bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frequency & factors associated with apparent resistant hypertension among Ghanaians in a multicenter study
Authors: Ayisi‐Boateng Nana Kwame , Mohammed Aliyu , Opoku Douglas Aninng , Sarfo Fred Stephen 
Published: August 2020

AbstractApparent resistant hypertension (ARH) is rife among people living with hypertension and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is however paucity of data from sub‐Saharan Africa on the burden of ARH. We sought to report on the frequency and factors associated with ARH among a cohort of Ghanaians with hypertension. A cross‐sectional study involving 2912 participants with hypertension enrolled at five health facilities in Ghana. ARH was defined as either office BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg on 3 or more antihypertensive medications or on 4 or more antihypertensive medications regardless of BP. Factors associated with ARH were evaluated in a multivariate logistic regression model. We found 550 out of 2,912 (18.9%) of study participants had ARH. Out of these 550 subjects, 511 (92.9%) were on 3 or more antihypertensive medications with BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg and 39 (7.1%) were on 4 or more antihypertensive medications with BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg. The prevalence of ARH was 15.5% among elderly aged 75 + years (n = 341), 20.7% among 65‐74 years (n = 588), and 18.9% among those ≤ 64 years (n = 1983). The adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of factors independently associated with ARH was duration of hypertension, 1.05 (1.03‐1.06) for each year rise; eGFR < 60 mL/min, 1.73 (1.33‐2.25); and diabetes mellitus, 0.59 (0.46‐0.76). Attaining secondary level education and residence in a peri‐urban setting were significantly associated with ARH though not in a dose‐dependent manner. ARH is rife among Ghanaians and may negatively impact on cardiovascular outcomes in the long term.
Muscle mass is the main somatic growth indicator associated with increasing blood pressure with age in children and adolescents
Authors: Zaniqueli Divanei , Alvim Rafael de O. , Baldo Marcelo P. , Morra Elis A. , Mill José Geraldo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractStudies have shown that lean mass must be an important determinant of blood pressure value in children and adolescents. The absence of adjustment for the collinearity between lean and fat mass (FM), restricted age span, and lack of separate analysis by sex leave a gap in the literature. This study determined direct and indirect effects of the somatic growth indicators linked to the association between age and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in boys and girls. This is a cross‐sectional study comprising 1,510 participants (6‐18 years). Path analysis was used to test a model in which the association between age and SBP would have a direct and independent component, but also indirect mediating paths through muscle mass (MM), FM, and height. There was no significant association between age and SBP (unstandardized β ± SE) for both girls (0.072 ± 0.236, P = .761) and boys (0.238 ± 0.264, P = .368). Height was not a mediator for the association between age and SBP in both girls (−0.291 ± 0.156, P = .062) and boys (−0.015 ± 0.187, P = .935). Mediating effect of MM was significant for both girls (0.909 ± 0.137, P < .001) and boys (1.341 ± 0.161, P < .001), whereas mediating path through FM was significant only for boys (0.069 ± 0.023, P = .003). In conclusion, muscle mass was the strongest somatic growth indicator associated with the blood pressure value in children and adolescents. Further increase in body fat mass may affect systolic blood pressure more in boys than in girls.
The cyclic adenosine monophosphate elevating medicine, forskolin, reduces neointimal formation and atherogenesis in mice
Authors: Hao Huifeng , Ma Xiaoyan , Chen Hong , Zhu Liyuan , Xu Zhenyu , Li Qiaoling , Xu Chuansheng , Zhang Yuze , Peng Zekun , Wang Miao 
Published: August 2020

AbstractNeointimal formation and atherogenesis are major vascular complications following percutaneous coronary intervention, and there is lack of pharmacological therapy. This study was aimed to examine the effect of forskolin (FSK), a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)‐elevating agent, on vascular response to angioplasty wire injury and on atherogenesis in mice. Forskolin treatment reduced neointima formation at 7 and 28 days after wire injury. Early morphometrics of the injured vessels revealed that FSK treatment enhanced endothelial repair and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. In vitro treatment of primary aortic cells with FSK, at 3‐100 μmol/L, increased endothelial cell proliferation, whereas FSK, at 30‐100 μmol/L, inhibited smooth muscle cell proliferation. FSK inhibited lipopolysaccharide‐induced leucocyte‐endothelial interaction in vitro and in vivo. In a mouse model of atherosclerosis driven by dyslipidaemia and hypertension, FSK administration increased endothelial repair and reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation, without affecting blood pressure, plasma lipids or aortic aneurysms formation. In summary, FSK, at doses relevant to human therapeutic use, protects against neointimal hyperplasia and atherogenesis, and this is attributable to its activities on pro‐endothelial repair and anti‐inflammation. This study raises a potential of clinical use of FSK as an adjunct therapy to prevent restenosis and atherosclerosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.
