bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and harms of orally, intramuscularly or intravenously administered glucocorticoids for sciatica: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Abdel Shaheed Christina , Maher Chris G. , Buchbinder Rachelle , Ng Beverly , Enke Oliver , Guzowski Robert , McLachlan Andrew J. , Day Ric O. , Richards Bethan , Latimer Jane , Lin Chung‐Wei Christine 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundSciatica can be a debilitating condition and there is limited guidance on the use of glucocorticoids administered via the oral, intramuscular or intravenous route for this condition. These represent viable treatment options in the primary care setting.ObjectiveTo evaluate the evidence on efficacy and harms of oral, IM and IV glucocorticoid administration for sciatica.Databases and data treatmentMEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycINFO (inception to October 2018) were searched for randomised placebo‐controlled trials evaluating oral, IV or IM glucocorticoid administration for sciatica. Two authors extracted outcomes data. Continuous pain and disability outcomes were converted to a 0 (no pain/disability) to 100 (worst pain/disability) scale. Data were pooled using a random effects model. Overall quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Primary outcomes were leg pain and disability. Primary follow‐up period was the immediate‐term (<2 weeks from administration). We also considered adverse events.ResultsNine trials were eligible. One study [n = 27] provided low quality evidence of a small reduction in disability with early administration of oral prednisone (within 1 week); MD −13.4 [−23.3, −3.5] but not for pain MD −2.5 [−16.9, 11.9]. There was low quality evidence from one study [n = 78] of moderate reduction in disability and small reduction in pain with early (within 72 hr of symptom onset) single intramuscular administration of methylprednisolone acetate; MD −24.5 [−38.8, −10.2] and −14.0 [−27.4, −0.6], respectively. There were no immediate‐term benefits with IV administration.ConclusionThe effects of glucocorticoids on immediate‐term leg pain or disability are uncertain. Future large high quality trials are needed to resolve this uncertainty.
Electrochemical Determination of Vitamin D3 in Pharmaceutical Products by Using Boron Doped Diamond Electrode
Authors: Đurović Ana , Stojanović Zorica , Kravić Snežana , Kos Jovana , Richtera Lukáš 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA sensitive square‐wave voltammetry method was developed to determine cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) in pharmaceutical products at boron‐doped diamond electrode as a working electrode. Vitamin D3 provided a well‐defined voltammetric peak at around +1.00 V (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3.5 mol dm−3) in 0.02 mol dm−3 Britton‐Robinson buffer pH 5.0 prepared in 50 % ethanol. The influence of various factors such as type and pH of the supporting electrolyte, scan rate and square‐wave parameters were studied and optimized. Under optimum conditions, the oxidation peak current increased linearly with the concentration of vitamin D3 over the range of 2 to 200 μmol dm−3. The calculated limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 0.17 μmol dm−3 and 0.51 μmol dm−3, respectively. The boron‐doped diamond electrode exhibited specific recognition capability for cholecalciferol amongst possible interferences, and the determination of vitamin D3 was possible in samples such as commercial pharmaceutical products without complicated sample pretreatments.
