bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization to sorafenib in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Chen Anxin , Li Shijie , Yao Zhiyuan , Hu Jiahao , Cao Jiasheng , Topatana Win , Juengpanich Sarun , Yu Hong , Shen Jiliang , Chen Mingyu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackground and AimAn increasing number of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus sorafenib combination therapy has been applied for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it remains controversial whether combination therapy is superior to sorafenib monotherapy. Therefore, we aimed to perform a meta‐analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of TACE plus sorafenib for unresectable HCC.MethodsThis meta‐analysis was based on the relative outcomes from a specific search of online databases between January 2008 and November 2019, and subgroup analyses were conducted to identify potential predictive factors.ResultsA total of 3868 patients (TACE plus sorafenib vs sorafenib, 1181 vs 2687) were identified from nine studies, including one randomized controlled trial and eight retrospective cohort studies. The pooled results revealed that TACE plus sorafenib combination therapy significantly improves overall survival with the combined hazard ratio 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66–0.84, P < 0.001), time to progression (hazard ratio = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.65–0.82, P < 0.001), and objective response rate (odds ratio = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.31–3.66, P = 0.003). Subgroup analysis indicated that patients who developed macrovascular invasion achieve significantly great overall survival (P for interaction = 0.001) with combination therapy, in contrast to nonmacrovascular invasion patients. In addition, no significant differences in adverse events were observed.ConclusionThis meta‐analysis demonstrated that TACE plus sorafenib combination therapy is superior to sorafenib monotherapy and should be recommended as an optimal treatment choice for unresectable HCC.
Freedom and struggling openly in psychotherapy: A qualitative inquiry with LGBQ young adults from religious families
Authors: Heiden‐Rootes Katie , Ross Kristin , Moore Rachel , Hasan Shah , Gulotta Samantha 
Published: July 2020

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) young people from religious families are at increased risk of family rejection, poor mental health outcomes, and are overrepresented in mental health services. This article describes a two‐part qualitative study aimed at exploring the experiences of LGBQ young adults from religious families in psychotherapy, identifying positive and negative psychotherapy experiences, and understanding the influence of family and religion on the psychotherapy experience. Data were collected through a web‐based survey (n = 77) and interviews (n = 7) with LGBQ young adults (ages 18–25) from religious families. The study followed an interpretative phenomenological approach. Integrated results found often invisible, relational therapy processes, and religious discourses as significant to LGBQ young people who seek psychotherapy. Implications for future research, effective systemic family therapy practices with LGBQ young people from religious families, and a critique on ethical and legal limits of confidentiality with policy implications are outlined.
Anxiety and Depression of Nurses in a North West Province in China During the Period of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Outbreak
Authors: Han Lin , Wong Frances Kam Yuet , She Dong Li M , Li Si Yan , Yang Yun Fang , Jiang Meng Yao , Ruan Yue , Su Qian , Ma Yuxia , Chung Loretta Yuet Foon 
Published: July 2020

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the anxiety and depression levels of frontline clinical nurses working in 14 hospitals in Gansu Province, China, during this period.DesignA cross‐sectional survey was conducted online between February 7 and 10, 2020, with a convenience sample of 22,034 nurses working in 14 prefecture and city hospitals in Gansu Province, located in northwest China.MethodsA self‐reported questionnaire with four parts (demographic characteristics, general questions related to novel coronavirus‐infected pneumonia, self‐rating anxiety scale, and self‐rating depression scale) was administered. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, means, and SDs were computed. The associations between anxiety and depression with sociodemographic characteristics, work‐related concerns, and impacts were analyzed, followed by multiple stepwise linear regression to identify factors that best predicted the nurses’ anxiety and depression levels.FindingsA total of 21,199 questionnaires were checked to be valid, with an effective recovery rate of 96.21%. The mean ± SD age of the respondents was 31.89 ± 7.084 years, and the mean ± SD length of service was 9.40 ± 7.638 years. The majority of the respondents were female (98.6%) and married (73.1%). Some demographic characteristics, related concerns, and impacts of COVID‐19 were found to be significantly associated with both anxiety (p < .001) and depression (p < .001). Nurses who needed to take care of children or elderly relatives, took leave from work because they were worried about COVID‐19, avoided contact with family and friends, and wanted to obtain more COVID‐19‐related knowledge had higher levels of both anxiety and depression.ConclusionsResults show that nurses faced with the COVID‐19 outbreak are at risk for experiencing anxiety and depression. Demographic background, psychosocial factors, and work‐related factors predicted the psychological responses. The family responsibilities and burdens of women may explain the higher levels of anxiety and depression among nurses with these obligations as compared to those without. On the other hand, nurses who chose not to take leave from work or who did not avoid going to work during this period were less anxious and depressed.Clinical RelevanceProfessional commitment might be a protective factor for adverse psychological responses. It is pertinent to provide emotional support for nurses and recognize their professional commitment in providing service to people in need.
