bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vivo confocal microscopy: The role of comparative approach in patients with multiple atypical nevi
Authors: Longhitano Sabrina , Pampena Riccardo , Guida Stefania , De Pace Barbara , Ciardo Silvana , Chester Johanna , Longo Caterina , Farnetani Francesca , Pellacani Giovanni 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundIn vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) increases diagnostic accuracy for melanoma diagnosis when combined with dermoscopy. In patients with multiple atypical nevi, a comparative dermoscopic approach improves melanoma recognition and saves unnecessary excision. The performance of a comparative approach combining dermoscopy and RCM has not been yet investigated.ObjectiveTo validate a comparative dermoscopic + RCM approach according to melanoma diagnostic accuracy in patients with multiple atypical nevi.MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing RCM examination for ≥3 atypical melanocytic lesions, assessed with a dermoscopic + RCM comparative approach in a real‐life setting, from July 2012 to April 2018 at a single centre, were enrolled. Dermoscopic and dermoscopic + RCM morphologic approaches were retrospectively applied by evaluating revisited 7‐point checklist, RCM and Delphi scores for each enrolled lesion. Comparative dermoscopic and dermoscopic + RCM approaches were subsequently used. For each approach, lesions were classified as non‐suspicious (long‐term follow‐up) or suspicious (short‐term follow‐up or excision) and diagnostic accuracy for melanoma diagnosis was assessed.ResultsDiagnostic accuracy progressively increased comparing morphologic to comparative approaches, and comparing dermoscopic to dermoscopic + RCM approaches. The retrospective comparative dermoscopic + RCM approach revealed the largest area under the curve (0.84; 95%CI:0.79‐0.89; P < .001) and the lowest number needed to excise (5.7). Furthermore, this approach had the highest specificity (67.6%) and sensitivity (100%) levels, which were similar to those verified in the real‐life setting. The main study limitations are the retrospective design and high‐risk patient inclusion only.ConclusionsComparative dermoscopic + RCM approach increases melanoma diagnostic accuracy, reducing unnecessary excision without missing melanomas.
Oral drug delivery with nanoparticles into the gastrointestinal mucosa
Authors: Liu Jiao , Leng Ping , Liu Yujun 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe oral route of protein and peptide drugs has been a popular method of drug delivery in recent years, although it is often a challenge to achieve effective drug release and minimize the barrier functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal mucosa can capture and remove harmful substances; similarly, it can limit the absorption of drugs. Many drugs are effectively captured by the mucus and rapidly removed, making it difficult to control the release of drugs in the gastrointestinal tract. The use of drug carrier systems can overcome the mucosal barrier and significantly improve bioavailability. Nanoparticle drug carriers can protect the drug from degradation, transporting it to a predetermined location in the gastrointestinal tract to achieve more efficient and sustained drug delivery. It is becoming clearer that the characteristics of nanoparticles, such as particle size, charge, and hydrophobicity, are related to permeability of the mucosal barrier. This review focuses on the latest research progress of nanoparticles to penetrate the mucosal barrier, including the delivery methods of nanoparticles on the surface of gastrointestinal mucosa, and aims to summarize how successful oral nanoparticle delivery systems can overcome this biological barrier in the human body. In addition, the in vitro model based on gastrointestinal mucus is an important tool for drug research and development. Here, we discuss different types of drug delivery systems and their advantages and disadvantages in design and potential applications. Similarly, we reviewed and summarized various methods for evaluating oral nanoparticles in in vitro and in vivo models.
