bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparative study of clinical profile and symptom control in overweight and normal weight school‐age children with mild persistent asthma
Authors: Manivannan Sharmila , Chandrasekaran Venkatesh , Subramanian Nandheeswari 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectivesTo find out the proportion of children with poor symptom control in overweight/obese and normal weight children with mild persistent asthma and to know the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of poor symptom control in them.Materials and MethodsChildren aged 6 to 12 years with mild persistent asthma with BMI Z score for age and sex more than +1 Z score on WHO BMI Z score chart for age and sex formed the cases. Age‐ and sex‐matched asthmatics with BMI Z score for age and sex between −2 Z and +1 Z score formed the controls. FEV1, FEV1/FVC were measured in both groups using Care Fusion Jaeger spirometer. Symptom control was assessed by ACT score. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 19 and Vassarstats.ResultsThe proportion of children with poor control was 19.1% in the overweight/obese group and 23.4% in the normal weight group. There was no significant correlation between BMI and symptom control as assessed by the ACT score. Overweight/obese children with good control showed a slightly lower FEV1/FVC ratio and higher median eosinophil count compared to children with normal weight. Gastroesophageal reflux and allergic rhinitis were more commonly seen in overweight/obese children. In the poor control group, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and median eosinophil counts were not significantly different between overweight/obese and normal weight group but were less when compared to good control group.ConclusionThe proportion of poor symptom control was not high in overweight/obese asthmatic children compared to normal weight asthmatic children. No significant risk factors for poor symptom control could be identified in our study for either of the groups.
The somatic care situation of people with mental illness
Authors: Haussleiter Ida , Emons Barbara , Hoffmann Knut , Juckel Georg 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackground and AimsPeople with mental illness have worse physical health and reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. Nevertheless, their medical care is often insufficient. The present study aimed to investigate the somatic status of people with mental illness with a focus on somatic diagnoses, metabolic risk factors, regular somatic care, and routine check‐ups.MethodsThis study used a 14‐item questionnaire to survey the somatic care situation of psychiatric university hospital patients. Main survey topics were psychiatric and somatic diagnoses, metabolic risk factors, regular somatic care, and routine check‐ups.ResultsFour‐hundred and thirty‐five people with mental illness (48.3% male, mean age 45.4 years) were included. More than three quarters of the participating people with mental illness had access to a general practitioner. People with affective and anxiety disorders reported significantly more contact with medical specialists for somatic diseases, but schizophrenic patients did not receive enough care. Not all people with mental illness and on psychiatric medication received regular somatic care. Somatic diseases increased with number of diagnoses, and the duration of the psychiatric illness was positively correlated with treatment motivation.ConclusionThe observed unmet medical needs in this study might reflect the lack of treatment motivation in people with mental illness, but could also represent their obstacles to access care as well as a suboptimal communication between the treating psychiatrist and the referring general practitioner. Increasing awareness of somatic diseases in psychiatric patients and easier access to somatic care have to be implemented in psychiatric clinical routine. The risk of stigmatization in somatic institutions and the lack of self‐care management in people with mental illness are complicating factors.
Capturing carbon dioxide in Na–CO2 batteries: A route for green energy
Authors: Jena Anirudha , Tong Zizheng , Chang Ho , Hu Shu‐Fen , Liu Ru‐Shi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLimiting the carbon emission to the atmosphere requires the efficient utilization of carbonaceous gases and their capture via well‐designed platforms. Metal–CO2 batteries are currently being demonstrated as the route to utilize CO2 and produce energy simultaneously. In particular, Na–CO2 batteries are considered an alternative to Li‐batteries because of their abundance and low cost. In the current review, the developments in the field of Na–CO2 batteries are discussed. Carbon dioxide reactions to the decomposition of discharge products have been discussed elaborately. The main discharge products of Na–CO2 batteries are Na2CO3 and C. In the current review, various strategies are discussed to decompose the discharge products and hence improve cycle stability. The fraction of CO2 has a substantial influence on cell cycles. A plausible route of battery reaction can be drawn with the help of an ex situ analysis of the electrodes. The final part of the review focuses on the use of solid‐state Na‐ion conductors in Na–CO2 batteries.