Induction of allergic contact dermatitis and pervasive face edema due to Brazilian keratin treatment
Authors: Celik Ebru , Esin Korkmaz Kubra , Dogramaci Asena Cigdem 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBrazilian keratin treatment (BKT) is a prevalent hair straightening method widely used by women in the world. The degree of concentration of formaldehyde safe for sensitive patients is still obscure. Report claims that these products contain intolerably high levels of formaldehyde. Yet, hair straightening products may lead to severe allergic contact dermatitis, by means of the responsible allergens such as formaldehyde and its releasers. This case report presents the case of a 37‐year‐old female patient developing extensive edema of the face and acute inflammatory changes in the scalp from chemical‐induced irritation, on the day following the application of BKT to straighten her hair.
Measuring Mutual Fund Flow Pressure as Shock to Stock Returns
Authors: WARDLAW MALCOLM 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACTA large and rapidly growing literature examines the impact of misvaluation on firm policies by using mutual fund outflow‐induced price pressure to isolate nonfundamental price variation. I demonstrate that the standard approach to computing outflow‐induced price pressure produces a measure that is inadvertently a direct function of a stock's actual realized return during the outflow quarter, raising doubts about its orthogonality to fundamentals. After removing these direct measurements of return, outflows generate a fairly negligible quarterly decline in returns, with no subsequent reversal, and many established results in this literature no longer hold. I provide suggestions for future analysis.
The Mobilization of Noncooperative Spaces: Reflections from Rohingya Refugee Camps
Authors: Chowdhury Rashedur 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn this essay, I challenge key assumptions in the mainstream entrepreneurship literature that individuals have the capability to change their fate through entrepreneurial activities wherever in the world they may be. I advance the concept of a coordinated and regulative cooperative market to argue that the rebalancing of power between marginalized actors such as refugees and ordinary locals, and powerful agents of what I term the ‘uncooperative sociostructure’ is essential in order to improve the wellbeing of refugees. Without a cooperative sociostructural intervention, capitalistic market mechanisms such as bottom of the pyramid (BoP) and microfinance as means to individual freedom simply imprison refugees further.
Patch‐level facilitation fosters high‐Andean plant diversity at regional scales
Authors: Gavini Sabrina S. , Ezcurra Cecilia , Aizen Marcelo A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAimLocal effects of ecosystem engineers on biodiversity can scale up to the landscape level, stressing the importance of ecological processes as determinants of species richness at larger spatial scales. In harsh environments, cushion plants often act as ecosystem engineers given their ability to buffer extreme abiotic conditions, thus providing unique and more favorable niches for the establishment of less stress‐tolerant plant species. We assessed if facilitation by cushion plants influences patterns of plant diversity at increasing spatial scales.LocationNorthern Patagonian Andes, Argentina.MethodsBased on plant species records within and outside cushions, we compared plant diversity in the presence and absence of cushions at the community, mountain and regional scale. Specifically, observed and estimated numbers of species occurring in either cushion plants or in the surrounding open areas were compared with the species numbers of the open areas.ResultsThe presence of cushion plants significantly increased species richness at all spatial levels analyzed. At the patch level, a higher number of species was recorded growing within cushion plants than in open area plots of similar size. Consistently, hypothetical communities lacking cushion plants showed significantly lower species richness than observed communities with cushion plants. These differences in species richness at patch and community scales increased with altitude, hence facilitation by cushion plants became more important at higher elevations. Moreover, according to asymptotic non‐parametric estimators, cushion plants could increase overall regional species richness up to 40%.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that about one third of the high‐Andean flora of the region owes its presence to the existence of nursing plants, defying the view that abiotic factors alone are enough to fully determine species occurrences at large spatial scales. This study provides evidence that local‐scale ecological processes can be crucial in promoting and maintaining biodiversity at any spatial scale.
