bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
From bench to bedside: Impact of left ventricular assist device outflow conduit anastomosis position on outcome
Authors: Tarzia Vincenzo , Di Giammarco Gabriele , Bagozzi Lorenzo , Bortolussi Giacomo , Maccherini Massimo , Marinelli Daniele , Bernazzali Sonia , Maiani Massimo , Gregori Dario , Scuri Silvia , Tessari Chiara , Fabozzo Assunta , Bottio Tomaso , Livi Ugolino , Gerosa Gino 
Published: August 2020

AbstractContinuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become a valuable therapy for end‐stage heart failure. In vitro research highlighted a role of outflow cannula position on the pattern of blood flow in the aorta. However, the clinical effects of the alterations of flow remain unclear. We investigate short‐ and long‐term outcomes of patients implanted with Jarvik 2000 LVAD, according to the ascending (Group 1) versus descending (Group 2) outflow graft connection to the aorta in a multicenter study. From May 2008 to October 2014, 140 consecutive end‐stage heart failure patients underwent Jarvik 2000 LVAD implantation in 17 Italian centers. According with a preliminary multivariate analysis, we selected the 90 patients implanted in the four high‐volume centers to avoid bias (Group 1 n = 39, Group 2 n = 51). Among the groups, no differences were recorded in the hospital mortality and the main complications occurring after LVAD implantation were similar. In multivariable analysis, the ascending aorta outflow cannula position and higher creatinine at discharge were significant predictors for long‐term survival. Postimplant hemolysis was more pronounced in descending aorta outflow graft anastomosis. Outflow graft anastomosis to the ascending aorta is associated with better long‐term survival, independent of age and perfusion techniques, reflecting the previous in vitro results.
Characterization of a pulsatile rotary total artificial heart
Authors: Jurney Patrick L. , Glynn Jeremy J. , Dykan Igor V. , Hagen Matthew W. , Kaul Sanjiv , Wampler Richard K. , Hinds Monica T. , Giraud George D. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis article describes the properties and performance of a rotary total artificial heart (TAH) that produces inherently pulsatile flow. The hydraulic performance of the TAH was characterized using a mock circulatory loop to simulate four physiologically relevant conditions: baseline flow, increased flow, systemic hypertension, and pulmonary hypertension. The pump has a variable shuttle rate (beats per minute), percentage dwell time, and angular velocity on either side (revolutions per minute), which allows for full control of the flow rate and pulsatility over a range of healthy and pathologic pressures and flow rates. The end‐to‐end length and displacement volume of the TAH are 9.8 cm and 130 mL, respectively, allowing it to fit in smaller chest cavities including those of smaller adults and juvenile humans.
Identifying language disorder in bilingual children aged 2.5 years requires screening in both languages
Authors: Nayeb Laleh , Lagerberg Dagmar , Sarkadi Anna , Salameh Eva‐Kristina , Eriksson Mårten 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAimBilingual children are at risk of being overlooked for early identification of language difficulties. We investigated the accuracy of four screening models for children aged 2.5. The first model screened the child using their mother tongue, the second screened in Swedish, and the third screened in both languages used by the child. The fourth model consisted of direct screening in Swedish and using parental information about the child's language development in their mother tongue.MethodsOverall, 111 bilingual children (51% girls), 29‐33 months, were recruited from three child health centres in Gävle, Sweden, from November 2015 to June 2017. All children were consecutively assessed by a speech and language pathologist, blinded to the screening outcomes.ResultsDevelopmental language disorder was confirmed in 32 children (29%). Only the third model, based on direct assessment using the two languages used by the child, attained adequate accuracy; 88% sensitivity, 82% specificity, 67% positive and 94% negative predictive values.ConclusionBilingual children should be screened directly in both their languages in order to achieve adequate accuracy. Such screening procedure is particularly important for children from families with low socio‐economic status living in complex linguistic environments.
