bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Smooth Muscle Distribution Patterns of Choledochal Cysts and Their Implications for Pathogenesis and Postoperative Complications
Authors: Hwang Hee Sang , Kim Mee-Jeong , Lee Seung-Soo , Lee Jae Hoon , Song Ki Byung , Kim Hyoung Jung , Hwang Shin , Lee Sung Koo , Kim Myung-Hwan , Hong Seung-Mo 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Objectives
Histopathologic characteristics of choledochal cysts and their clinical implications have not been previously comprehensively studied.

Methods
Smooth muscle distribution patterns and other histologic findings (inflammation, metaplasia, dysplasia, and heterotopia) in 233 surgically resected choledochal cysts were evaluated.

Results
Mean patient age was 23.3 ± 19.8 years, with male:female ratio of 0.3. Most cases were Todani type I (175 cases, 75.1%) or IVa (56 cases, 24.1%). Choledochal cysts with thin scattered/no muscle fiber (175 cases, 75.1%) were the predominant pattern and were associated with more frequent postoperative biliary stricture (P = .031), less frequent pyloric metaplasia (P = .016), and mucosal smooth muscle aggregates (P &lt; .001) compared to cysts with thick muscle bundles. Severe chronic cholangitis (P = .049), pyloric metaplasia (P = .019), mucosal smooth muscle aggregates (P &lt; .001), biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (P = .021), and associated bile duct (P = .021) and gallbladder carcinomas (P = .03) were more common in adults (age &gt;20 years vs ≤20 years), suggesting that chronic irritation in association with developmental anomalies involves tumorigenesis from choledochal cysts.

Conclusion
Smooth muscle distribution pattern of choledochal cyst may predict postoperative complication, raising clinical implications of smooth muscle patterns in postoperative management of choledochal cysts.
Prevalence and Recent Trends in Exposure to Night Shiftwork in Canada
Authors: Rydz Ela , Hall Amy L , Peters Cheryl E 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Objectives
Night shiftwork has been linked to various health outcomes. Knowing where and to what extent workers are exposed to this type of shiftwork can help prioritize areas for intervention and further study. This study describes recent estimates of exposure to night shiftwork in Canada for 2011, and temporal trends from 1997 to 2010.

Methods
Estimates by occupation, industry, province, and sex were calculated using data from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) from 1996 to 2011. Workers who reported rotating or regular night shifts were classified as exposed to shiftwork involving nights, while those reporting other types of shiftwork, outside of regular daytime and evening shifts, were classified as possibly exposed. Results, with 97.5% confidence intervals (CIs), were summarized for three exposure categories: exposed workers, possibly exposed workers, and evening shift workers. Trends in 3-year rolling averages were described.

Results
In 2011, approximately 1.8 million Canadians (97.5% CI, 1.7–1.8 million), or 12% of the working population (97.5% CI, 11–12%), were exposed to night shiftwork; 45% were female. An additional 2.6 million were possibly exposed (97.5% CI, 2.5–2.7 million workers), and 745 000 worked evening shifts (97.5% CI, 701 000–792 000). This amounts to 17% (97.5% CI, 17–18%) and 4.9% (97.5% CI, 4.6–5.2%) of the labour force, respectively. Industries with the highest prevalence were accommodation and food services (20%; 97.5% CI, 18–22%), forestry, fishing, mining, oil, and gas (19%; 97.5% CI, 16–23%), and healthcare and social assistance (18%; 97.5% CI, 17–19%). By occupation, the highest prevalence of exposure was in occupations in protective services (37%; 97.5% CI, 32–42%), professional occupations in health (35%; 97.5% CI, 32–39%), and machine operators and assemblers in manufacturing (24%; 97.5% CI, 22–28%). The overall number of exposure workers increased by 29% from 1997 to 2010, but the overall proportion remained relatively the same (11% and 12%, respectively). The proportion of female workers exposed increased by 2%.

