bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Salvage surgery for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer after targeted therapy: A case series
Authors: Song Weian , Di Shouyin , Liu Junqiang , Fan Boshi , Zhao Jiahua , Zhou Shaohua , Chen Siyu , Dong Hai , Yue Caiying , Gong Taiqian 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundTumor recurrence or residual tumor after targeted therapy is common in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There is a lack of high‐level evidence on which type of treatment should be employed for these patients and the role of salvage surgery has not been well reported in the literature.MethodsA retrospective analysis of patients who underwent salvage surgery in our center between January 2016 and June 2019 for advanced NSCLC after targeted therapy was performed.ResultsA total number of nine patients were identified, including five males and four females, with a median age of 56 years (range, 40–65 years), all diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma stage IIIa–IVb. All patients had received targeted therapy according to individual positive mutation of driver gene(s). Salvage surgery was performed for tumor recurrence or residual tumor after a duration of 2–46 months of targeted therapy. A negative surgical margin was achieved in all cases. Postoperative complication rate was 11.1% (1/9). All patients were alive at the time of this analysis and two patients had disease progression. After a median follow‐up of 17 months (range: 5–44 months), the median event‐free survival and postoperative survival was 14 months (range: 2–44 months) and 17 months (range: 5–44 months) respectively.ConclusionsSalvage surgery may be a feasible and promising therapeutic option for tumor recurrence or residual tumor in advanced NSCLC in selective patients after targeted therapy.Key points
Salvage surgery is feasible in selected patients with advanced NSCLC and provides promising survival outcomes after targeted therapy failure.
Salvage surgery provides precise molecular and pathological information which is most important for subsequent therapy.
The Real Winner's Curse
Authors: Fergusson Leopoldo , Querubin Pablo , Ruiz Nelson A. , Vargas Juan F. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractTraditional theories of democracy suggest that political representation of excluded groups can reduce their incentives to engage in conflict and lead to lower violence. However, this argument ignores the response of established elites when (1) their interests are threatened by the policy stance of new political actors and (2) elites have a comparative advantage in the exercise of violence. Using a regression discontinuity approach, we show that the narrow election of previously excluded left‐wing parties to local executive office in Colombia results in a one standard deviation increase in violent events by right‐wing paramilitaries. We interpret this surge in violence as a reaction of traditional elites to offset the increase in outsiders' access to formal political power. Consistent with this interpretation, we find that violence by left‐wing guerrillas and other actors is unaffected and that violence is not influenced by the victory of right‐wing or other new parties in close elections.
Do Gender Quotas Hurt Less Privileged Groups? Evidence from India
Authors: Karekurve‐Ramachandra Varun , Lee Alexander 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHow do political gender quotas affect representation? We suggest that when gender attitudes are correlated with ethnicity, promoting female politicians may reduce the descriptive representation of traditionally disadvantaged ethnic groups. To assess this idea, we examine the consequences of the implementation of random electoral quotas for women on the representation of caste groups in Delhi. Constituencies reserved for women are less likely than unreserved constituencies to elect members of groups where the status of women is low. In practice, this means they are less likely to elect members of several traditionally underprivileged groups (especially OBC castes) and more likely to elect candidates from the Hindu upper castes. The results highlight the difficulties of balancing descriptive representation on multiple, crosscutting dimensions, and the possible unintended consequences of the type of single‐dimension quotas currently proposed for inclusion in the Indian constitution.