Understanding pregnant women’s adherence‐related beliefs about Nicotine Replacement Therapy for smoking cessation: A qualitative study
Authors: McDaid Lisa , Thomson Ross , Emery Joanne , Coleman Tim , Cooper Sue , Phillips Lucy , Bauld Linda , Naughton Felix 
Published: August 2020

IntroductionReducing smoking during pregnancy is a public health priority. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is offered routinely to pregnant women who smoke in the United Kingdom. However, evidence of treatment efficacy in this population is weak, most likely due to poor adherence. Guided by the Necessity‐Concerns Framework, we conducted a qualitative study to better understand pregnant women’s perceived needs and concerns regarding NRT use, with consideration of combination NRT.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were conducted by telephone with 18 pregnant or recently pregnant women in England and Wales, purposively sampled for different NRT‐related experiences. Participants were recruited online via Facebook adverts and through a Stop Smoking Service. A hybrid approach of deductive and inductive thematic coding was used for analysis.ResultsFindings were organized around three themes: 1) the role of motivation to stop smoking; 2) necessity beliefs about using NRT; and 3) concerns about NRT. Some women reported fluctuating motivation for stopping smoking which undermined their NRT use. Others used NRT to cut down the number of cigarettes they smoked. Reasons for low NRT necessity beliefs included a preference for quitting unassisted, low or unrealistic expectations of efficacy, and overconfidence in achieving cessation (necessity testing). Concerns included safety, particularly around increased nicotine exposure with combination NRT, addictiveness, side effects, and capability to use.ConclusionPregnant women have multiple necessity beliefs and concerns that influence their use of NRT. Targeting these, alongside increasing and maintaining motivation to quit smoking, will likely help optimize NRT use in pregnancy and improve quit rates.
Demographic and health factors associated with pandemic anxiety in the context of COVID‐19
Authors: McElroy Eoin , Patalay Praveetha , Moltrecht Bettina , Shevlin Mark , Shum Adrienne , Creswell Cathy , Waite Polly 
Published: August 2020

ObjectivesThe mental health consequences of COVID‐19 are predicted to have a disproportionate impact on certain groups. We aimed to develop a brief measure, the Pandemic Anxiety Scale, to capture the specific aspects of the pandemic that are provoking anxiety, and explore how these vary by health and demographic factors.DesignData were from a convenience sample of parents (N = 4,793) and adolescents (N = 698) recruited in the first 6 weeks of lockdown.MethodsFactor analytic and IRT methods were used to validate the new measure in both parent and adolescent samples. Associations between scores on the new measure and age, gender, household income, and physical health status were explored using structural equation modelling (SEM).ResultsTwo factors were identified in both samples: disease anxiety (e.g., catching, transmitting the virus) and consequence anxiety (e.g., impact on economic prospects); and unique associations with health and demographic factors were observed.ConclusionsAnxieties due to the COVID‐19 are multifaceted, and the PAS is a short, reliable, and valid measure of these concerns. These anxieties are differentially associated with demographic, social, and health factors, which should be considered when developing strategies to mitigate the mental health impact of the pandemic.
UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase polymorphisms affect diethylnitrosamine‐induced carcinogenesis in humanized transgenic mice
Authors: Landerer Steffen , Kalthoff Sandra , Paulusch Stefan , Strassburg Christian P. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUDP‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A enzymes detoxify a broad array of exogenous compounds including environmental toxins and carcinogens. Case‐control studies identified genetic variations in UGT1A genes leading to reduced glucuronidation activity, which were associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) formation and progression. The aim of the study was therefore to examine the direct effect of common UGT1A polymorphisms (SNPs) on HCC development and outcome in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐induced mouse model. Therefore, a single intraperitoneal DEN injection (20 mg/kg) was administered to 15‐day‐old htgUGT1A‐WT and htgUGT1A‐SNP mice (containing a human haplotype of 10 common UGT1A SNPs) either receiving water or coffee cotreatment for the following 39 weeks. After this time, tumor incidence, size (>1 mm), histology, liver‐body ratio, serum aminotransferase activities, and UGT1A regulation and activity levels were determined. In DEN‐treated htgUGT1A‐SNP mice, a markedly higher number of tumors with a bigger cumulative diameter were detected. The relative liver weight and aminotransferase activity levels were also significantly higher in mice carrying UGT1A SNPs. After coffee + DEN cotreatment, susceptibility for tumor development and growth considerably decreased in both mouse lines, but was still higher in htgUGT1A‐SNP mice. In conclusion, our study provides experimental evidence for the protective role of UGT1A enzymes in neoplastic transformation. These data confirm case‐control studies implicating impaired UGT1A‐mediated carcinogen detoxification as a risk factor for individual cancer disposition. Coffee treatment, which is able to activate UGT1A expression and activity, reduced HCC development and provides an explanation for the protective properties of coffee on liver diseases including liver cancer.