Conclusions
These estimates characterize exposure to night shiftwork in Canada. Continued collection of shiftwork data, with greater detail on scheduling, workplace and personal factors, is needed for high-quality surveillance and investigations of shiftwork and health.
Skin Barrier Impairment due to the Occlusive Effect of Firefighter Clothing
Authors: van den Eijnde Wilbert , Heus Ronald , Falcone Denise , Peppelman Malou , van Erp Piet 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
At fire scenes, firefighters are exposed to potentially harmful substances. Besides inhalation of these products, also skin contamination and the risk of dermal absorption is getting more attention. In this perspective, skin barrier impairment due to the occlusive effect of firefighter clothes could enhance the risk of penetration of hazardous substances. The effect of a firefighter jacket and cellophane on the skin was studied in a paired comparison involving 16 volunteers. Biophysical parameters were measured before, immediately after and 30 min after ending the occlusion. Reflectance confocal microscopy was used to study the skin morphology. Immediately after wearing a firefighter jacket, Transepidermal Water Loss values were significantly increased. This is an indication of an occlusive effect of the firefighter jacket. The skin barrier was fully restored after 30 min after occlusion with cellophane or wearing a firefighter jacket.
Eliminating Take-Home Exposures: Recognizing the Role of Occupational Health and Safety in Broader Community Health
Authors: Kalweit Andrew , Herrick Robert F , Flynn Michael A , Spengler John D , Berko J Kofi , Levy Jonathan I , Ceballos Diana M 
Published: January 2020

AbstractToxic contaminants inadvertently brought from the workplace to the home, known as take-home or paraoccupational exposures, have often been framed as a problem that arises due to unsanitary worker behavior. This review article conceptualizes take-home exposures as a public health hazard by (i) investigating the history of take-home contaminants and how they have been studied, (ii) arguing that an ecosocial view of the problem is essential for effective prevention, (iii) summarizing key structural vulnerabilities that lead populations to be at risk, and (iv) discussing future research and prevention effort needs. This article reframes take-home exposures as one of many chronic pathways that contributes to persistent health disparities among workers, their families, and communities. Including the role of work in community health will increase the comprehensiveness of prevention efforts for contaminants such as lead and pesticides that contribute to environmental disparities.
Is Obesity Related to Processing Speed Impairment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Results of a Large-Scale, Multicenter Study
Authors: Galioto Rachel , Conway Devon S , Planchon Sarah M , Rao Stephen M 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
Obesity is linked to greater physical disability and increased comorbidities among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Its contribution to cognition in this group is unclear. This observational study examines the link between obesity and processing speed in a large sample of patients with MS (PwMS).

Methods
As part of routine clinical care at our center, PwMS completed the Processing Speed Test (PST), an electronic implementation of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Height and weight were used to calculate body mass index (BMI). Bivariate correlations were conducted to examine the association between PST and BMI in the group overall and in subgroups based on demographic and clinical variables. A one-way ANOVA examined differences in PST by BMI categories (normal weight, overweight, obese).

Results
The sample included 8,713 patients. No association between PST and BMI was found in the entire sample (r = .01), nor within subgroups based on demographic and disease variables. No difference in PST score was found between BMI categories.

Conclusions
No association between BMI and processing speed was found among PwMS regardless of demographic or disease-specific patient characteristics.
Systematical identification of cell-specificity of CTCF-gene binding based on epigenetic modifications
Authors: Wu Jie , Zhang Li , Song Qian , Yu Lei , Wang Shuyuan , Zhang Bo , Wang Weida , Xia Peng , Chen Xiaowen , Xiao Yun , Xu Chaohan 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
The CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) mediates transcriptional regulation and implicates epigenetic modifications in cancers. However, the systematically unveiling inverse regulatory relationship between CTCF and epigenetic modifications still remains unclear, especially the mechanism by which histone modification mediates CTCF binding. Here, we developed a systematic approach to investigate how epigenetic changes affect CTCF binding. Through integration analysis of CTCF binding in 30 cell lines, we concluded that CTCF generally binds with higher intensity in normal cell lines than that in cancers, and higher intensity in genome regions closed to transcription start sites. To facilitate the better understanding of their associations, we constructed linear mixed-effect models to analyze the effects of the epigenetic modifications on CTCF binding in four cancer cell lines and six normal cell lines, and identified seven epigenetic modifications as potential epigenetic patterns that influence CTCF binding intensity in promoter regions and six epigenetic modifications in enhancer regions. Further analysis of the effects in different locations revealed that the epigenetic regulation of CTCF binding was location-specific and cancer cell line-specific. Moreover, H3K4me2 and H3K9ac showed the potential association with immune regulation of disease. Taken together, our method can contribute to improve the understanding of the epigenetic regulation of CTCF binding and provide potential therapeutic targets for treating tumors associated with CTCF.
The open targets post-GWAS analysis pipeline
Authors: Peat Gareth , Jones William , Nuhn Michael , Marugán José Carlos , Newell William , Dunham Ian , Zerbino Daniel 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Motivation
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are a powerful method to detect even weak associations between variants and phenotypes; however, many of the identified associated variants are in non-coding regions, and presumably influence gene expression regulation. Identifying potential drug targets, i.e. causal protein-coding genes, therefore, requires crossing the genetics results with functional data.

