and Muscle of Developing Human Large Bowel
Authors: Romanska Hanna M. , Bishop Anne E. , Moscoso Gonzalo , Walsh Frank S. , Spitz Lewis , Brereton Roger J. , Polak Julia M. 
Published: February 2024

SummaryMost studies of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in human musculature are devoted to either developing or adult skeletal and cardiac muscle. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of NCAM expression in the intestinal musculature of the developing human large bowel. In specimens of large bowel from foetuses (gestational age 8‐20 weeks), we examined the immunohistochemical localisation of NCAM in parallel to those of α‐smooth muscle actin and desmin. Within the developing neural complex, NCAM was expressed at all stages investigated. In intestinal muscle at 8 weeks, immunoreactivity for all antisera was restricted to the muscularis propria. The differentiating muscularis mucosae was demonstrated first at 15 weeks by immunostaining for α‐smooth muscle actin, and this expression was followed by that of NCAM and desmin at 17 and 19 weeks, respectively. At 20 weeks, NCAM immunoreactivity in the external muscle was intense at the inner border of the circular muscle, with its concentration decreasing towards the outer margin of the muscular wall, whereas α‐smooth muscle actin and desmin were uniformly distributed in all muscle layers. NCAM is expressed by nerves and muscle of developing human large intestine. Its appearance follows a predetermined pattern, which implies its relevance to the differentiation of intestinal muscle layers.
Mesenchymal Regulation of Differentiation of Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Ferretti Emanuela , Li Song , Wang Jinxia , Post Martin , Moore Aideen 
Published: February 2024

SummaryIntestinal epithelial differentiation requires the presence of mesenchyme, but the exact nature of this epithelial‐mesenchymal interaction is unknown. The role of humoral and extracellular matrix factors in determining intestinal epithelial differentiation was examined by exposing a nontransformed, immature, rat small‐intestinal cell line (IEC‐6) to intestinal fibroblast‐conditioned media or by growing the cells on matrix deposited by intestinal fibroblasts. Differentiation was assessed morphologically and by induction of the disaccharidase sucrase, which is a marker of intestinal epithelial maturation. When exposed to fetal intestinal fibroblast‐conditioned medium or grown on extracellular matrix prepared from fetal intestinal fibroblasts, IEC‐6 cells showed a significant increase in sucrase activity. The addition of cortisol to IEC‐6 cells cultured on intestinal matrix also led to increased sucrase expression, as measured by enzyme activity and protein and messenger RNA levels. Ultrastructurally, cells cultured on intestinal fibroblast matrix in the presence of cortisol displayed a more differentiated phenotype. In contrast, there was no induction of sucrase activity in cells exposed to lung‐conditioned media or grown on lung fibroblast matrix. These studies suggest that both humoral and matrix factors from intestinal mesenchyme are involved in intestinal epithelial differentiation and that these factors appear to be organ specific.
Zinc Content and Distribution in the Newborn Liver
Authors: Coni Pierpaolo , Ravarino Alberto , Farci Anna Maria Giulia , Callea Francesco , Van Eyken Peter , Sciot Raf , Ambu Rossano , Marras Andrea , Costa Virgilio , Faa Gavino , Desmet Valeer J. 
Published: February 2024