Determinants of population persistence and abundance of terrestrial and arboreal vertebrates stranded in tropical forest land‐bridge islands
Authors: Benchimol Maíra , Peres Carlos A. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractMegadams are among the key modern drivers of habitat and biodiversity loss in emerging economies. The Balbina Hydroelectric Dam of Central Brazilian Amazonia inundated 312,900 ha of primary forests and created approximately 3500 variable‐sized islands that still harbor vertebrate populations after nearly 3 decades after isolation. We estimated the species richness, abundance, biomass, composition, and group size of medium‐ to large‐bodied forest vertebrates in response to patch, landscape, and habitat‐quality metrics across 37 islands and 3 continuous forest sites throughout the Balbina archipelago. We conducted 1168 km of diurnal censuses and had 12,420 camera‐trapping days along 81 transects with 207 camera stations. We determined the number of individuals (or groups) detected per 10 km walked and the number of independent photographs per 10 camera‐trapping days, respectively, for each species. We recorded 34 species, and patch area was the most significant predictor of vertebrate population relative abundance and aggregate biomass. The maximum group size of several group‐living species was consistently larger on large islands and in continuous patches than on small islands. Most vertebrate populations were extirpated after inundation. Remaining populations are unlikely to survive further ecological disruptions. If all vertebrate species were once widely distributed before inundation, we estimated that approximately 75% of all individual vertebrates were lost from all 3546 islands and 7.4% of the animals in all persisting insular populations are highly likely to be extirpated. Our results demonstrate that population abundance estimates should be factored into predictions of community disassembly on small islands to robustly predict biodiversity outcomes. Given the rapidly escalating hydropower infrastructure projects in developing counties, we suggest that faunal abundance and biomass estimates be considered in environmental impact assessments and large strictly protected reserves be established to minimize detrimental effects of dams on biodiversity. Conserving large tracts of continuous forests represents the most critical conservation measure to ensure that animal populations can persist at natural densities in Amazonian forests.
Correlations of forced oscillometric bronchodilator response with airway inflammation and disease duration in asthma
Authors: Higaki Naoko , Iwamoto Hiroshi , Yamaguchi Kakuhiro , Sakamoto Shinjiro , Horimasu Yasushi , Masuda Takeshi , Miyamoto Shintaro , Nakashima Taku , Ohshimo Shinichiro , Fujitaka Kazunori , Hamada Hironobu , Hattori Noboru 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIntroductionAirway resistance and reactance, measured by forced oscillometry, are used to measure the airway obstruction in patients with asthma.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the oscillometric bronchodilator responses in treated and untreated asthma and evaluate its association with airway inflammation and disease duration.Materials and methodsThis study included 30 nonsmoking patients with mild to moderate treated asthma, 25 patients with newly diagnosed untreated asthma and 29 control subjects. Spirometric and oscillometric measurements were performed before and after inhalation of 400 µg salbutamol. Disease duration was defined as the number of years since asthma diagnosis.ResultsAt airway resistance of 5 Hz (R5) and 20 Hz (R20), bronchodilator responses in patients with untreated and treated asthma were greater than those in control subjects. In patients with untreated asthma, higher fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration (FeNO) levels were strongly correlated with greater reversibility of R20 (rs = −0.621, P < 0.001). In patients with treated asthma, there was no significant association between FeNO and oscillometric reversibility, whereas longer disease duration was significantly associated with lesser bronchodilator response at R20 (rs = 0.441, P < 0.05). Treated asthma patients with longer disease duration (≥10 years) showed significantly higher post‐bronchodilator R5 and R20 than the treated asthma patients with shorter disease duration (<10 years).ConclusionThe present study provides further evidence of an association between airway inflammation and variable airway obstruction in asthma patients and indicates that long‐term disease duration could be related to poorly reversible airway resistance in patients with mild to moderate asthma.