Results
We present a novel data integration pipeline that analyses GWAS results in the light of experimental epigenetic and cis-regulatory datasets, such as ChIP-Seq, Promoter-Capture Hi-C or eQTL, and presents them in a single report, which can be used for inferring likely causal genes. This pipeline was then fed into an interactive data resource.

Availability and implementation
The analysis code is available at www.github.com/Ensembl/postgap and the interactive data browser at postgwas.opentargets.io.
Bending the Curve of Global Freshwater Biodiversity Loss: An Emergency Recovery Plan
Authors: Tickner David , Opperman Jeffrey J , Abell Robin , Acreman Mike , Arthington Angela H , Bunn Stuart E , Cooke Steven J , Dalton James , Darwall Will , Edwards Gavin , Harrison Ian , Hughes Kathy , Jones Tim , Leclère David , Lynch Abigail J , Leonard Philip , McClain Michael E , Muruven Dean , Olden Julian D , Ormerod Steve J , Robinson James , Tharme Rebecca E , Thieme Michele , Tockner Klement , Wright Mark , Young Lucy 
Published: January 2020

AbstractDespite their limited spatial extent, freshwater ecosystems host remarkable biodiversity, including one-third of all vertebrate species. This biodiversity is declining dramatically: Globally, wetlands are vanishing three times faster than forests, and freshwater vertebrate populations have fallen more than twice as steeply as terrestrial or marine populations. Threats to freshwater biodiversity are well documented but coordinated action to reverse the decline is lacking. We present an Emergency Recovery Plan to bend the curve of freshwater biodiversity loss. Priority actions include accelerating implementation of environmental flows; improving water quality; protecting and restoring critical habitats; managing the exploitation of freshwater ecosystem resources, especially species and riverine aggregates; preventing and controlling nonnative species invasions; and safeguarding and restoring river connectivity. We recommend adjustments to targets and indicators for the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals and roles for national and international state and nonstate actors.
An Examination of Schools, Social Ecological Factors, and Neighbourhood Crime
Authors: Wo James C , Park Jihye 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAlthough theories suggest that schools are associated with higher neighbourhood crime rates, it is not clear what particular measures of schools have a crime-producing impact when controlling for a diversity of social-ecological factors. We therefore address this question by performing a block-level analysis of schools and crime in the city of Chicago. Negative binomial regression models reveal that the presence of any school in the focal block is associated with higher violent and property crime rates and that these associations are largely robust to differing measures of schools. We also determine that concentrated disadvantage moderates the effect of school presence in the block on property crime. The implications of these findings for criminology and public policy are discussed.
Functional Connectivity of Hippocampal CA3 Predicts Neurocognitive Aging via CA1–Frontal Circuit
Authors: Liang Xia , Hsu Li-Ming , Lu Hanbing , Ash Jessica A , Rapp Peter R , Yang Yihong 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
The CA3 and CA1 principal cell fields of the hippocampus are vulnerable to aging, and age-related dysfunction in CA3 may be an early seed event closely linked to individual differences in memory decline. However, whether the differential vulnerability of CA3 and CA1 is associated with broader disruption in network-level functional interactions in relation to age-related memory impairment, and more specifically, whether CA3 dysconnectivity contributes to the effects of aging via CA1 network connectivity, has been difficult to test. Here, using resting-state fMRI in a group of aged rats uncontaminated by neurodegenerative disease, aged rats displayed widespread reductions in functional connectivity of CA3 and CA1 fields. Age-related memory deficits were predicted by connectivity between left CA3 and hippocampal circuitry along with connectivity between left CA1 and infralimbic prefrontal cortex. Notably, the effects of CA3 connectivity on memory performance were mediated by CA1 connectivity with prefrontal cortex. We additionally found that spatial learning and memory were associated with functional connectivity changes lateralized to the left CA3 and CA1 divisions. These results provide novel evidence that network-level dysfunction involving interactions of CA3 with CA1 is an early marker of poor cognitive outcome in aging.
African Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroup L2 Is Associated With Slower Decline of β-cell Function and Lower Incidence of Diabetes Mellitus in Non-Hispanic, Black Women Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Sun Jing , Brown Todd T , Tong Weiqun , Samuels David , Tien Phyllis , Aissani Brahim , Aouizerat Bradley , Villacres Maria , Kuniholm Mark H , Gustafson Deborah , Michel Katherine , Cohen Mardge , Schneider Michael , Adimora Adaora A , Ali Mohammed K , Bolivar Hector , Hulgan Todd 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
Susceptibility to metabolic diseases may be influenced by mitochondrial genetic variability among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH), but remains unexplored in populations with African ancestry. We investigated the association between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups and the homeostatic model assessments of β-cell function (HOMA-B) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), as well as incident diabetes mellitus (DM), among Black women living with or at risk for HIV.