On‐farm seed priming and fertilizer micro‐dosing: Agronomic and economic responses of maize in semi‐arid Ethiopia
Authors: Sime Getachew , Aune Jens B. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractOn‐farm seed priming has been reported to improve emergence, crop establishment, and yield besides improving economic benefits in dryland agriculture. These benefits can further be improved by fertilizer micro‐dosing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of on‐farm seed priming and fertilizer micro‐dosing on the agronomic and economic returns of maize (Zea mays L. var. Melkassa‐2) in semi‐arid agro‐ecological conditions in Ethiopia. The experiments consisted of four treatments: no priming and no fertilizer; no priming and fertilizer; priming and no fertilizer; and priming and fertilizer. The experiments were conducted in three locations viz., Melkassa, Ziway, and Hawassa in the central Rift Valley. Analysis of variance for each location was performed separately at p ˂ .05. Results of each location were similar over the experimentation years, and hence, there was no need for carrying out combined analysis. Regardless of fertilization, primed plants showed faster emergence; better uniform crop stands; more vigorous plants; earlier flowering; earlier harvest; and higher grain and stover yield than no primed plants. Germination was 2–3 days earlier, and flowering and maturation of primed plants were 10 to 13 days earlier than no primed plants. Average grain yield increased by 11, 8, and 6% in Melkassa, Ziway, and Hawassa, respectively, by priming over no priming. Fertilizer micro‐dosing combined with priming further improved most of the agronomic characters. Fertilizer micro‐dosing combined with priming increased the average grain yield by 75, 69, and 33% in Melkassa, Ziway, and Hawassa, respectively. The economic returns also increased in the same pattern as the agronomic responses for priming, micro‐dosing or their combination. To realize the potential of seed priming of increasing agronomic performances, future research and development efforts should focus on understanding the possible underling physiological and biochemical basis of this poorly understood process with the different priming techniques.
Parental effects and provisioning under drought and low phosphorus stress in common bean
Authors: Lorts Claire , Lynch Jonathan P. , Brown Kathleen M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractLow soil fertility and drought are primary constraints for crop production and food security in many developing nations. Since smallholder farmers often collect seed for the next year's crop from plants grown with abiotic stress, it is important to understand how progeny from a stressed parental environment perform when they are grown under similar stresses. This study investigates the impact of a low phosphorus (P) or drought parental environment on progeny seed and root traits in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), with the intention of distinguishing impacts of reduced parental provisioning from adaptive responses. Greenhouse, field, and seedling experiments were used to evaluate seed, seedling, and mature root phenotypes in progeny from stressed and nonstressed parental conditions. In addition, progeny from different positions within the pod and pod developmental times were evaluated since they are expected to vary in parental provisioning. Seeds from the peduncular position in the pod had less individual seed weight, fewer basal roots, reduced root dry weight, and smaller taproot diameter than those from the stylar position. Progeny of some genotypes from drought‐stressed parents had smaller individual seed weight, fewer basal roots, less total seedling dry weight, shorter seedling basal roots, and smaller basal root diameters. Progeny of some genotypes from a low P parental environment had smaller individual seed P concentration, fewer shoot‐borne roots, and greater basal root whorl number. Progeny from drought‐stressed parents, progeny from a low P parental environment, and seeds from the peduncular position had root phenotypes that were likely to be related to less parental provisioning. Possible adaptive parental effects were found in both parental drought and parental low P studies. Adequate seed provision under stress merits consideration as a selection target in crop breeding for stressful environments.
Working memory training and brain structure and function in extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight children
Authors: Kelly Claire E. , Thompson Deanne K. , Chen Jian , Josev Elisha K. , Pascoe Leona , Spencer‐Smith Megan M. , Adamson Chris , Nosarti Chiara , Gathercole Susan , Roberts Gehan , Lee Katherine J. , Doyle Lex W. , Seal Marc L. , Anderson Peter J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis study in children born extremely preterm (EP; <28 weeks’ gestational age) or extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1,000 g) investigated whether adaptive working memory training using Cogmed® is associated with structural and/or functional brain changes compared with a placebo program. Ninety‐one EP/ELBW children were recruited at a mean (standard deviation) age of 7.8 (0.4) years. Children were randomly allocated to Cogmed or placebo (45‐min sessions, 5 days a week over 5–7 weeks). A subset had usable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data pretraining and 2 weeks posttraining (structural, n = 48; diffusion, n = 43; task‐based functional, n = 18). Statistical analyses examined whether cortical morphometry, white matter microstructure and blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) signal during an n‐back working memory task changed from pretraining to posttraining in the Cogmed and placebo groups separately. Interaction analyses between time point and group were then performed. There was a significant increase in neurite density in several white matter regions from pretraining to posttraining in both the Cogmed and placebo groups. BOLD signal in the posterior cingulate and precuneus cortices during the n‐back task increased from pretraining to posttraining in the Cogmed but not placebo group. Evidence for group‐by‐time interactions for the MRI measures was weak, suggesting that brain changes generally did not differ between Cogmed and placebo groups. Overall, while some structural and functional MRI changes between the pretraining and posttraining period in EP/ELBW children were observed, there was little evidence of training‐induced neuroplasticity, with changes generally identified in both groups. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, anzctr.org.au; ACTRN12612000124831.