Use of social media for surgical education in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Larkins Kirsten , Murphy Victoria , Loveday Benjamin P. T. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundSocial media are an increasingly important tool for educators, although their use for surgical education in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) has not been quantified. This study aimed to determine the social media presence of surgical training institutions in ANZ, quantify the proportion of their social media content that is educational, compare engagement between educational and non‐educational content, and determine perspectives on using social media for education.MethodsAn online search was conducted in October 2018 to determine the social media presence of surgical training institutions accredited to deliver under‐ and post‐graduate surgical education in ANZ. All their posts on Facebook and Twitter from November 2017 to October 2018 were categorized as educational or non‐educational. Engagement on Twitter was analysed using retweets. An online survey was distributed to each institution to investigate their social media strategy and opinions on the use of social media for surgical education.ResultsSeven out of 37 (19%) surgical training institutions had active social media accounts. Educational content accounted for 677/4615 (14.7%) of their posts. Educational content was retweeted more often than non‐educational content (17.2 versus 5.4, P = 0.002). Seven out of 37 (19%) institutions responded to the survey, with one respondent having a policy for and utilising social media for surgical education.ConclusionsSocial media are being used by a minority of surgical training institutions for educational purposes in ANZ. Social media content is primarily non‐educational although educational posts attract more engagement. Further research is required to assess the efficacy of surgical education on social media.
Exposure to blue LED light before the onset of darkness under a long‐day photoperiod alters melatonin secretion, feeding behaviour and growth in female dairy calves
Authors: Elsabagh Mabrouk , Mon Mamiko , Takao Yui , Shinoda Akiko , Watanabe Takashi , Kushibiki Shiro , Obitsu Taketo , Sugino Toshihisa 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe effect of blue LED on melatonin secretion, feeding behaviour and growth was addressed in Holstein female dairy calves. In Exp.1, six animals (8 weeks old, 97 ± 4.1 kg BW) were exposed to yellow or blue LED for 2 hr before darkness over 7 days under a long‐day photoperiod (LDPP). In Exp. 2, six animals (8 weeks old, 88.5 ± 4.8 kg BW) were exposed to blue light from a white LED all daytime or a yellow LED for 2 hr before the darkness of LDPP (blue light cut) over 3 weeks. In Exp. 1, blue light mildly suppressed melatonin secretion during the 2‐hr treatment but did not affect the timing of the nightly melatonin rise. However, the rise in nighty melatonin levels was higher with yellow than blue LED. In Exp. 2, white LED completely suppressed melatonin secretion during the 2‐hr treatment, but plasma melatonin concentrations were similar during the darkness. Grass hay intake, rumination time, frequency of water intake and body weight gain were higher in animals exposed to the yellow rather than the white LED. Overall results indicate that exposure to blue light from white LEDs under an LDPP suppresses melatonin secretion and might negatively impact the development of female dairy calves.
What is the appropriate anticoagulation strategy for thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome?
Authors: Arachchillage Deepa R. J. , Laffan Mike 
Published: February 2020

SummaryAntiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune prothrombotic disorder mediated by a heterogeneous group of autoantibodies collectively known as antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). They include lupus anticoagulant (LA), IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and anti‐β2‐glycoprotein I (anti‐β2GPI) antibodies. It has been shown that those patients with all three aPL (triple positive) are at highest risk of both a first thrombotic event and of a recurrence, despite anticoagulation. In response to publication of a meta‐analysis and a randomised controlled trial assessing the safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban versus warfarin in triple‐positive APS with venous and/or arterial thrombosis, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued recommendations that direct‐acting oral anticoagulant (DOACs) should not be used for secondary prevention of thrombosis in all APS patients (although they did draw specific attention to the high risk of triple‐positive patients). As there is less evidence for patients with single‐ or dual‐positive patients with APS, this may be an over‐interpretation of the data. In this review, we explore the available evidence on safety and efficacy of DOACs in thrombotic APS, the problem of detecting LA while on DOAC, and provide some practical guidance for managing this problem.