Methods
Women without DM who had fasting glucose (FG) and insulin (FI) data for ≥2 visits were included. Haplogroups were inferred from genotyping data using HaploGrep. HOMA-B and HOMA-IR were calculated using FG and FI data. Incident DM was defined by a combination of FG ≥ 126 mg/dL, the use of DM medication, a DM diagnosis, or hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%. We compared HOMA-B, HOMA-IR, and incident DM by haplogroups and assessed the associations between HOMA-B and HOMA-IR and DM by haplogroup.

Results
Of 1288 women (933 living with HIV and 355 living without HIV), PLWH had higher initial HOMA-B and HOMA-IR than people living without HIV. PLWH with haplogroup L2 had a slower decline in HOMA-B per year (Pinteraction = .02) and a lower risk of incident DM (hazard ratio [HR], 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], .32–.82) than PLWH with other haplogroups after adjustments for age, body mass index, combination antiretroviral therapy use, CD4 cell counts, and HIV RNA. The impact of HOMA-IR on incident DM was less significant in those with haplogroup L2, compared to non-L2 (HR, 1.28 [95% CI, .70–2.38] vs 4.13 [95% CI, 3.28–5.22], respectively; Pinteraction &lt; .01), among PLWH.

Conclusions
Mitochondrial genetic variation is associated with β-cell functions and incident DM in non-Hispanic, Black women with HIV and alters the relationship between insulin resistance and DM.
Do follicles matter? Testing the effect of follicles on hair cortisol levels
Authors: Sergiel Agnieszka , Cattet Marc , Kapronczai Luciene , Janz David M , Selva Nuria , Bartoń Kamil A , Swenson Jon E , Zedrosser Andreas 
Published: January 2020

