bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
INTRAOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE MONITORING OF AUTOLOGOUS NEUROSENSORY RETINAL FLAP TRANSPLANTATION FOR A REFRACTORY MACULAR HOLE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH MYOPIA
Authors: Takeuchi Jun , Kataoka Keiko , Shimizu Hideyuki , Tomita Ryo , Kominami Taro , Ushida Hiroaki , Kaneko Hiroki , Ito Yasuki , Terasaki Hiroko 
Published: October 2020

Purpose:
To describe the intraoperative and postoperative morphological and functional outcomes after autologous neurosensory retinal flap transplantation (ART) for a high myopia–related refractory macular hole (MH).

Methods:
This prospective interventional study enrolled five eyes of five patients (age range 54–84 years) with highly myopic refractory MHs who underwent ART. All cases were evaluated with intraoperative optical coherence tomography and postoperative optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and microperimetry for at least 6 months postoperatively.

Results:
Intraoperatively, the MH was covered by an ART flap with a persistent small subretinal space that was filled with the ART flap after 4 days to 6 days. Optical coherence tomography discriminated the original from the transplanted retina. The mean basal diameter of the original MH decreased from 1,504 ± 684 µm preoperatively to 1,111 ± 356 µm postoperatively. The best-corrected visual acuity improved in two cases, was stable in two cases, and deteriorated in one case. Microperimetry demonstrated no obvious postoperative changes in the fixation points and the absolute scotoma corresponding to the base of MHs with chorioretinal atrophy. In two eyes, choroidal neovascularization developed beneath the transplanted retinas.

Conclusion:
Transplanted tissue was in a fixed position by 1 week postoperatively with a decreased diameter of the original MH. Postoperative fixation points were on the original retina at the MH edge. Because choroidal neovascularization may develop, detailed monitoring is required.
Ethical and societal challenges in penis transplantation
Authors: van der Merwe André , Moosa Mogamat R. , Barsdorf Nicola 
Published: October 2020

Purpose of review
To review the current understanding of the ethical and societal difficulties of penile transplantation.

Recent findings
Penile transplantation, as with other forms of vascularized composite allotransplantation, has increasing acceptance in society but is still not entirely accepted. Guidelines aiming to help guide future penile transplant programs in an ethical and scientific safe manner were created. Controversies regarding the economic impact, patient safety, and the rights of the patients choosing penile transplant remains.

Summary
Penile transplantation has excellent functional and cosmetic results in the short-term and medium-term. The penis, similar to the face in facial transplantation, carries emotional gravity that relates to visible body parts of another that live forth in a tangible manner contributing to psychological and ethical challenges for both the individual and society more broadly, healthcare administrators, and healthcare workers. In the context of these challenges, controversies emerge related to issues of judgment about what society can and wants to afford. Effects of toxic immunosuppression in a nonlife saving life-enhancing procedure, as well as costs, become arguments that have to be considered in the context of ethical and societal challenges.
Expedited placement to maximize utilization of marginal organs
Authors: Giorgakis Emmanouil , Mathur Amit K. 
Published: October 2020

Purpose of review
Deceased donation represents the largest supply of organs for transplant in the United States. Organs with suboptimal characteristics related to donor disease or recovery-related issues are increasingly discarded at the time of recovery, prompting late allocation to candidates later in the match sequence. Late allocation contributes to organ injury by prolonging cold ischemia, which may further lead to the risk of organ discard, despite the potential to provide benefit to certain transplant candidates.

Recent findings
Expedited placement of marginal organs has emerged as a strategy to address the growing problem of organ discard of marginal organs that have been declined late after recovery. In this review, we describe the basis for expedited organ placement, and approaches to facilitating placement of these grafts, drawing examples from kidney and liver donation and transplantation globally.

Summary
There is significant global variation in practice related to late allocation. Multiple policy mechanisms exist to facilitate expedited placement, including simultaneous offers to multiple centers, predesignation of aggressive centers, and increasing organ procurement organization autonomy in late allocation. Optimizing late allocation of deceased donor organs holds significant promise to increase the number of transplants.
Brief Report: Group Sex Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Era of PrEP: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Phillips Tiffany R. , Fairley Christopher K. , Bradshaw Catriona S. , Hocking Jane S. , Choi Edmond P. H. , Ong Jason J. , Tabesh Marjan , Maddaford Kate , Chow Eric P. F. 
Published: October 2020

Background:
Group sex has been commonly reported among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM); however, there are limited studies on the factors associated with participating in group sex.

Setting:
A cross-sectional study among GBMSM attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia.

Methods:
Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were performed to examine the association between GBMSM participating in group sex in the previous 3 months and their demographic characteristics, including age, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use, HIV status, any STI (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis) diagnosis on the day, and method of seeking partners.

Results:
There were 357 GBMSM who participated in the survey and their mean age was 32.9 years (SD = 10.9). Almost a third (n = 115; 32.2%) had participated in group sex in the previous 3 months. GBMSM who sought sex partners at sex on premises venues (SOPVs) [aOR 5.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.23 to 10.53] had the highest odds of group sex participation after adjusting for other potential confounders. Compared with GBMSM not living with HIV and not taking PrEP, GBMSM taking PrEP had higher odds of group sex participation (aOR 2.09; 95% CI: 1.05 to 4.15), but GBMSM living with HIV did not (aOR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.23 to 3.68).Recent group sex participation was not associated with being diagnosed with any STI (chlamydia, syphilis, or gonorrhea) on the day in the adjusted analyses.