The provision of mobile dental services to dependent elderly people in Switzerland
Authors: Borg‐Bartolo Roberta , Amberg Helen , Bieri Oliver , Schirrmann Eric , Essig Stefan 
Published: August 2020

AbstractObjectiveThis work aimed at describing mobile dental services provided by both the private sector and the universities in Switzerland to dependent elderly people. It also aimed at presenting the views of both sectors on the current status of these services.BackgroundAs people age and become more care‐dependent, their oral health requirements increase, as access to dental care decreases.MethodA survey was sent to practitioners who potentially provided a mobile dental service (n = 253). Five interviews were conducted with six individuals who have a leading role in Geriatric dentistry in the four universities in Switzerland that provide dental training.ResultsThe private sector provides a mobile dental service to the elderly mainly through the use of portable equipment, while university services are provided by different models. The interviewees discussed the reasons as to why these services were set up. They discussed the challenges associated with treating dependent elderly patients, which often makes work in this field hard and unattractive. Both sectors see the need for better collaboration with other professionals.ConclusionThe private sector in Switzerland provides a mobile dental service to elderly people mostly through the use of portable equipment, while university services are provided in a variable configuration of models. Better collaboration is required to improve dental care and service delivery to dependent elders. There is a potential for improvement of these services, in order to meet the demand of an ageing population, catering for both the institutionalised elders and those living at home.
Surveying purine biosynthesis across the domains of life unveils promising drug targets in pathogens
Authors: Chua Sheena MH , Fraser James A 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPurines play an integral role in cellular processes such as energy metabolism, cell signaling and encoding the genetic makeup of all living organisms—ensuring that the purine metabolic pathway is maintained across all domains of life. To gain a deeper understanding of purine biosynthesis via the de novo biosynthetic pathway, the genes encoding purine metabolic enzymes from 35 archaean, 69 bacterial and 99 eukaryotic species were investigated. While the classic elements of the canonical purine metabolic pathway were utilized in all domains, a subset of familiar biochemical roles was found to be performed by unrelated proteins in some members of the Archaea and Bacteria. In the Bacteria, a major differentiating feature of de novo purine biosynthesis is the increasing prevalence of gene fusions, where two or more purine biosynthesis enzymes that perform consecutive biochemical functions in the pathway are encoded by a single gene. All species in the Eukaryota exhibited the most common fusions seen in the Bacteria, in addition to new gene fusions to potentially increase metabolic flux. This complexity is taken further in humans, where a reversible biomolecular assembly of enzymes known as the purinosome has been identified, allowing short‐term regulation in response to metabolic cues while expanding on the benefits that can come from gene fusion. By surveying purine metabolism across all domains of life, we have identified important features of the purine biosynthetic pathway that can potentially be exploited as prospective drug targets.
Contagion risk in african sovereign debt markets: A spatial econometrics approach
Authors: Muteba Mwamba J. W. , Manguzvane Mathias 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis study applies the spatial Durbin model to analyse the extent to which international trade and geographical proximity affect the stability of African sovereign‐debt markets. Using sovereign credit default swap spreads, our empirical findings show that it is not only a country's macroeconomic fundamentals that influence its likelihood of default but also contagion from other countries. Trade linkages are found to be a strong transmission channel for contagion risk, especially among countries that trade heavily. A decomposition of the results demonstrates that at least 60% of the variation in credit default swap spread changes is attributed to spillovers through the trading channel. A change in the weighting matrix to geographical proximity confirms the baseline findings that an African country's debt market is susceptible to macroeconomic events in other countries.
Photoluminescence property of inexpensive flexible SiC nanowires membrane by electrospinning and carbothermal reduction
Authors: Wei Jian , Li Xueting , Wang Yuan , Chen Bing , Zhang Mengjie , Qin Congmin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSilicon carbide nanowire (SiC NW), as a typical wide band gap semiconductor was used as light‐emitting materials and devices in high‐temperature and harsh environments due to its excellent properties. In this paper, flexible ultra‐long SiC NWs membrane was successfully synthesized by electrospinning and subsequently high‐temperature sintering using phenolic resin and silica sol as precursors. Results of system characterization reveal that SiC NWs possess a smooth and uniform surface with diameter distribution mainly between 50‐300 nm and a length of more than tens of micrometers, forming a network structure. The growth mechanism of synthesized nanowires was mainly carbothermal reduction in situ and was accompanied by vapor‐solid (V‐S) reaction. The present work provides a simple and cost‐effective way for controllable fabrication of SiC NWs membrane. The photoluminescence spectrum of SiC NWs membrane emerged a clear blue shift, indicating a potential application in optoelectronic devices and discussed the potential applications of SiC NWs membrane in other fields.