Politics of Immobility: Global Knowledge Production and the Study of Europe in Asia
Authors: Weber Ralph , Tarlea Silvana 
Published: August 2020

AbstractEurope and Asia find themselves increasingly connected. Why then do we find limited knowledge mobility in the study of Europe throughout Asia? What factors drive this immobility? This article takes account of the existing literature and complements it by offering a more global picture of European Studies in Asia. Throughout, we assume a decidedly political perspective. The study of Europe, we claim, is not only an academic affair, but subject to a politics of (im‐)mobility driven by state and non‐state funders and influenced by local as well as domestic diplomatic, trade‐related, and strategic factors. The article aims at contributing to our understanding of how Europe is studied in Asia and highlights the importance of non‐educational factors for future debates about knowledge mobility and the possibility of a global science.
Effect of tomato fruit cultivar and ripening stage on Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) egg and larval survival
Authors: Roohigohar Shirin , Prentis Peter J. , Clarke Anthony R. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn studies of frugivorous tephritids, determining when offspring (i.e. egg and three larval instars) mortality occurs within the fruit can greatly improve the mechanistic understanding of the fly/host interaction. Previous research has demonstrated that the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, has differential offspring performance in two tomato cultivars Cherry and Roma, but when juvenile mortality was occurring was not determined. We examined B. tryoni egg and larval survival in three different ripening stages (immature‐green (IG), colour‐break (CB) and fully‐ripe (FR)) of Cherry and Roma tomato cultivars through destructive fruit sampling at 72 and 120 hr for eggs, and 48 (1st instar), 96 (2nd instar) and 120 hr (3rd instar) after fruit inoculation with neonates for larvae. Cultivar and ripening stage had no significant effect on egg survival, nor larval survival at 48 hr: the overall percentage of egg survival was at least 80% across all treatments, while 1st‐instar larval was less than 52% across all treatments. In immature‐green tomatoes of both varieties, nearly all mortality occurred during the first and second instars, but at 96 and 120 hr, there were significant interaction effects between cultivar and ripening stage on larval survival. In both colour‐break Cherry and Roma tomatoes, there was significant larval mortality between 96 and 120 hr. However, in fully‐ripe Cherry, no further significant larval mortality happened after 48 hr, while in fully‐ripe Roma significant larval mortality occurred between the first and second larval instars but not thereafter. The difference in timing of larval mortality with ripening stage provides indirect evidence of active fruit defence which is strongest in immature‐green fruit, less in colour‐break fruit and absent in fully‐ripe fruit.