Characterisation and prognostic impact of immunoparesis in relapsed multiple myeloma
Authors: Chakraborty Rajshekhar , Rybicki Lisa , Nakashima Megan O. , Dean Robert M. , Faiman Beth M. , Samaras Christy J. , Rosko Nathaniel , Dysert Hayley , Valent Jason , Anwer Faiz 
Published: February 2020

SummaryCharacterisation and prognostic impact of immunoparesis in relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) is lacking in the current literature. We evaluated 258 patients with relapsed MM, diagnosed from 2008 to 2015, to investigate the prognostic impact of deep immunoparesis on post‐relapse survival. On qualitative immunoparesis assessment, no, partial and full immunoparesis was present in 9%, 30% and 61% of patients, respectively. Quantitative immunoparesis was assessed by computing the average relative difference (ARD) between polyclonal immunoglobulin(s) and corresponding lower normal limit(s), with greater negative values indicating deeper immunoparesis. The median ARD was −39%, with an optimal cut‐off of −50% for overall survival (OS) by recursive partitioning analysis. Deep immunoparesis (ARD ≤–50%) was associated with a higher tumour burden at first relapse compared to none/shallow [ARD >−50%] immunoparesis. The OS (P = 0·007) and progression‐free survival (PFS; P < 0·001) differed significantly between the deep and none/shallow immunoparesis groups. Kaplan–Meier estimates for 3‐year OS were 36% and 46%, and for 2‐year PFS were 17% and 27%, respectively. On multivariable analysis (MVA) for PFS, both qualitative and quantitative immunoparesis retained negative prognostic impact independently. However, only quantitative immunoparesis was independently prognostic for OS on MVA. Depth of immunoparesis in relapsed MM is an important prognostic factor for post‐relapse survival in the era of novel agents and continuous therapy.
Somite boundary determination in normal and clock‐less vertebrate embryos
Authors: Naoki Honda , Matsui Takaaki 
Published: February 2020

AbstractVertebrate segments called somites are generated by periodic segmentation of the presomitic mesoderm (PSM). In the most accepted theoretical model for somite segmentation, the clock and wavefront (CW) model, a clock that ticks to determine particular timings and a wavefront that moves posteriorly are presented in the PSM, and somite positions are determined when the clock meets the posteriorly moving wavefront somewhere in the PSM. Over the last two decades, it has been revealed that the molecular mechanism of the clock and wavefront in vertebrates is based on clock genes including Hes family transcription factors and Notch effectors that oscillate within the PSM to determine particular timings and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) gradients, acting as the posteriorly moving wavefront to determine the position of somite segmentation. A clock‐less condition in the CW model was predicted to form no somites; however, irregularly sized somites were still formed in mice and zebrafish, suggesting that this was one of the limitations of the CW model. Recently, we performed interdisciplinary research of experimental and theoretical biological studies and revealed the mechanisms of somite boundary determination in normal and clock‐less conditions by characterization of the FGF/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) activity dynamics. Since features of the molecular clock have already been described in‐depth in several reviews, we summarized recent findings regarding the role of FGF/ERK signaling in somite boundary formation and described our current understanding of how FGF/ERK signaling contributes to somitogenesis in normal and clock‐less conditions in this review.
Neofusicoccum parvum associated with pomegranate branch canker in Iran
Authors: Golmohammadi Hadi , Arzanlou Mahdi , Rabbani Nasab Hojjatollah 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPomegranate (Punica granatum) is native to Iran and neighbouring countries and is negatively affected by a wide range of diseases. Canker and dieback diseases caused by Cytospora punicae and members of the family Botryosphaeriaceae are the main trunk diseases on pomegranate. In summer 2017, progressive dieback of branches on some young pomegranate trees was observed in orchards of the Gorgan Region (Golestan province, Northeast Iran). Fungal colonies with similar colony colour were isolated from symptomatic tissues. The identity of the causal agent was determined as Neofusicoccum parvum, based on a polyphasic taxonomic approach including morphological features of conidiomata and phylogenetic inference based on the ITS‐rDNA region and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1‐α) gene. Koch's postulates were fulfilled using an excised shoot method. This study provides the first report on the occurrence of N. parvum as a cause of branch canker on pomegranate in Iran.
Opinion: Is gene mapping in wild populations useful for understanding and predicting adaptation to global change?