AbstractCortisol concentrations in hair are used increasingly as a biomarker of long-term stress in free-ranging wildlife. Cortisol is believed to be integrated into hair primarily during its active growth phase, typically occurring over weeks to months or longer periods, depending on latitude. Cortisol concentrations in hair thus reflect the activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis over this time. However, local, independent cortisol secretion within the skin, which includes hair follicles, may also contribute to cortisol levels in growing hair. Methodological differences between studies include the measurement of cortisol in only the hair shaft (i.e. follicle absent, as with shaved hair) versus the whole hair (i.e. follicle present, as with plucked hair). If the concentration of cortisol in the follicle is high enough to influence the overall hair cortisol concentration (HCC), this could confound comparisons between studies using different types of hair samples (hair shafts vs. whole hair) and collection methods. Here, we test the hypothesis that cortisol present in follicles influences HCC. We compared HCC in paired subsamples of hair with and without follicles from 30 free-ranging Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos) and observed significantly greater HCC in samples with follicles present. The effect of follicles remained significant also with sex and age of sampled bears taken into account in a linear mixed model. Finally, we provide an overview of collection methods and types of hair samples used for HCC analysis in 77 studies dealing with stress in wild mammal species. Our findings highlight the need to unify methods of hair collection and preparation to allow for valid comparisons, and to optimize labour input in ecophysiological studies.
Treatment of Perianal Fistulas in Crohn’s Disease, Seton Versus Anti-TNF Versus Surgical Closure Following Anti-TNF [PISA]: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Wasmann Karin A , de Groof E Joline , Stellingwerf Merel E , D’Haens Geert R , Ponsioen Cyriel Y , Gecse Krisztina B , Dijkgraaf Marcel G W , Gerhards Michael F , Jansen Jeroen M , Pronk Apollo , van Tuyl Sebastiaan A C , Zimmerman David D E , Bruin Karlien F , Spinelli Antonino , Danese Silvio , van der Bilt Jarmila D W , Mundt Marco W , Bemelman Willem A , Buskens Christianne J 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background and Aims
Most patients with perianal Crohn’s fistula receive medical treatment with anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF], but the results of anti-TNF treatment have not been directly compared with chronic seton drainage or surgical closure. The aim of this study was to assess if chronic seton drainage for patients with perianal Crohn’s disease fistulas would result in less re-interventions, compared with anti-TNF and compared with surgical closure.

Methods
This randomised trial was performed in 19 European centres. Patients with high perianal Crohn’s fistulas with a single internal opening were randomly assigned to: i] chronic seton drainage for 1 year; ii] anti-TNF therapy for 1 year; and iii] surgical closure after 2 months under a short course anti-TNF. The primary outcome was the cumulative number of patients with fistula-related re-intervention[s] at 1.5 years. Patients declining randomisation due to a specific treatment preference were included in a parallel prospective PISA registry cohort.

Results
Between September 14, 2013 and November 20, 2017, 44 of the 126 planned patients were randomised. The study was stopped by the data safety monitoring board because of futility. Seton treatment was associated with the highest re-intervention rate [10/15, versus 6/15 anti-TNF and 3/14 surgical closure patients, p = 0.02]. No substantial differences in perianal disease activity and quality of life between the three treatment groups were observed. Interestingly, in the PISA prospective registry, inferiority of chronic seton treatment was not observed for any outcome measure.

Conclusions
The results imply that chronic seton treatment should not be recommended as the sole treatment for perianal Crohn’s fistulas.
Transhepatic echocardiography: a novel approach for imaging in left ventricle assist device patients with difficult acoustic windows
Authors: Strachinaru Mihai , Bowen Daniel J , Constatinescu Alina , Manintveld Olivier C , Brugts Jasper J , Geleijnse Marcel L , Caliskan Kadir 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Aims
A significant proportion of left ventricle assist device (LVAD) patients have very difficult transthoracic echocardiographic images. The aim of this study was to find an echocardiographic window which would provide better visualization of the heart in LVAD patients with limited acoustic windows.

Methods and results
Based on the anatomic relationships in LVAD patients, a right intercostal transhepatic approach was proposed. By using a computer simulator, we searched for the appropriate probe orientation. Further, 15 ambulatory LVAD patients (age 56 ± 15 years, 73% males) underwent two echocardiographic studies: one normal transthoracic echocardiography following the institutional protocol (Echo 1) and a second study which included the transhepatic approach (Echo 2). The two exams were performed by two different sonographers and the results validated by a third observer for agreement. The transhepatic intercostal window was feasible in all patients, with an image quality allowing good visualization of structures in 93%. Precise quantification of the left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function was achieved more often in the Echo 2 (10 vs. 3 patients for LV, P = 0.03 and 14 vs. 8 patients for RV, P = 0.04). A significant difference existed also in the quantification of the LVAD inflow cannula flow by pulsed Doppler (11 patients in Echo 2 vs. 3 patients in Echo 1, P = 0.009).

Conclusion
This is the first study describing a new echocardiographic window in LVAD patients. The transhepatic window may provide better quantification of left and RV dimensions and function and improvement in Doppler interrogation of the inflow cannula.