Experience of family caregivers of hospitalized older people in Kolkata, India
Authors: Bhattacharyya Tulika , Chopra Chatterjee Suhita 
Published: November 2019

SummaryIn India, family caregivers (FCs) play a major role in providing care to their older kin during hospitalization. This article explores the challenges encountered by them while providing care in a public hospital. It draws upon empirical insights obtained through interviews with 54 FCs and field observations. The findings show that the hospital was not congenial for FCs and exposes the factors impeding their caregiving role. FC experience was found to be highly complex and fraught with multiple practical challenges during admission, in‐hospital treatment, and at discharge. All these had repercussions on various aspects of their own life and well‐being like poor health outcomes, financial stress, and social isolation. The article concludes that the needs, preferences, and challenges of the FCs need to be considered to make hospitals conducive for FCs of older people.
A Polysiloxide Complex with two Chromium(III) η2‐Superoxo Moieties
Authors: Wind Marie‐Louise , Braun‐Cula Beatrice , Schax Fabian , Herwig Christian , Limberg Christian 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe isolation and identification of intermediates formed in the course of the activation of dioxygen at transition metal centers reveals important mechanistic insights concerning such processes. We previously reported the reaction of the dinuclear CrII complex [L2Cr2(MeCN)2][Li(MeCN)]2 (L=PhSi(OSiPh2O−)3) (5) with dioxygen, which resulted in the formation of the CrIV oxo complex [L2Cr2O2][Li(THF)2]2 (6), as the final room temperature stable product. Here we now report the isolation and characterization of an intermediate en route to 6, namely the dinuclear CrIII superoxo complex [L2Cr2(O2)2][Li(MeCN)]2 (7). 7 is the first example of a structurally characterized dinuclear CrIII superoxo complex with two independent side‐on bound superoxo ligands. Reactivity studies outline the capability of this superoxo complex to activate weak O−H bonds.
Transdermal Estrogen in Women With Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory Pilot Study
Authors: Resulaj Megi , Polineni Sai , Meenaghan Erinne , Eddy Kamryn , Lee Hang , Fazeli Pouneh K 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTAnorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by self‐induced starvation, low body weight, and elevated levels of bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT). BMAT is negatively associated with BMD in AN and more than 85% of women with AN have low bone mass and an increased risk of fracture. Although a majority of women with AN are amenorrheic, which is associated with low BMD, oral contraceptive pills, containing supraphysiologic doses of estrogen, are not effective in increasing bone mass. We performed a 6‐month, open‐label study of transdermal estradiol (0.045 mg/day) + levonorgestrel (0.015 mg/day) in 11 women with AN (mean age ± SEM: 37.2 ± 2.3 years) to investigate the effects of transdermal, physiologic doses of estrogen on BMD and BMAT in women with AN. We measured change in BMD by DXA, change in BMAT at the spine/hip by 1H‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and change in C‐terminal collagen cross‐links (CTX), P1NP, osteocalcin, IGF‐1, and sclerostin after 3 and 6 months of transdermal estrogen. Lumbar spine (2.0% ± 0.8%; p = 0.033) and lateral spine (3.2% ± 1.1%; p = 0.015) BMD increased after 6 months of transdermal estrogen. Lumbar spine BMAT decreased significantly after 3 months (−13.9 ± 6.0%; p = 0.046). Increases in lateral spine BMD were associated with decreases in CTX (p = 0.047). In conclusion, short‐term treatment with transdermal, physiologic estrogen increases spine BMD in women with AN. Future studies are needed to assess the long‐term efficacy of this treatment. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Smoking and Alcohol Intake but Not Muscle Strength in Young Men Increase Fracture Risk at Middle Age: A Cohort Study Linked to the Swedish National Patient Registry