Periodontal and peri‐implant diseases in centenarians
Authors: Sekundo Caroline , Langowski Eva , Kilian Samuel , Frese Cornelia 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAimsTo report the prevalence of periodontal and peri‐implant diseases in centenarians in South‐Western Germany, examine associations with sociodemographic factors and explore age‐related trends.Material and methodsEligible persons born before 1920 were identified from population registries in South‐Western Germany. A total of 55 centenarians were visited at home or in nursing care facilities. Of them, 35 were dentate, 33 of which underwent periodontal examination. Implants in 2 edentulous patients were also registered.ResultsThe mean number of teeth was 9.5 ± 7.1; centenarians in need of nursing care had considerably less teeth than others (8.5 versus. 17.0 teeth, p = .03). Mean probing depth was 2.7 ± 0.8mm; mean clinical attachment loss was 4.2 ± 1.7 mm. Severe tooth mobility (degree 2 or 3) and furcation involvement were present in approximately 3% of eligible teeth. According to CDC/AAP classification, 25.8% of centenarians had no or mild periodontitis, 54.8% of centenarians had moderate periodontitis, and only 19.4% were severely affected. Of 27 implants examined in 5 centenarians, 59.3% were classified as healthy, 29.6% had peri‐implant mucositis, and 11.1% had peri‐implantitis.ConclusionsThis study reveals the predominance of moderately severe disease in centenarians. While there were high levels of moderate periodontitis and peri‐implant mucositis, signs of severe periodontitis, severe furcation involvement, tooth mobility or peri‐implantitis were less frequent.
Self‐reported bleeding on brushing as a predictor of bleeding on probing: Early observations from the deployment of an internet of things network of intelligent power‐driven toothbrushes in a supportive periodontal care population
Authors: Tonetti Maurizio S. , Deng Ke , Christiansen Allis , Bogetti Katja , Nicora Chiara , Thurnay Susanne , Cortellini Pierpaolo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundBleeding on brushing (BoB) is an important sign of gingival inflammation. Recently, the use of intelligent toothbrushes and oral health Apps has shown potential to improve oral and periodontal health. In the context of the introduction of an Internet of things network of intelligent power‐driven toothbrushes in a supportive periodontal care programme, the aim of this study was (a) to audit the adoption and retention of this new technology; and (b) to preliminarily assess the feasibility to gather data on BoB and associate them with clinical periodontal parameters.Methods100 subjects with different periodontal case diagnoses participating in supportive periodontal care (SPC) were provided with and instructed on the use of an intelligent power‐driven toothbrush connected with an App (I‐Brush). Brushing sessions and occurrence of BoB were recorded through the App and stored in a data protection compliant backend. Subject retention was audited over time. BoB recorded in the two weeks before the SPC appointment was associated with clinical parameters observed by the clinician blind to App data.Results75% of subjects provided data from using the power toothbrush and the App for a minimum of 10 brushing sessions over an average period of 362 days. Compared with baseline, subjects’ oral hygiene, bleeding on probing and prevalence of residual pockets improved gradually while using the I‐Brush. The number of BoB episodes in the two weeks leading to the SPC appointment and the number of residual pockets predicted BOP (p < .001) detected during the examination. App use in the previous two weeks was associated with lower plaque scores at SPC.ConclusionsThese preliminary observations indicate good adoption and retention of a mobile health system built around an intelligent power toothbrush in a SPC population. The App was able to gather clinically relevant information predicting the observed degree of gingival inflammation. Deployment of mHealth systems seems feasible in dental practice and may bring significant oral health benefits. More investigations are needed in this area.