Effects of Bardoxolone Methyl on Hepatic Enzymes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Stage 4 CKD
Authors: Lewis James H. , Jadoul Michel , Block Geoffrey A. , Chin Melanie P. , Ferguson Deborah A. , Goldsberry Angie , Meyer Colin J. , O’Grady Megan , Pergola Pablo E. , Reisman Scott A. , Wigley W. Christian , Chertow Glenn M. 
Published: August 2020

In a multinational placebo‐controlled phase III clinical trial in 2,185 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and stage 4 chronic kidney disease, treatment with the Nrf2 activator bardoxolone methyl increased estimated glomerular filtration rate, a measure of kidney function, but also resulted in increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma glutamyl transferase. These increases in liver enzyme level(s) were maximal after 4 weeks of treatment and reversible, trending back toward baseline through week 48. Total bilirubin concentrations did not increase, and no cases met Hy’s Law criteria, although two subjects had ALT concentrations that exceeded 10 × the upper limit of the population reference range leading to discontinuation of treatment. Animal and cell culture experiments suggested that the increases in ALT and AST induced by bardoxolone methyl may be related to its pharmacological activity. Bardoxolone methyl significantly induced the mRNA expression of ALT and AST isoforms in cultured cells. Expression of ALT and AST isoforms in liver and kidney also positively correlated with Nrf2 status in mice. Overall, these data suggest that the increases in ALT and AST observed clinically were, at least in part, related to the pharmacological induction of aminotransferases via Nrf2 activation, rather than to any intrinsic form of hepatotoxicity.
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Cenerimod, A Selective S1P1R Modulator, Are Not Affected by Ethnicity in Healthy Asian and White Subjects
Authors: Juif Pierre‐Eric , Dingemanse Jasper , Winkle Peter , Ufer Mike 
Published: August 2020

Cenerimod is a sphingosine‐1‐phosphate 1 receptor (S1P1R) modulator in phase II development for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Its pharmacokinetics (PKs), pharmacodynamics (PDs), as well as safety and tolerability were investigated in white and Asian subjects to allow for recruitment of Asian patients in future studies. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled parallel‐group study was performed in 20 healthy male subjects (n = 10 per ethnicity). A single, oral dose of 4 mg cenerimod or placebo (ratio 8:2) was administered under fasted conditions. The PKs of cenerimod were similar in white and Asian subjects indicated by geometric mean ratios (90% confidence interval) of 0.99 (0.80–1.21) for maximum plasma concentration, 0.96 (0.75–1.24) for area under the plasma concentration‐time curve from 0 to infinity, and 1.04 (0.86–1.25) for terminal half‐life. Accordingly, the extent and time course of reduction in lymphocyte count (as PD biomarker) were also similar in white and Asian subjects as compared with placebo. As observed for other S1PR modulators, a transient mean (SD) heart rate reduction in white (15.1 (14.8) bpm) and Asian (11.8 (6.16) bpm) subjects was observed following administration of cenerimod. The drug was safe and well‐tolerated indicated by occurrence of a single adverse event of chemical conjunctivitis in a white subject that was not suspected as study drug related. In conclusion, the determined absence of any relevant PK or PD differences supports using the same doses of cenerimod in white and Asian patients in upcoming late‐phase studies.