Shear bond strength of glass ionomer and resin‐based cements to different types of zirconia
Authors: De Angelis Francesco , D'Arcangelo Camillo , Buonvivere Matteo , Rondoni Giuseppe Daniele , Vadini Mirco 
Published: August 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the shear bond strength (SBS) of a glass ionomer (GI) cement, an 10‐methacryloyloxy‐decyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP)‐based adhesive resin cement (MDP‐based AC), an MDP‐based self‐adhesive resin cement (MDP‐based SAC), an MDP‐free self‐adhesive resin cement (MDP‐free SAC), and a resin‐modified GI (RMGI) cement to a 3 mol% yttria‐stabilized (3Y‐TZP) and a 5 mol% yttria partially stabilized zirconia (5Y‐PSZ).Materials and methodsFifty blocks were produced using 3Y‐TZP and 5Y‐PSZ, assigned to subgroups based on the five cements investigated (n = 10) and luted to cylindrical specimens of the same substrate. Each specimen was loaded in a SBS apparatus to failure. Mean SBS (MPa) values and standard deviations were calculated. Data were analyzed using a two‐way analysis of variance and Tukey tests (α = .05). Failed specimens were subjected to fractographic analysis.ResultsMDP‐based AC and MDP‐based SAC cements displayed the highest SBS values with both the substrates; GI cement showed the lowest. RMGI and MDP‐free SAC cements performed better with 3Y‐TZP than with 5Y‐PSZ. Fractographic analysis revealed only adhesive and mixed failures.ConclusionsMDP‐based AC and MDP‐based SAC cements are suitable for both 3Y‐TZP and 5Y‐PSZ. MDP‐free SAC and RMGI cements are adequate choices for 3Y‐TZP, but seem less effective with 5Y‐PSZ.Clinical significanceMDP‐based SACs appear to be as reliable as MDP‐based ACs for both 3Y‐TZP and 5Y‐PSZ cementation. Specifically, for 5Y‐PSZ cementation, resin‐based MDP‐free SACs do not seem to guarantee predictable results in terms of SBS.
Predicting the factors influencing the inter‐ and intraspecific survival rates of riverine fishes implanted with acoustic transmitters
Authors: Winter Emily R. , Hindes Andrew M. , Lane Steve , Britton J. Robert 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBiotelemetry is a central tool for fisheries management, with the implantation of transmitters into animals requiring refined surgical techniques that maximize retention rates and fish welfare. Even following successful surgery, long‐term post‐release survival rates can vary considerably, although knowledge is limited for many species. The aim here was to investigate the post‐tagging survival rates in the wild of two lowland river fish species, common bream Abramis brama and northern pike Esox lucius, following their intra‐peritoneal double‐tagging with acoustic transmitters and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Survival over a 2‐year period was assessed using acoustic transmitter data in Cox proportional hazards models. Post‐tagging survival rates were lowest in the reproductive periods of both species, but in bream, fish tagged just prior to spawning actually had the highest subsequent survival rates. Pike survival was influenced by sex, with males generally surviving longer than females. PIT tag detections at fixed stations identified bream that remained active, despite loss of an acoustic transmitter signal. In these instances, loss of the acoustic signal occurred up to 215 days post‐tagging and only during late spring or summer, indicating a role of elevated temperature, while PIT detections occurred between 18 and 359 days after the final acoustic detections. Biotelemetry studies must thus always consider the date of tagging as a fundamental component of study designs to avoid tagged fish having premature end points within telemetry studies.
Regional Variation in Billed Advance Care Planning Visits
Authors: Skolarus Lesli E. , Lin Chun Chieh , Kerber Kevin A. , Burke James F. 
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVEAdvance care planning (ACP) is associated with improved patient and caregiver outcomes, but is underutilized. To encourage ACP, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented specific ACP visit reimbursement codes in 2016. To better understand the utilization of these ACP reimbursement codes, we explored regional variation in billed ACP visits.DESIGNWe performed a retrospective cross‐sectional analysis using a randomly sampled 5% cohort of Medicare fee‐for‐service (FFS) beneficiaries' claims files from 2017. Region was defined by hospital referral region.SETTINGNational Medicare FFS.PARTICIPANTSA total of 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older.MEASUREMENTReceipt of billed ACP service, identified through Current Procedural Terminology code 99497 or 99498. Proportion of beneficiaries who received billed ACP service(s) by region was calculated. We fit a multilevel logistic regression model with a random regional intercept to determine the variation in billed ACP visits attributable to the region after accounting for patient (demographics, comorbidities, and medical care utilization) and regional factors (hospital size, emergency department visits, hospice utilization, and costs).RESULTSThe study population included about 1.3 million beneficiaries, of which 32,137 (2.4%) had at least one billed ACP visit in 2017. There was substantial regional variation in the percentage of beneficiaries with billed ACP visits: lowest quintile region, less than 0.83%; subsequent regions, less than 1.6%, less than 2.4%, less than 3.3% to less than 8.4% in the highest quintile regions. A total of 15.4% of the variance in whether an older adult had a billed ACP visit was explained by the region. Although numerous regional factors were associated with billed ACP visits, none were strong predictors.CONCLUSIONIn 2017, we found wide regional variation in the use of billed ACP visits, although use overall was low in all regions. Increasing the understanding of the drivers and the effects of billed ACP visits could inform strategies for increasing ACP.