MR elastography‐based liver fibrosis correlates with liver events in nonalcoholic fatty liver patients: A multicenter study
Authors: Han Ma Ai Thanda , Vipani Aarshi , Noureddin Nabil , Ramirez Kim , Gornbein Jeffrey , Saouaf Rola , Baniesh Nader , Cummings‐John Oladuni , Okubote Toluwalase , Setiawan Veronica Wendy , Rotman Yaron , Loomba Rohit , Alkhouri Naim , Noureddin Mazen 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackground & AimsLiver fibrosis assessed by liver biopsy is predictive of clinical liver events in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) correlates with liver biopsy in assessing liver fibrosis. However, data assessing the relationship between MRE and clinical liver events are lacking. We investigated the association between MRE and clinical liver events/death and identified the cut‐off to predict clinical liver events in NAFLD patients.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter retrospective study of NAFLD patients who underwent MRE between 2016 and 2019. Clinical liver events were defined as decompensation events and death. We categorized patients into noncirrhosis, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis. Fisher's exact test was used to test association strength. Receiver operative curve methods were used to determine the optimal cut‐off of MRE liver stiffness and to maximize the accuracy for classifying noncirrhosis, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis. Logistic regression modelling was used to predict decompensation.ResultsThe study included 320 NAFLD patients who underwent MRE. The best threshold for distinguishing cirrhosis from noncirrhosis was 4.39 kPa (AUROC 0.92) and from decompensated cirrhosis was 6.48 kPa (AUROC 0.71). Odds of decompensation increased as liver stiffness increased (OR 3.28) (P < .001). Increased liver stiffness was associated with ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, oesophageal variceal bleeding and mortality (median 7.10, 10.15 and 10.15 kPa respectively).ConclusionIn NAFLD patients, liver stiffness measured by MRE with a cut‐off of ≥6.48 kPa is associated with decompensation and mortality, and specific MRE cut‐offs are predictive of individual clinical liver events.
High‐protein diet more effectively reduces hepatic fat than low‐protein diet despite lower autophagy and FGF21 levels
Authors: Xu Chenchen , Markova Mariya , Seebeck Nicole , Loft Anne , Hornemann Silke , Gantert Thomas , Kabisch Stefan , Herz Kathleen , Loske Jennifer , Ost Mario , Coleman Verena , Klauschen Frederick , Rosenthal Anke , Lange Volker , Machann Jürgen , Klaus Susanne , Grune Tilman , Herzig Stephan , Pivovarova‐Ramich Olga , Pfeiffer Andreas F. H. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackground and aimsNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming increasingly prevalent and nutrition intervention remains the most important therapeutic approach for NAFLD. Our aim was to investigate whether low‐ (LP) or high‐protein (HP) diets are more effective in reducing liver fat and reversing NAFLD and which mechanisms are involved.Methods19 participants with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery were randomized into two hypocaloric (1500‐1600 kcal/day) diet groups, a low protein (10E% protein) and a high protein (30E% protein), for three weeks prior to surgery. Intrahepatic lipid levels (IHL) and serum fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) were measured before and after the dietary intervention. Autophagy flux, histology, mitochondrial activity and gene expression analyses were performed in liver samples collected during surgery.ResultsIHL levels decreased by 42.6% in the HP group, but were not significantly changed in the LP group despite similar weight loss. Hepatic autophagy flux and serum FGF21 increased by 66.7% and 42.2%, respectively, after 3 weeks in the LP group only. Expression levels of fat uptake and lipid biosynthesis genes were lower in the HP group compared with those in the LP group. RNA‐seq analysis revealed lower activity of inflammatory pathways upon HP diet. Hepatic mitochondrial activity and expression of β‐oxidation genes did not increase in the HP group.ConclusionsHP diet more effectively reduces hepatic fat than LP diet despite of lower autophagy and FGF21. Our data suggest that liver fat reduction upon HP diets result primarily from suppression of fat uptake and lipid biosynthesis.