“I Don't Have Time to Sit and Talk with Them”: Hospitalists’ Perspectives on Palliative Care Consultation for Patients with Dementia
Authors: Courtright Katherine R. , Srinivasan Trishya L. , Madden Vanessa L. , Karlawish Jason , Szymanski Stephanie , Hill Sarah H. , Halpern Scott D. , Ersek Mary 
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESSpecialty palliative care for hospitalized patients with dementia is widely recommended and may improve outcomes, yet rates of consultation remain low. We sought to describe hospitalists' decision‐making regarding palliative care consultation for patients with dementia.DESIGNDescriptive qualitative study.SETTINGSeven hospitals within a national nonprofit health system.PARTICIPANTSHospitalist physicians.MEASUREMENTSIndividual semistructured interviews. We used thematic analysis to explore factors that influence hospitalists' decision to consult palliative care for patients with dementia.RESULTSA total of 171 hospitalists were eligible to participate, and 28 (16%) were interviewed; 17 (61%) were male, 16 (57%) were white, and 18 (64%) were in practice less than 10 years. Overall, hospitalists' decisions to consult palliative care for patients with dementia were influenced by multiple factors across four themes: patient, family caregiver, hospitalist, and organization. Consultation was typically only considered for patients with advanced disease, particularly those receiving aggressive care or with family communication needs (navigating conflicts around goals of care and improving disease and prognostic understanding). Hospitalists' limited time and, for some, a lack of confidence in palliative care skills were strong drivers of consultation. Palliative care needs notwithstanding, most hospitalists would not request consultation if they perceived families would be resistant to it or had limited availability or involvement in caregiving. Additional barriers to referral at the organization level included a hospital culture that conflated palliative and end‐of‐life care and busy palliative care teams at some hospitals.CONCLUSIONHospitalists described a complex consultation decision process for involving palliative care specialists in the care of patients with dementia. Systematic identification of hospitalized patients with dementia most likely to benefit from palliative care consultation and strategies to overcome modifiable family and organization barriers are needed. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:2365–2372, 2020.
Sex‐dependent pronociceptive role of spinal α5‐GABAA receptor and its epigenetic regulation in neuropathic rodents
Authors: Franco‐Enzástiga Úrzula , García Guadalupe , Murbartián Janet , González‐Barrios Rodrigo , Salinas‐Abarca Ana B. , Sánchez‐Hernández Beatriz , Tavares‐Ferreira Diana , Herrera Luis A. , Barragán‐Iglesias Paulino , Delgado‐Lezama Rodolfo , Price Theodore J. , Granados‐Soto Vinicio 
Published: August 2020

AbstractExtrasynaptic α5‐subunit containing GABAA (α5‐GABAA) receptors participate in chronic pain. Previously, we reported a sex difference in the action of α5‐GABAA receptors in dysfunctional pain. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to examine this sexual dimorphism in neuropathic rodents and the mechanisms involved. Female and male Wistar rats or ICR mice were subjected to nerve injury followed by α5‐GABAA receptor inverse agonist intrathecal administration, L‐655,708. The drug produced an antiallodynic effect in nerve‐injured female rats and mice, and a lower effect in males. We hypothesized that changes in α5‐GABAA receptor, probably influenced by hormonal and epigenetic status, might underlie this sex difference. Thus, we performed qPCR and western blot. Nerve injury increased α5‐GABAA mRNA and protein in female dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and decreased them in DRG and spinal cord of males. To investigate the hormonal influence over α5‐GABAA receptor actions, we performed nerve injury to ovariectomized rats and reconstituted them with 17β‐estradiol (E2). Ovariectomy abrogated L‐655,708 antiallodynic effect and E2 restored it. Ovariectomy decreased α5‐GABAA receptor and estrogen receptor α protein in DRG of neuropathic female rats, while E2 enhanced them. Since DNA methylation might contribute to α5‐GABAA receptor down‐regulation in males, we examined CpG island DNA methylation of α5‐GABAA receptor coding gene through pyrosequencing. Nerve injury increased methylation in male, but not female rats. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA methyltransferases increased α5‐GABAA receptor and enabled L‐655,708 antinociceptive effect in male rats. These results suggest that α5‐GABAA receptor is a suitable target to treat chronic pain in females.