Sex Differences in Cognitive Health Among Older Adults in India
Authors: Angrisani Marco , Jain Urvashi , Lee Jinkook 
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVESTo document sex differences in late‐life cognitive function and identify their early‐life determinants among older Indian adults.DESIGNHarmonized Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia for Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI‐DAD).SETTINGIndividual cognitive testing in hospital or household setting across 14 states of India.PARTICIPANTSIndividuals aged 60 years and older from LASI‐DAD (2017–2019) (N = 2,704; 53.5% female).MEASUREMENTSGiven the low levels of literacy and numeracy among older Indian adults, we consider two composite cognitive scores as outcome variables. Score I is based on tests that do not require literacy or numeracy, whereas score II is based on tests that require such skills. Ordinary least squares is used to estimate models featuring a progressively increasing number of covariates. We add to the baseline specification, including a sex dummy, age, and state indicators, measures of early‐life socioeconomic status (SES), early‐life nutrition, as proxied by knee height, and education.RESULTSAcross most cognitive domains, women perform significantly worse than for men: −0.4 standard deviations (SD) for score I and −0.8 SD for score II. Early‐life SES, health, and education explain 90% of the gap for score I and 55% for score II. Results are similar across hospital‐based and home testing.CONCLUSIONIn India, lower levels of early‐life human capital investments in nutrition and education among women compared with men are associated with a female disadvantage in late‐life cognitive health. This has important implications for public health policy, aiming at reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia—a nascent concern in India. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:S20‐S28, 2020.
Nestedness of eco‐industrial networks: Exploring linkage distribution to promote sustainable industrial growth
Authors: Brehm Colton , Layton Astrid 
Published: August 2020

AbstractEco‐industrial networks (EINs, of which eco‐industrial parks are a subset) have gained support as a solution that simultaneously reduces environmental burdens and promotes economic interests. EINs operate under a mutualistic framework, where waste materials and energy are exchanged between industries to their mutual benefit, creating a diverse web of flows. Recent studies have focused on analogies between food webs (FWs) and EINs, measuring a network's success at ecological imitation as representative of its sustainability. Studies have focused heavily on the number of links and nodes in a network, but have neglected the economic reality that each investment comes at the opportunity cost of all alternatives. This analysis focuses on the nestedness metric as used by ecologists to address this pivotal facet to the FW‐EIN analogy. Nestedness describes an ecological strategy for the position of links between nodes in a network in a way that maximizes network cycling for a given number of connections. This metric presents many advantages for EIN design and analysis, including maturity independence, size normalization, and a strong statistical record in highly mutualistic ecological systems. Application of nestedness to EINs indicates a lower presence of nested structures and more randomness than what is typically seen in FWs. The industrial networks also display a correlation between high nestedness and internal cycles, suggesting that the reuse of materials and energy in EINs can be improved upon by increasing the nestedness of structures.
An international multicenter efficacy and safety study of IqYmune in initial and maintenance treatment of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: PRISM study
Authors: Nobile‐Orazio Eduardo , Pujol Sonia , Kasiborski Fabrice , Ouaja Rabye , Corte Gilles Della , Bonek Robert , Cocito Dario , Schenone Angelo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis prospective, multicenter, single‐arm, open‐label phase 3 study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IqYmune in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Patients received one induction dose of 2 g/kg and then seven maintenance doses of 1 g/kg at 3‐week intervals. The primary endpoint was the responder rate at the end of study (EOS), defined as an improvement of ≥1 point on the adjusted inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment (INCAT) disability scale. The responder rate was compared with the responder rate of a historical placebo group (33.3%). Secondary endpoints included changes from baseline to EOS of adjusted INCAT disability score, grip strength, Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score, Rasch‐modified MRC sum score, Rasch‐built overall disability scale score and the clinical global impression. Forty‐two patients, including 23 Ig‐naïve and 19 Ig‐pre‐treated, were included in the efficacy set. The overall response rate at EOS was 76.2% (95% confidence interval [60.5%‐87.9%]). The superiority of IqYmune compared to the historical placebo control was demonstrated (P < .0001). The responder rate was numerically higher in Ig‐pre‐treated than in Ig‐naïve patients but confidence intervals were overlapping (84.2% [60.4%‐96.6%] vs 69.6% [47.1%‐86.8%]). All secondary endpoints confirmed this conclusion. The median time to response was 15 weeks [8.9‐19.1 weeks]. A total of 156 adverse events including five serious were considered related to IqYmune, 87.2% were mild. Neither hemolysis nor signs of renal or hepatic impairment were observed. These results demonstrate that IqYmune is an effective and well‐tolerated treatment in patients with CIDP.
Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of TRIM2‐associated Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease
Authors: Magri Stefania , Danti Federica Rachele , Balistreri Francesca , Baratta Silvia , Ciano Claudia , Pagliano Emanuela , Taroni Franco , Moroni Isabella 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCharcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease (CMT) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of distal symmetric polyneuropathies due to progressive and length‐dependent degeneration of peripheral nerves. Cranial nerve involvement has been described in association with various CMT‐genes mutations, such as GDAP1, TRPV4, MFN2, MTMR2 and EGR2. Compound heterozygous mutations in the TRIM2 gene, encoding an E3 ubiquitin ligase, were previously identified in two patients with early‐onset axonal CMT (CMT2). One of them also had bilateral vocal cord paralysis. The aim of this study is to further delineate the phenotypic and molecular genetic features of TRIM2‐related CMT. We studied clinical, genetic and neurophysiological aspects of two unrelated CMT2 patients. Genetic analysis was performed by next generation sequencing of a multigene CMT panel. Patients presented with congenital hypotonia and bilateral clubfoot, delayed motor milestones, and severely progressive axonal neuropathy. Interestingly, along with vocal cord paralysis, they exhibited clinical features secondary to the involvement of several other cranial nerves, such as facial weakness, dysphagia, dyspnoea and acoustic impairment. Genetic analysis revealed two novel TRIM2 mutations in each patient. Our results expand the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of TRIM2 deficiency showing that cranial nerves involvement is a core feature in this CMT2‐subtype. Its finding should prompt physicians to suspect TRIM2 neuropathy. Conversely, patients carrying TRIM2 variants should be carefully evaluated for the presence of cranial nerve dysfunction in order to prevent and manage its impact on auditory and respiratory function and nutrition.
Infertility treatment hinders the careers of working women in Japan
Authors: Ichikawa Tomoko , Ota Ikuko , Kuwabara Yoshimitsu , Tsushima Ruriko , Hamatani Toshio , Hiraike Osamu , Takeshita Toshiyuki , Osuga Yutaka , Akira Shigeo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAimWomen undergoing infertility treatment often need to balance work and fertility treatment. Therefore, we evaluated the quality of life (QOL) and impact of infertility treatment on Japanese working women and their careers.MethodsWe conducted an online questionnaire at 18 clinics in Japan. Responses were collected from 835 women, 713 of whom were working. The participants were divided into three groups based on treatment stage. Data were collected using the FertiQoL and an original questionnaire created by the authors. The Mann–Whitney U test and a multinomial logistic analysis were used.ResultsApproximately 90% of the participants felt that treatment could hinder their work and 8% had quit their jobs. Low QOL was associated with sadness and despair due to infertility and mood disorders, disruptions to life and work, and the complicated medications and procedures involved in treatment. Social isolation and the effect of fertility treatment on daily life and work strongly hindered the careers of working women in the third stage of treatment (in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection). Approximately 70% of the participants required support to subsidize treatment costs and sought shorter working hours and flextime systems. Only 55% informed their workplaces about the fertility treatment, but about 70% easily gained understanding by informing them.ConclusionsFor many working women, infertility treatment posed barriers to their careers, which could explain the low QOL. Urgent introduction of a support system is necessary in Japan, and understanding and social acceptance of infertility appears to be important.