Authors: Prieto-Alhambra Daniel , Turkiewicz Aleksandra , Reyes Carlen , Timpka Simon , Rosengren Björn , Englund Martin 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACT
We aimed to determine the relationship between handgrip strength, smoking, and alcohol consumption in young men and fracture risk at middle age. Thus, we carried out a cohort study including young men undergoing conscription examination in Sweden from September 1969 to May 1970 at a typical age of 18 years. Data on muscle strength, height, weight, and lifestyle factors were linked to the National Patient Register 1987–2010. Handgrip strength was considered the main exposure and smoking and alcohol consumption as secondary exposures. Outcomes were all fractures (except face, skull, digits), major osteoporotic fractures (thoracic/lumbar spine, proximal humerus, distal forearm or hip), and major traumatic fractures (shaft of humerus, forearm, femur, or lower leg) based on ICD-9 and -10 codes. We used Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) according to handgrip strength as a continuous variable (per 1 SD), after adjustment for weight, height, parental education, smoking, and alcohol consumption. A total of 40,112 men were included, contributing 892,572 person-years. Overall, 3974 men fractured in middle age with the incidence rate (95% CI) of 44.5 (43.2–45.9) per 1000 person-years. The corresponding rates were12.2 and 5.6 per 1000 person-years for major osteoporotic and traumatic fractures, respectively. Handgrip strength-adjusted HR (95% CI) was 1.01 (0.98–1.05), 0.94 (0.88–1.00), and 0.98 (0.88–1.08) per SD for all, major osteoporotic, and major traumatic fractures, respectively. Adjusted HR (95% CI) for smokers (&gt;21 cigarettes/d) was 1.44 (1.21, 1.71) for all fractures, while the association between alcohol consumption and hazards of fracture was J-shaped. Therefore, young adult handgrip strength was not associated with fracture risk in middle-age men, although smoking and high alcohol consumption did confer an increased risk. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Optimizing management of replacement fluids for therapeutic plasma exchange: Use of an automated mathematical model to predict post‐procedure fibrinogen and antithrombin levels in high‐risk patients
Authors: Zhang Ray , Dahl Aaron B. , Marchant Bryan , Jackups Ronald R. , Karnes Hope E. , Shah Priyank , Dynis Marian , Thibodeaux Suzanne R. , Despotis George J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundTherapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) utilizes an extracorporeal circuit to remove pathologic proteins causing serious illness. When processing a patient's entire blood volume through an extracorporeal circuit, proteins responsible for maintaining hemostatic system homeostasis can reach critically low levels if replacement fluid types and volumes are not carefully titrated, which may increase complications.MethodsThe charts from 27 patients undergoing 46 TPE procedures were reviewed to evaluate the accuracy of our predictive mathematical model, utilizing the following patient information: weight, hematocrit, pre‐ and post‐TPE factor levels (fibrinogen, n = 46, and antithrombin, n = 23), process volume and volumes of fluids (eg, plasma, albumin, and normal saline) administered during TPE and adverse events during and after TPE.ResultsAltogether, 25% of patients experienced minor adverse events that resolved spontaneously or with management. There were no bleeding or thrombotic complications. The mean difference between predicted and measured post‐TPE fibrinogen concentrations was −0.29 mg/dL (SD ±23.0, range −59 to 37), while percent difference between measured and predicted fibrinogen concentration was 0.94% (SD ±10.8, range of −22 to 19). The mean difference between predicted and measured post‐TPE antithrombin concentrations were 0.89% activity (SD ±10.0, range −23 to 14), while mean percent difference between predicted and measured antithrombin concentrations was 3.87% (SD ±14.5, range −25 to 38).ConclusionsOur model reliably predicts post‐TPE fibrinogen and antithrombin concentrations, and may help optimize patient management and attenuate complications.