Inflammation‐induced cholestasis in cancer cachexia
Authors: Thibaut Morgane M. , Sboarina Martina , Roumain Martin , Pötgens Sarah A. , Neyrinck Audrey M. , Destrée Florence , Gillard Justine , Leclercq Isabelle A. , Dachy Guillaume , Demoulin Jean‐Baptiste , Tailleux Anne , Lestavel Sophie , Rastelli Marialetizia , Everard Amandine , Cani Patrice D. , Porporato Paolo E. , Loumaye Audrey , Thissen Jean‐Paul , Muccioli Giulio G. , Delzenne Nathalie M. , Bindels Laure B. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundCancer cachexia is a debilitating metabolic syndrome contributing to cancer death. Organs other than the muscle may contribute to the pathogenesis of cancer cachexia. This work explores new mechanisms underlying hepatic alterations in cancer cachexia.MethodsWe used transcriptomics to reveal the hepatic gene expression profile in the colon carcinoma 26 cachectic mouse model. We performed bile acid, tissue mRNA, histological, biochemical, and western blot analyses. Two interventional studies were performed using a neutralizing interleukin 6 antibody and a bile acid sequestrant, cholestyramine. Our findings were evaluated in a cohort of 94 colorectal cancer patients with or without cachexia (43/51).ResultsIn colon carcinoma 26 cachectic mice, we discovered alterations in five inflammatory pathways as well as in other pathways, including bile acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and xenobiotic metabolism (normalized enrichment scores of −1.97, −2.16, and −1.34, respectively; all Padj < 0.05). The hepatobiliary transport system was deeply impaired in cachectic mice, leading to increased systemic and hepatic bile acid levels (+1512 ± 511.6 pmol/mg, P = 0.01) and increased hepatic inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil recruitment to the liver of cachectic mice (+43.36 ± 16.01 neutrophils per square millimetre, P = 0.001). Adaptive mechanisms were set up to counteract this bile acid accumulation by repressing bile acid synthesis and by enhancing alternative routes of basolateral bile acid efflux. Targeting bile acids using cholestyramine reduced hepatic inflammation, without affecting the hepatobiliary transporters (e.g. tumour necrosis factor α signalling via NFκB and inflammatory response pathways, normalized enrichment scores of −1.44 and −1.36, all Padj < 0.05). Reducing interleukin 6 levels counteracted the change in expression of genes involved in the hepatobiliary transport, bile acid synthesis, and inflammation. Serum bile acid levels were increased in cachectic vs. non‐cachectic cancer patients (e.g. total bile acids, +5.409 ± 1.834 μM, P = 0.026) and were strongly correlated to systemic inflammation (taurochenodeoxycholic acid and C‐reactive protein: ρ = 0.36, Padj = 0.017).ConclusionsWe show alterations in bile acid metabolism and hepatobiliary secretion in cancer cachexia. In this context, we demonstrate the contribution of systemic inflammation to the impairment of the hepatobiliary transport system and the role played by bile acids in the hepatic inflammation. This work paves the way to a better understanding of the role of the liver in cancer cachexia.