Authors: Gienapp Phillip 
Published: February 2020

AbstractChanging environmental conditions will inevitably alter selection pressures. Over the long term, populations have to adapt to these altered conditions by evolutionary change to avoid extinction. Quantifying the ‘evolutionary potential’ of populations to predict whether they will be able to adapt fast enough to forecasted changes is crucial to fully assess the threat for biodiversity posed by climate change. Technological advances in sequencing and high‐throughput genotyping have now made genomic studies possible in a wide range of species. Such studies, in theory, allow an unprecedented understanding of the genomics of ecologically relevant traits and thereby a detailed assessment of the population's evolutionary potential. Aimed at a wider audience than only evolutionary geneticists, this paper gives an overview of how gene‐mapping studies have contributed to our understanding and prediction of evolutionary adaptations to climate change, identifies potential reasons why their contribution to understanding adaptation to climate change may remain limited, and highlights approaches to study and predict climate change adaptation that may be more promising, at least in the medium term.
Evaluation of a fully automated von Willebrand factor assay panel for the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease
Authors: Stufano Francesca , Baronciani Luciano , Bucciarelli Paolo , Boscarino Marco , Colpani Paola , Pagliari Maria Teresa , Peyvandi Flora 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIntroductionvon Willebrand disease (VWD) diagnosis starts with first level tests: factor VIII coagulant activity, VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) and platelet‐dependent VWF activity (VWF:RCo, VWF:Ab, VWF:GPIbR or VWF:GPIbM). The VWF collagen binding (VWF:CB) assay measures the binding capacity of von Willebrand factor (VWF) to collagen.AimTo assess, in previously diagnosed VWD patients, the performance of a fully automated chemiluminescent test panel including VWF:Ag, VWF:GPIbR and VWF:CB assays.MethodsThe patients, historically evaluated using in‐house VWF:Ag and VWF:CB assays and an automated latex enhanced immunoassay VWF:GPIbR method, were re‐evaluated using the VWF test panel HemosIL AcuStar.ResultsThe VWF:GPIbR/VWF:Ag and VWF:CB/VWF:Ag obtained by means of AcuStar showed an overall good concordance with the corresponding data obtained at the time of the historical diagnosis. When discrepancies occurred, these were generally due to the lower VWF:CB/VWF:Ag obtained with AcuStar as compared with that obtained with the historical methods and this affected particularly the diagnosis of VWD type 2M. Together, the AcuStar VWF:GPIbR/VWF:Ag and VWF:CB/VWF:Ag were able to distinguish type 1 from types 2A, 2B and 2M, whereas no distinction was possible between type 2A and 2B.ConclusionThe AcuStar panel offers a good performance in the differential diagnosis between VWD type 1 and 2A/2B patients. A high rate of coincidence with historical diagnosis was obtained for VWD types 3, 2A/2B and 1. Even though in some cases more tests (eg, RIPA/multimeric analysis) are needed to complete an accurate VWD classification, the AcuStar panel is considered a sensitive, rapid and reliable tool to diagnose VWD patients.