Integrin α7 is overexpressed and correlates with higher pathological grade, increased T stage, advanced TNM stage as well as worse survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients: A retrospective study
Authors: Chen Yue , Wang Yang , Cai Zhixing , Fan Xiaoli , Zhang Yi 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the association of integrin α7 with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival (OS) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients.Methods179 ccRCC patients who underwent nephrectomy were included in this retrospective study. Tumor tissue and paired adjacent tissue specimens of patients were obtained. Immunohistochemistry assay was performed to detect integrin α7 expression. OS was calculated with the median follow‐up duration of 91.0 months (range: 3.0‐116.0 months).ResultsIntegrin α7 was highly expressed in tumor tissue compared to paired adjacent tissue (P < .001), and tumor integrin α7 high expression was correlated with higher pathological grade (P = .004), increased T stage (P = .017), and advanced TNM stage (P = .033). Kaplan–Meier curve showed that patients with integrin α7 high expression (mean OS = 69.8, 95%CI: 60.5‐79.1 months) presented with worse OS compared to patients with integrin α7 low expression (mean OS = 101.8, 95%CI: 96.0‐107.7 months; P < .001). Multivariate Cox's regression analysis further disclosed that tumor integrin α7 high expression independently predicted poor OS (P < .001).ConclusionIntegrin α7 is upregulated and correlates with higher pathological grade, increased T stage, and advanced TNM stage, meanwhile it also acts as a valuable prognostic factor for worse survival in ccRCC patients.
Candidate foraging gene orthologs in a lower termite, Reticulitermes flavipes
Authors: Merchant Austin , Song Dongyan , Yang Xiaowei , Li Xiangrui , Zhou Xuguo “Joe”  
Published: November 2019

AbstractUnder a sociogenomic context, the molecular mechanisms underlying gene‐behavior associations are of particular interest. The Drosophila foraging (for) gene has been demonstrated to have a causal role in insect behavioral plasticity. Previous studies of for have revealed many facets of for function, including roles in foraging, energy metabolism, learning and memory, circadian rhythm, and stress resistance. for orthologs have been identified in a variety of insect taxa. However, expression patterns are not consistent across all insects, with for orthologs serving as both positive and negative regulators of foraging behavior. In this study, we cloned two for orthologs, Rffor‐α and Rffor‐β, from the Eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes. Spatial distribution study showed that the termite brain possesses significantly higher expression levels of Rffor‐α and Rffor‐β than other types of tissues, which suggests that for may act on the brain to influence an individual's ability to respond to its environment. The temporal expression profile of Rffor across different developmental stages suggests that Rffor functions as a negative regulator of foraging behavior. However, results from environmental impacts, that is, temperature and photoperiod, do not fit under a model of negative correlation between gene expression and locomotion. Further testing is warranted to better understand the interaction between Rffor expression and the environment.
Visualizing the agreement of peptide assignments between different search engines
Authors: Agten Annelies , Van Houtven Joris , Askenazi Manor , Burzykowski Tomasz , Laukens Kris , Valkenborg Dirk 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThere is a trend in the analysis of shotgun proteomics data that aims to combine information from multiple search engines to increase the number of peptide annotations in an experiment. Typically, the degree of search engine complementarity and search engine agreement is visually illustrated by means of Venn diagrams that present the findings of a database search on the level of the nonredundant peptide annotations. We argue this practice to be not fit‐for‐purpose since the diagrams do not take into account and often conceal the information on complementarity and agreement at the level of the spectrum identification. We promote a new type of visualization that provides insight on the peptide sequence agreement at the level of the peptide‐spectrum match (PSM) as a measure of consensus between two search engines with nominal outcomes. We applied the visualizations and percentage sequence agreement to an in‐house data set of our benchmark organism, Caenorhabditis elegans, and illustrated that when assessing the agreement between search engine, one should disentangle the notion of PSM confidence and PSM identity. The visualizations presented in this manuscript provide a more informative assessment of pairs of search engines and are made available as an R function in the Supporting Information.