Evaluation of three sample preparation methods for the identification of clinical strains by using two MALDI‐TOF MS systems
Authors: Wang Jinghua , Wang Hualiang , Cai Keya , Yu Peijuan , Liu Yajuan , Zhao Gaoling , Chen Rong , Xu Rong , Yu Maowen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMatrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) has revolutionized the microbial identification, especially in the clinical microbiology laboratories. However, although numerous studies on the identification of microorganisms by MALDI‐TOF MS have been reported previously, few studies focused on the effect of pretreatment on identification. Due to the sensitivity of MALDI‐TOF MS, different preparation methods will lead to changes in microbial protein fingerprints. In this study, for evaluating a more appropriate preparation method for the clinical microbiology identification, we analyzed the performance of three sample preparation methods on two different MALDI‐TOF MS systems. A total of 321 clinical isolates, 127 species, were employed in the comparative study of three different sample preparation methods including the direct colony transfer method (DCTM), the on‐target extraction method (OTEM), and the in‐tube extraction method (ITEM) compatible with MALDI‐TOF MS. All isolates were tested on the Microflex LT and Autof ms1000 devices. The spectra were analyzed using the Bruker biotyper and the Autof ms1000 systems. The results were confirmed by 16/18S rRNA sequencing. Results reveal that the accuracies of isolates identification by Bruker biotyper successfully identified 83.8%, 96.0%, and 95.3% after performing the DCTM, OTEM, and ITEM, respectively, while the Autof ms1000 identified 97.5%, 100%, and 99.7%. These data suggested that the identification rates are comparable among the three preparation methods using the Autof ms1000 and Bruker microflex LT systems but the OTEM is more suitable and necessary for clinical application, owing to its key advantages of simplicity and accuracy.
Geographic and Socioeconomic Factors on Survival in Esthesioneuroblastoma
Authors: Mikhael Sandra T. , Tadrosse Abanoob F. , Tadrosse Marina F. , Yassa Arsany , Mikhael Mina T. , Barinsky Gregory L. , Grube Jordon G. , Fang Christina H. , Eloy Jean Anderson 
Published: December 2020

ObjectivesEsthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare sinonasal malignancy with little known regarding how regional and socioeconomic differences in the United States alter disease survival. The aim of this study is to explore the geographic difference in clinical features, socioeconomic factors, and survival outcomes of ENB patients.MethodsENB cases were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry from 1975–2016. Patient data were stratified based on geographical location and comparative analyses of socioeconomic features, disease characteristics, and survival patterns were performed. Kaplan–Meier regression analyses were used to estimate disease‐specific survival (DSS).ResultsA total of 987 patients were identified: 56.4% West, 14.0% South, 12.7% Midwest, and 16.6% East. The West had the highest proportion of patients with Medicaid coverage (P < .001), stage A malignancy (P < .001), and treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy (P < .001). The South had the highest proportion of patients who were Black (P < .001), uninsured (P < .001), and resided in rural areas (P < .001). Five‐year DSS patterns were 81.0% (West), 79.8% (East), 67.4% (Midwest), and 72.7% (South) [P = .018]. Ten‐year DSS outcomes were 74.0% (West), 73.7% (East), 60.9% (Midwest), and 63.6% (South) [P = .017].ConclusionIn ENB patients, survival disparity exists in the United States based on geographical region. Patients from the West and East exhibit higher survival than those from the South and Midwest.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2162–E2168, 2021
Divergent processes and trends of desertification in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia
Authors: Guo Xiaona , Chen Ruishan , Thomas David S.G. , Li Qiang , Xia Zilong , Pan Zhenzhen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDesertification and the expansion of deserts are regarded as a major threat to human livelihoods and ecosystem services, as well as achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Humans have been recognized as significant agents in the expansion of desert‐like conditions, through the agency of desertification/land degradation, and through contributions to global climate change. Yet, how desertification changes and whether human or climate change drives these processes and trends over the whole Mongolia Plateau is still not clear. Here we first use MODIS data for 2000–2019 to assess the long‐term vegetation changes across the Mongolian Plateau, both in Inner Mongolia of PR China and the Mongolian People's Republic. We then appied a General Linear Model to analyze the additional climate and human attribute data sets to explore relationships between the observed desert extent reduction and their potential drivers. Results show that from 2000–2019, desert extent declined by over 7%, comprised of an almost 11% reduction in Inner Mongolia and 5% reduction in Mongolia, and a reduction in the degree of desert conditions, as measured by vegetation cover grades, across the whole region (37.5% decline ‐ one grade in PR China, 28.75% in Mongolia). The majority of desert area reduction occurs in the northern and eastern areas of the Mongolia Plateau. We found that the main drivers of changing desert extent is not because of a reduction in human pressures on the land, but an increasing trend of both precipitation and temperature, which explains over 75% of all the observed changes. Besides, urbanization, and a reduction of population pressures on the land, contribute to most of the remaining changes. Our results suggest that although the climate has been the primary driver of changing desert area and severity, human interventions have played an important role, although the way it intervenes and the intensity varies in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia. Human's active response to land degradation in the desert contributes to more land restoration in Inner Mongolia than in Mongolia.