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Noninvasive evaluation of the influence of aucubin‐containing cosmetic macroemulsion on selected skin parameters
Authors: Dąbrowska Marta , Nowak Izabela 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundObjective evaluation of skin condition on the basis of noninvasive methods has become obligatory and may be a good strategy for verifying the efficiency of new cosmetic active ingredients.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the influence of aucubin‐containing cosmetic macroemulsion on skin parameters using the skin testing equipment.Patients/MethodsThe study was carried out on the group of 25 female volunteers of the mean age 27 ± 2 years. The skin parameters were measured using the following devices: Tewameter® TM 300 (transepidermal water loss, TEWL), Corneometer® CM 825 (skin hydration), Cutometer® MPA 580 (skin elasticity), Visioscan® VC 98 (skin topography), and Visioline® VL 650 (skin macrorelief). All measurements were performed on the inner part of the left forearm.ResultsThe skin parameters measured revealed the beneficial influence of aucubin on TEWL and skin hydration level. The application of aucubin‐enriched cream caused more significant improvements of all determined SELS parameters, in comparison with cream without it. An analogous tendency was noticed in the case of skin macrorelief parameters; the addiction of the active ingredient led to a decrease in the value of total wrinkle area and diminished the mean length and depth of single wrinkles.ConclusionsNoninvasive methods of skin testing have provided a possibility of objective evaluation of the action of new active ingredients in cosmetic formulations. The study has proved the positive influence of aucubin on effectiveness of cosmetic macroemulsions, diminishing TEWL, increasing skin hydration level, and improving the values of SELS and skin macrorelief parameters.
Effects of N6‐(4‐hydroxybenzyl) adenine riboside in stress‐induced insomnia in rodents
Authors: Jou Shuo‐Bin , Tsai Chung‐Jen , Fang Chun‐Ying , Yi Pei‐Lu , Chang Fang‐Chia 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAdenosine exhibits a somnogenic effect; however, there is no adenosinergic hypnotic because of cardiovascular effects. This study investigated whether N6‐(4‐hydroxybenzyl) adenine riboside (T1‐11), extracted from Gastrodia elata, produces somnogenic effects in rodents. We determined the involvement of adenosine 2A receptors (A2ARs) in GABAergic neurons of the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) and the cardiovascular effects. Change of cage bedding is employed as a stressor to induce insomnia in rodents, and electroencephalograms and electromyograms were used to acquire and analyse sleep–wake activity. We found that intracerebroventricular administration of T1‐11 before a dark period increased non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep during a dark period, and T1‐11‐induced sleep increases were blocked by the A2AR antagonist, SCH58261, in naïve rats. Oral administration of T1‐11 increased NREM sleep during both dark and light periods. Microinjection of the A2AR antagonist, SCH58261, into the VLPO blocked sleep effects of T1‐11. In addition to the somnogenic effect in naïve mice, T1‐11 suppressed the stress‐induced insomnia and this suppressive effect was blocked by SCH58261. C‐fos expression in GABAergic neurons of VLPO was increased after administration of T1‐11 in Gad2‐Cre::Ai14 mice, suggesting the activation of GABAergic neurons in the VLPO. T1‐11 exhibited no effects on heart rate and the low frequency/high frequency ratio of heart rate variability. We concluded that T1‐11 elicited somnogenic effects and effectively ameliorated acute stress‐induced insomnia. The somnogenic effect is mediated by A2ARs to activate GABAergic neurons in the VLPO. This adenosine analogue could be a potential hypnotic because of no sympathetic and parasympathetic effects on the cardiovascular system.