Multicentre pharmacokinetic evaluation of rFVIII‐Fc (efmoroctocog alfa) in a real life and comparison with non‐extended half‐life FVIII concentrates
Authors: Pouplard Claire , Sattler Laurent , Ryman Anne , Eschwege Valérie , De Maistre Emmanuel , Flaujac Claire , Szymezak Jean , Grand François , Repesse Yohann , Galinat Hubert , Donnard Magali , Ternisien Catherine , Iorio Alfonso , Chelle Pierre , Jeanpierre Emmanuelle ,   On behalf of the ‘Biology Study Group on Haemorrhagic Diseases’ (Group BIMHO ‐ GFHT)
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe use of enhanced half‐life (EHL) FVIII has improved the quality of prophylaxis in haemophilia A, but with a benefit that may vary from one patient to another. We analysed the pharmacokinetic data obtained with efmoroctocog alfa (rFVIII‐Fc) in 114 patients and, in 47 cases, compared them to those previously measured with non‐EHL FVIII. The in vivo recovery (IVR) of rFVIII‐Fc measured with one stage clotting assay (OSA) and chromogenic assay (CSA) was 2.2 and 2.8 IU/mL per IU/kg, respectively. The median half‐life (T1/2) of rFVIII‐Fc was 14.5 hours whatever the FVIII:C assay used, but variable and correlated with preinfusion VWF:Ag levels (r = .76). Both IVR and T1/2 were lower in patients under 12 years old (2.4 IU/mL per IU/kg and 11.1 hours, respectively; CSA). PK study of rFVIII‐Fc vs non‐EHL FVIII showed a T1/2 ratio of 1.4 in favour of rFVIII‐Fc, regardless of the patient's age. However the relative increase in T1/2 with rFVIII‐Fc was lower than 30% in one‐third of patients evaluated, particularly when the previous FVIII administered was a BHK‐derived product. This study therefore suggests that analysis of individual PK profile in response to a specific FVIII concentrate is potentially useful before a switch in haemophilia A patients.
Quantitative prediction of the glass‐forming region and luminescence properties in Tm3+‐doped germanate laser glasses
Authors: Qian Guoquan , Tang Guowu , Qian Qi , Xiao Yongbao , Chen Dongdan , Jiang Zhonghong , Yang Zhongmin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractGermanate laser glasses have received much attention as a promising host materials for mid‐infrared fiber lasers in recent years because of the outstanding infrared transparency, low phonon energy, and high rare earth solubility of such glasses. However, the development of high‐performance germanate laser glasses is usually based on intuition and a trial‐and‐error method, which can involve long experimental periods and high costs, and thus, this approach is highly inefficient. Recently, with proposals for materials genome engineering, the concept of the “glass genome” has grown of interest to us. Herein, the structures of Tm3+‐doped germanate laser glasses (BaO–GeO2 and BaO–La2O3–GeO2) were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and Raman spectra analyses, which revealed that the resulting glass contains similar structural groups to the neighboring congruently melted glassy compounds (NCMGCs) in the composition diagram. What is more, the structure and properties of the resulting laser glasses largely depend on NCMGCs. Then, the glass‐forming region, physical properties, and luminescence properties were calculated via the use of NCMGCs in Tm3+‐doped BaO–GeO2 binary and BaO–La2O3–GeO2 ternary laser glass systems. The calculated results were in good agreement with the experimental results, thus demonstrating that our approach is practical for predicting the glass‐forming region, physical properties, and luminescence properties in Tm3+‐doped BaO–GeO2 binary and BaO–La2O3–GeO2 ternary laser glass systems. This work may provide an effective method to develop Tm3+‐doped germanate laser glasses rapidly and at low cost.
Pulsed field ablation for pulmonary vein isolation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Bradley Christopher J. , Haines David E. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPulsed‐field ablation (PFA) is a promising new ablation modality for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. This energy form employs a train of microsecond duration high amplitude electrical pulses that ablate myocardium by electroporation of the sarcolemmal membrane without measurable tissue heating. The ablation pulse waveform has multiple variable components that can affect ablation efficacy, thus each proprietary system has unique properties that cannot be generalized to other systems. Success with PFA depends upon the proximity of the electrode to the target tissue, but not necessarily upon contact. A unique feature of PFA is tissue specificity. Myocardium is very susceptible to irreversible injury whereas the esophagus, phrenic nerves, pulmonary veins, and coronary arteries are relatively resistant to injury. The tissue specificity of PFA may result in a wide therapeutic range and improved safety profile during atrial fibrillation ablation. Vein isolation can be achieved very rapidly (seconds) promising that PFA may reduce procedure time to 1 hour or less. This attractive new technology promises to be a major advance in the field of atrial fibrillation ablation.