SummaryThe newborn liver is a proven model for the study of liver storage of copper and iron. We analyzed zinc concentration and distribution in the livers of newborns and infants using a systematic tissue‐sampling technique. We studied 14 newborns of 26‐41 weeks of gestation (WG). One stillborn, and three infants (52‐90 days old). At autopsy, a longtudinal liver slice extending from the right to the left lobe was subdivided into 10 samples that were analyzed for zinc concentration by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The mean zinc concentration in the newborn liver was 639 μg/g of dry tissue (dt). A striking interindividual variability in zinc liver stores was observed; the hepatic concentration of the metal ranged from 300 to 1,400 μg/g dt. We found a correlation between zinc liver content and gestational age. In newborns of 27‐32 WG, the hepatic zinc concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in newborns of 34‐41 WG. Zinc stores decreased in the postnatal period; in the infant group, the mean liver zinc concentration was 148 μg/g dt. The analysis of zinc concentration in 10 blocks from each liver revealed a regular distribution of the metal, without significant differences between liver lobes. Our data show that the newborn liver can be considered an interesting model for the study of zinc storage, which appears to correlate inversely with gestational age. From a practical point of view, the observed regular distribution of zinc implies that, at least in this model, zinc content determined in a small liver sample is representative of zinc content in the whole liver.
Plasma Vitamin K1 and PIVKA‐II After Oral Administration of Mixed‐Micellar or Cremophor EL‐solubilized Preparations of Vitamin K1 to Normal Breast‐Fed Newborns
Authors: Schubiger G. , Grüter J. , Shearer M. J. 
Published: February 2024

Background:Vitamin K1 prophylaxis in neonates is required for prevention of vitamin K1 deficiency bleeding. Although intramuscular administration of vitamin K1 is safe, this invasive method is not generally accepted. We therefore examined the pharmacokinetics of two orally administered vitamin K1 preparations in normal, fully breast‐fed newborns.Methods:Within 1 hour of birth, each baby was randomized to a 2 mg dose of either a conventional Cremophor EL‐solubilized preparation of vitamin K1 (Konakion drops, F. Hoffmann‐La Roche, n = 16), or a new mixed‐micellar preparation of vitamin K1 (Konakion MM, F. Hoffmann‐La Roche, n = 14). The concentrations of vitamin K1, des‐γ‐carboxyprothrombin (PIVKA‐II), and total bound bilirubin were measured in plasma samples taken at 24 hours, 4 days, and 24 days after birth.Results:The median concentration of plasma vitamin K1 was higher at all three time points in the group that received the mixed‐micellar preparation, but the difference was only significant (p < 0.05) at 4 days. At 24 hours and 4 days, PIVKA‐II was detectable in a significantly lower proportions of infants receiving the new mixed‐micellar preparation than those receiving the Cremophor EL preparation (21% vs. 75% at 24 hours, p < 0.05 and 14% vs. 50% at 4 days, p < 0.05). None of the infants in the study had detectable PIVKA‐II levels 24 days after birth.Conclusions:Our results suggest that when given orally, the mixed‐micellar preparation is superior to the conventional formulation because it increases plasma vitamin K1 concentrations to higher levels, suggesting superior bioavailability, and decreases PIVKA‐II concentrations more efficiently, suggesting a faster pharmacodynamic response.
Correlation of Clinical Characteristics and Small Bowel Histopathology in Celiac Disease
Authors: Weizman Zvi , Ben‐Zion Yitzhak Z. , Binsztok Mauricio , Maor Esther , Porath Avi 
Published: February 2024

Background:Literature information regarding clinical and histological correlates in celiac disease is limited. The present study was designed to assess the value of various clinical parameters in predicting the severity of small bowel histopathology.Methods:Small bowel biopsy specimens of 59 children with established celiac disease (ESPGAN criteria) were evaluated blindly. Morphology was evaluated based on a common histopathology score. The following clinical variables were evaluated: age at diagnosis, duration of symptoms, severity score of clinical symptoms, severity score of physical signs, and growth parameters (height and weight Z scores). Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relative importance of each clinical parameter.Results:Only three clinical variables revealed a significant correlation with the histopathology score. The symptom severity score (t = 3.883, p = 0.0003) demonstrated a positive correlation. The two others, age at diagnosis (t = 3.076, p = 0.0032) and duration of symptoms (t = ‐2.987, p = 0.0041), revealed a negative correlation.Conclusions:We conclude that more severe clinical symptoms of a shorter duration, presented at a younger age, are better predictors of a more severe form of small bowel histopathology in children with celiac disease.