NAFLD is related to Post‐prandial Triglyceride‐enrichment of HDL Particles in Association with Endothelial and HDL Dysfunction
Authors: Verwer Bart J. , Scheffer Peter G. , Vermue Rick P. , Pouwels Petra J. , Diamant Michaela , Tushuizen Maarten E. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractNAFLD is closely related with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Liver fat associates with post‐prandial hypertriglyceridemia, potentially contributing to triglyceride‐enrichment of high‐density lipoproteins (HDL‐TG), and subsequent HDL dysfunction. We assessed liver fat by MR spectroscopy, and its association with HDL physiochemical properties, and endothelial function, measured as flow‐mediated dilation (FMD), before and following three consecutive meals, in 36 men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with the MetS, and controls. Plasma triglycerides increased significantly following the meals (P < .001). Fasting HDL‐TG was highest in T2DM, relative to MetS and controls (P = .002), and increased post‐prandially in all groups (P < .001). HDL function was negatively associated with HDL‐TG following three meals (r = −.32, P<.05). Liver fat associated with HDL‐TG after three meals (r = .65, P < .001). HDL‐TG was independently associated with FMD following three consecutive meals (r = −.477, P = .003). We conclude liver fat is associated with post‐prandial HDL‐TG enrichment which was closely related with endothelial and HDL dysfunction.
Serum progranulin levels in paediatric patients with Gaucher disease; relation to disease severity and liver stiffness by transient elastography
Authors: Tantawy Azza A. , Adly Amira A. , Ismail Eman A. , Salah Nouran Y. , Abdel Alem Shereen , Elsantiel Hesham I. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundNon‐invasive screening for liver fibrosis using transient elastography (TE) could be of value in the management of Gaucher disease (GD). Progranulin (PGRN) is a novel disease modifier in GD and an independent marker of liver fibrosis.ObjectivesWe determined PGRN levels in paediatric patients with GD and assessed its role as a potential marker for disease severity and relation to liver stiffness by TE.MethodsFifty‐one GD patients (20 had type 1 and 31 had type 3) with a median age of 9.5 years were compared to 40 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls and were studied focusing on visceral manifestations, neurological disease, haematological profile and PGRN levels as well as abdominal ultrasound and TE. Patients were on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for various durations and those with viral hepatitis infection were excluded.ResultsBy TE, 14 GD patients (27.5%) had elevated liver stiffness ≥7.0 kPa. Liver stiffness was significantly higher in type 1 GD patients than type 3 (P = .002), in splenectomized patients (P = .012) and those with dysphagia (P < .001). Liver stiffness was positively correlated with age of onset of ERT (P < .001). PGRN levels were significantly lower in GD patients compared with controls (P < .001). PGRN was significantly lower in GD patients with squint (P = .025), dysphagia (P = .036) and elevated liver stiffness (P = .015). PGRN was positively correlated with white blood cell count (r = .455, P = .002) and haemoglobin (r = .546, P < .001), while negatively correlated with severity score index (r = −.529, P < .001), liver volume (r = −.298, P = .034) and liver stiffness (r = −.652, P < .001).ConclusionsSerum PGRN levels were associated with clinical disease severity and elevated liver stiffness in paediatric GD patients.