FT‐MS in the de novo top‐down sequencing of natural nontryptic peptides
Authors: Lebedev Albert T. , Vasileva Irina D. , Samgina Tatiana Y. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe present review covers available results on the application of FT‐MS for the de novo sequencing of natural peptides of various animals: cones, bees, snakes, amphibians, scorpions, and so forth. As these peptides are usually bioactive, the animals efficiently use them as a weapon against microorganisms or higher animals including predators. These peptides represent definite interest as drugs of future generations since the mechanism of their activity is completely different in comparison with that of the modern antibiotics. Utilization of those peptides as antibiotics can eliminate the problem of the bacterial resistance development. Sequence elucidation of these bioactive peptides becomes even more challenging when the species genome is not available and little is known about the protein origin and other properties of those peptides in the study. De novo sequencing may be the only option to obtain sequence information. The benefits of FT‐MS for the top‐down peptide sequencing, the general approaches of the de novxxo sequencing, the difficult cases involving sequence coverage, isobaric and isomeric amino acids, cyclization of short peptides, the presence of posttranslational modifications will be discussed in the review.
Neuromuscular ultrasound findings in carpal tunnel syndrome with symptoms mainly in the nondominant hand
Authors: Chompoopong Pitcha , Preston David C 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) may be associated with structural lesions or anatomical variations at the wrist, especially in patients whose symptoms are more severe in, or limited to, the nondominant hand. The aims of this study were to identify the type and frequency of structural abnormalities and anatomical variations, and to demonstrate the contribution of ultrasound in this subgroup of CTS patients.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed on all patients referred to the electromyography laboratory who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for CTS and who underwent neuromuscular ultrasound.ResultsOf 114 CTS patients with symptoms mainly in nondominant hand, 51 (44.7%) had structural abnormalities or anatomical variations detected by ultrasound. In multivariable analysis, symptoms mainly in the nondominant hand and a body mass index (BMI) <30 kg/m2 were the only independent variables significantly associated with structural findings, odds ratios 2.3 (P < .001) and 1.9 (P = .006), respectively.ConclusionsNeuromuscular ultrasound, in addition to electrodiagnostic studies, should be considered in all CTS patients with symptoms more severe in nondominant hand as a significant number have abnormal structural abnormalities or anatomical variations that may be causative or change the therapeutic approach.
Nocturia and electrocardiographic abnormalities among patients at an inner‐city cardiology clinic
Authors: Mekki Pakinam , Monaghan Thomas F. , Lee Lily , Agudelo Christina W. , Gong Fred , George Christopher D. , Michelson Kyle P. , Wu Zhan D. , Weiss Jeffrey P. , Everaert Karel , Dmochowski Roger R. , Bliwise Donald L. , Wein Alan J. , Lazar Jason M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimsNocturia has been increasingly recognized as a potential manifestation of cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between nocturia and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities has not been studied. This study aims to characterize the diagnostic utility of nocturia in identifying left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), left atrial enlargement (LAE), and prolonged QTc on ECG.MethodsRetrospective analysis of nocturnal voiding frequency and contemporaneous ECG data from consecutive patients evaluated at a university‐based outpatient cardiology clinic. Three sets of three incremental binary multiple logistic regression models controlling for (1) age, (2) sex and race, and (3) body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and diuretic utilization were performed to determine whether nocturia was predictive of LVH, LAE, and prolonged QTc.ResultsIncluded patients (n = 143, 77.6% nocturia) were predominantly African‐American (89.5%), female (74.1%), and obese (61.5%), of whom 44.1%, 41.3%, and 27.3% had LVH, LAE, and prolonged QTc, respectively. Older age, African‐American race, obesity, hypertension, diuretic use, LVH, and LAE were significantly associated with nocturia on univariate analysis. No significant differences were observed in the strength of associations between nocturia and LVH, LAE, or QTc prolongation based on age. Nocturia independently predicted LVH in Models I–III (odds ratios [ORs], 2.99–3.20; relative risks [RRs], 1.18 for all, p ≤ .046) and LAE in Models I–III (ORs, 4.24–4.72; RRs, 1.21 for all, p ≤ .015). No significant associations were observed between nocturia and prolonged QTc.ConclusionsNocturia may be a risk marker for underlying structural cardiac abnormalities.