Integrating dispersal along freshwater ecosystems into species distribution models
Authors: Perrin Sam Wenaas , Englund Göran , Blumentrath Stefan , Brian O’Hara Robert , Amundsen Per‐Arne , Gravbrøt Finstad Anders 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAimOur ability to model species distributions and abundances is a valuable ecological tool in predicting future distributions of species. Effectively incorporating connectivity into these predictions is crucial; however, many connectivity measures utilize metrics which may not have a direct relation to the dispersal capacity of the species they are attempting to model. The identification of more relevant metrics is therefore a vital step forward in species distribution modelling.Location85 freshwater lakes across a latitudinal gradient in Sweden, and an additional 282 freshwater lakes in one drainage basin in northern Norway.MethodsTo investigate the effect of different connectivity measures, we first record recolonization of fish into lakes previously treated with the piscicide rotenone. Two invasive fish species, the northern pike (Esox lucius) and the European perch (Perca fluviatilis), were used as focal study species. We model the distributions of these species in a drainage basin with snapshot data of present‐day distributions to see how well the effects of the different connectivity measures correspond to the effects seen in our recolonization study. Connectivity is quantified using slope and distance along streams connecting lacustrine populations.ResultsThe effects of connectivity variables were similar in both the recolonization study and the species distribution modelling. Incorporation of connectivity improved species distribution models significantly. There was little evidence for the inclusion of distance between populations, while there was strong evidence for the inclusion of different slope parameters for both species.Main conclusionsOur study demonstrates the need to ensure the relevance of connectivity measures when accounting for dispersal limitation in distribution models. The correspondence of estimated connectivity measures from recolonization studies to those estimated from species distribution models demonstrates a link between species dispersal capacity and the connectivity measures employed, and is likely to improve our ability to predict species future distributions.
Infant Spontaneous Motor Tempo
Authors: Rocha Sinead , Southgate Victoria , Mareschal Denis 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSpontaneous Motor Tempo (SMT) is influenced by individual differences in age and body size. We present the first data documenting the SMT of infants from 5 to 37 months of age using a simple drumming task. As in late childhood and adulthood, we predicted that infant SMT would slow across the first years of life. However, we find that older infants drum more quickly than younger infants. Furthermore, studies of adults suggest larger bodies prefer slower rhythms. This relationship may be the product of biomechanical resonance, or effects may be driven by rhythmic experience, such as of locomotion. We used infants, whose body size is dissociated from their predominant experience of locomotion as their parent often carries them, to test this argument. We reveal that infant SMT is predicted by parent, but not own, body size, supporting a passive experience‐based argument, and propose that early rhythm may be set by repetitive vestibular stimulation when carried by the caregiver.
Semiquantitative assessment of the relative apical sparing pattern of longitudinal strain for cardiac amyloidosis identification
Authors: Saito Makoto , Imai Misaki , Wake Daisuke , Higaki Rieko , Nakao Yasuhisa , Sumimoto Takumi , Yokomoto Yuki , Ogimoto Akiyoshi , Suzuki Moeko , Kawakami Hideo , Hiasa Go , Okayama Hideki , Inoue Katsuji , Ikeda Shuntaro , Yamaguchi Osamu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundsThe relative apical sparing pattern (RASP) of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain (LS) is frequently associated with cardiac amyloidosis (CA). However, the visual assessment of RASP is inconsistent, and the quantitative assessment of RASP is time‐consuming. This study aimed to compare assessments of RASP for the identification of CA with conventional assessments and investigate their reproducibility and relevance on the assessments.MethodsForty patients with biopsy‐proven CA were compared with 80 hypertrophied patients matched for mean LV wall thickness. We compared the discriminative abilities of three assessments of RASP to identify CA (visual, quantitative, and semiquantitative). Nine patterns of semiquantitative RASP were investigated; finally, it was defined as “reduction of LS” (≥ −10%) in ≥5 (of 6) basal segments, relative to “preserved LS” (< −15%) in at least one apical segment.ResultsThe concordance between the two observers for visual RASP was modest (κ = 0.65). On the other hand, the consistency for semiquantitative RASP was perfect (κ = 1.00). The discriminative ability of semiquantitative RASP (area under the curve [AUC]  = 0.74) was significantly better than that of visual RASP (AUC = 0.65) and equivalent to that of binary quantitative RASP.ConclusionSemiquantitative RASP assessment is reproducible and accurately discriminates CA. This simple assessment may help readily refine the risk stratification of patients with diffuse LV hypertrophy.