Robust geographical determinants of infection prevalence and a contrasting latitudinal diversity gradient for haemosporidian parasites in Western Palearctic birds
Authors: Clark Nicholas J. , Drovetski Sergei V. , Voelker Gary 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIdentifying robust environmental predictors of infection probability is central to forecasting and mitigating the ongoing impacts of climate change on vector‐borne disease threats. We applied phylogenetic hierarchical models to a data set of 2,171 Western Palearctic individual birds from 47 species to determine how climate and landscape variation influence infection probability for three genera of haemosporidian blood parasites (Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium). Our comparative models found compelling evidence that birds in areas with higher vegetation density (captured by the normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]) had higher likelihoods of carrying parasite infection. Magnitudes of this relationship were remarkably similar across parasite genera considering that these parasites use different arthropod vectors and are widely presumed to be epidemiologically distinct. However, we also uncovered key differences among genera that highlighted complexities in their climate responses. In particular, prevalences of Haemoproteus and Plasmodium showed strong but contrasting relationships with winter temperatures, supporting mounting evidence that winter warming is a key environmental filter impacting the dynamics of host‐parasite interactions. Parasite phylogenetic community diversities demonstrated a clear but contrasting latitudinal gradient, with Haemoproteus diversity increasing towards the equator and Leucocytozoon diversity increasing towards the poles. Haemoproteus diversity also increased in regions with higher vegetation density, supporting our evidence that summer vegetation density is important for structuring the distributions of these parasites. Ongoing variation in winter temperatures and vegetation characteristics will probably have far‐reaching consequences for the transmission and spread of vector‐borne diseases.
Potential adaptive divergence between subspecies and populations of snapdragon plants inferred from QST–FST comparisons
Authors: Marin Sara , Gibert Anaïs , Archambeau Juliette , Bonhomme Vincent , Lascoste Mylène , Pujol Benoit 
Published: July 2020

AbstractPhenotypic divergence among natural populations can be explained by natural selection or by neutral processes such as drift. Many examples in the literature compare putatively neutral (FST) and quantitative genetic (QST) differentiation in multiple populations to assess their evolutionary signature and identify candidate traits involved with local adaptation. Investigating these signatures in closely related or recently diversified species has the potential to shed light on the divergence processes acting at the interspecific level. Here, we conducted this comparison in two subspecies of snapdragon plants (eight populations of Antirrhinum majus pseudomajus and five populations of A. m. striatum) in a common garden experiment. We also tested whether altitude was involved with population phenotypic divergence. Our results identified candidate phenological and morphological traits involved with local adaptation. Most of these traits were identified in one subspecies but not the other. Phenotypic divergence increased with altitude for a few biomass‐related traits, but only in A. m. striatum. These traits therefore potentially reflect A. m. striatum adaptation to altitude. Our findings imply that adaptive processes potentially differ at the scale of A. majus subspecies.
From one side to two sides: the effects of stomatal distribution on photosynthesis
Authors: Xiong Dongliang , Flexas Jaume 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

The functions of stomata have been studied for a long time; however, a clear understanding of the influences of stomatal distribution on photosynthesis, especially the CO2 diffusion, is still unclear.

Here, we investigated the stomatal morphology, distribution on leaf surfaces, vein traits and gas exchange parameters of 61 species, of which 29 were amphistomatous, spanning 32 families.

Photosynthesis (A) was tightly coupled with operational stomatal conductance (gs) and mesophyll conductance (gm) regardless of whether phylogenetic relationships were accounted for. Although the enhancement of gs from ferns and gymnosperms to angiosperms could largely be explained by the increase in leaf vein density (VLA) and stomatal density (SD), the gs was decoupled from VLA and SD across angiosperm species. Instead, A in angiosperms was further influenced by the allocation of stomatal pores on leaf surfaces, which dramatically increased gs and gm. Moreover, the ratio of gs to anatomically based maximum gs was, on average, 0.12 across species.

Our results show that the shift of stomatal pores from one leaf side to both sides played an important role in regulating CO2 diffusion via both stomata and mesophyll tissues. Modifications of stomata distribution have potential as a functional trait for photosynthesis improvement.