Daily garden use and quality of life in persons with advanced dementia living in a nursing home: A feasibility study
Authors: van der Velde‐van Buuringen Melanie , Achterberg Wilco P. , Caljouw Monique A.A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimTo evaluate the process of daily going outside in a nursing home garden and explore the effect of garden use on quality of life and neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with dementia.DesignA feasibility study with quantitative and qualitative approaches.MethodsTwenty residents with a diagnosis of moderate‐to‐severe dementia participated. The intervention consisted of at least 30 min of garden use, whereby any activity outside is possible as long as it is person‐centred and fitting within usual daily nursing home practice. Interviews were held with caregivers, and questionnaires were sent to other disciplines involved. Quality of life (QUALIDEM) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI‐NH) were collected at baseline, intervention and postintervention.ResultsCaregivers experienced and observed benefits of going outside for themselves, in residents and relatives. Incorporating daily garden use does not imply an additional task, but rather rearranging priorities and doing the usual activities outside a part of the time.
The migration pathway to economic mobility: Does gender matter?
Authors: Wessel Terje , Magnusson Turner Lena 
Published: December 2020

AbstractInter‐regional migration is conventionally seen as an important path to economic mobility. We investigate this proposition for Norway, focusing on earnings rank in the 1974 birth cohort. Our data include migrations and educational achievements between 1990 and 2009, with added information for parental background from 1988 to 1992. We measure annual earnings between 1990 and 2014, with measures that capture static effects, dynamic effects and long‐term outcomes. Using a structural equation model and fixed‐effects regression, we show that upward spatial migration across three geographical levels has different impacts for men and women. The benefit compared with peers who stay at lower levels, or peers who move in the opposite direction, is larger for women. This difference is due to migration before finished education and is linked to employment opportunities in origin locations. Female migrants obtain higher upward economic mobility through increased work hours and shift of industrial sector; that is, women do not obtain higher wage for the same type of work. Much of the difference materialises immediately after relocation (‘static effect’); it also depends on destination: Oslo is relatively favourable to women, possibly because this region has a quintessential post‐industrial structure and a well‐developed transport system.
Non‐proportional hazards in immuno‐oncology: Is an old perspective needed?
Authors: Magirr Dominic 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA fundamental concept in two‐arm non‐parametric survival analysis is the comparison of observed versus expected numbers of events on one of the treatment arms (the choice of which arm is arbitrary), where the expectation is taken assuming that the true survival curves in the two arms are identical. This concept is at the heart of the counting‐process theory that provides a rigorous basis for methods such as the log‐rank test. It is natural, therefore, to maintain this perspective when extending the log‐rank test to deal with non‐proportional hazards, for example, by considering a weighted sum of the “observed ‐ expected” terms, where larger weights are given to time periods where the hazard ratio is expected to favor the experimental treatment. In doing so, however, one may stumble across some rather subtle issues, related to difficulties in the interpretation of hazard ratios, that may lead to strange conclusions. An alternative approach is to view non‐parametric survival comparisons as permutation tests. With this perspective, one can easily improve on the efficiency of the log‐rank test, while thoroughly controlling the false positive rate. In particular, for the field of immuno‐oncology, where researchers often anticipate a delayed treatment effect, sample sizes could be substantially reduced without loss of power.