Conclusion:
PrEP users and MSM attending SOPVs are more likely to participate in group sex. SOPV could be important venues for future public health campaigns.
The swine as a vehicle for research in trauma-induced coagulopathy: Introducing principal component analysis for viscoelastic coagulation tests
Authors: Brännström Andreas , von Oelreich Erik , Degerstedt Louise Elander , Dahlquist Albin , Hånell Anders , Gustavsson Jenny , Günther Mattias 
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND
Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of potentially preventable deaths among trauma patients. Tissue injury and shock result in trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC). There are still uncertainties regarding detection methods and best practice management for TIC, and a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology requires robust animal models. The applicability of swine in coagulation studies, particularly after trauma has not been sufficiently elucidated. We, therefore, evaluated the swine as a vehicle for TIC research in a selection of trauma modalities.

METHODS
Twenty-six landrace swine (3 females/23 males) (mean weight, 60.0 kg) were anesthetized and randomized to negative controls, receiving no manipulation (n = 5), positive controls by hemodilution (n = 5), pulmonary contusion without hemorrhage (n = 5), pulmonary contusion with hemorrhage (n = 5), and blast polytrauma with hypothermia, hypoperfusion, hypoventilation, and systemic inflammation (n = 6). A comprehensive coagulation panel was analyzed at baseline, 20 minutes and 120 minutes after trauma.

RESULTS
PT(INR), aPTT, thrombocytes, and fibrinogen did not change after trauma. D-dimer increased (p < 0.0001), prothrombin decreased (p < 0.05) and aPC decreased (p < 0.01) after polytrauma. PAI-1 decreased after pulmonary contusion with hemorrhage (p < 0.05). Positive controls displayed changes in PT(INR), thrombocytes, fibrinogen, prothrombin, aPC (p < 0.05). Principal Component Analysis of rotational thromboelastometry presented pathologic coagulation profiles in both polytrauma and positive control groups with vectors extending outside the 95% confidence interval, which were not detected in negative controls.

CONCLUSION
Coagulopathy was induced after severe porcine blast polytrauma, specifically detected in rotational thromboelastometry. A novel method for principal component analysis of viscoelastic tests was introduced which may increase the detection sensitivity and differentiation of TIC phenotypes and should be further investigated in trauma populations.
Antithrombin III ameliorates post–traumatic brain injury cerebral leukocyte mobilization enhancing recovery of blood brain barrier integrity
Authors: ElSaadani Mohamed , Ahmed Syed M. , Jacovides Christina , Lopez Alfonso , Johnson Victoria E. , Kaplan Lewis J. , Schwab C. William , Smith Douglas H. , Pascual Jose L. 
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND
Acute traumatic coagulopathy often accompanies traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may impair cognitive recovery. Antithrombin III (AT-III) reduces the hypercoagulability of TBI. Antithrombin III and heparinoids such as enoxaparin (ENX) demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory activity, reducing organ injury and modulating leukocyte (LEU) activation, independent of their anticoagulant effect. It is unknown what impact AT-III exerts on cerebral LEU activation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability after TBI. We hypothesized that AT-III reduces live microcirculatory LEU–endothelial cell (EC) interactions and leakage at the BBB following TBI.

METHODS
CD1 mice (n = 71) underwent either severe TBI (controlled cortical impact (CCI), 6-m/s velocity, 1-mm depth, and 4-mm diameter) or sham craniotomy and then received either AT-III (250 IU/kg), ENX (1.5 mg/kg), or vehicle (saline) every 24 hours. Forty-eight hours post-TBI, cerebral intravital microscopy visualized in vivo penumbral microvascular LEU-EC interactions and microvascular leakage to assess BBB inflammation/permeability. Body weight loss and the Garcia neurological test (motor, sensory, reflex, balance) served as surrogates of clinical recovery.

RESULTS
Both AT-III and ENX similarly reduced in vivo penumbral LEU rolling and adhesion (p < 0.05). Antithrombin III also reduced live BBB leakage (p < 0.05). Antithrombin III animals demonstrated the least 48-hour body weight loss (8.4 ± 1%) versus controlled cortical impact and vehicle (11.4 ± 0.5%, p < 0.01). Garcia neurological test scores were similar among groups.

CONCLUSION
Antithrombin III reduces post-TBI penumbral LEU-EC interactions in the BBB leading to reduced neuromicrovascular permeability. Antithrombin III further reduced body weight loss compared with no therapy. Further study is needed to determine if these AT-III effects on neuroinflammation affect longer-term neurocognitive recovery after TBI.
Reporting and Handling of Missing Participant Data in Systematic Reviews of Kidney Transplant Studies
Authors: Budhiraja Pooja , Kalot Mohamad A. , Alayli Abdallah El , Dimassi Ahmad , Kaplan Bruce , Chakkera Harini A. , Mustafa Reem A. 
Published: October 2020

Background.
Participant withdrawal from clinical trials occurs for various reasons, predominantly adverse effects or intervention inefficacy. Because these missing participant data can have implications for the validity, reproducibility, and generalizability of study results, when conducting a systematic review, it is important to collect and appropriately analyze missing data information to assess its effects on the robustness of the study results.

Methods.
In this methodologic survey of missing participant data reporting and handling in systematic reviews, we included meta-analyses that provided pooled estimates of at least 1 dichotomous intervention outcome of a randomized controlled trial performed in adult kidney transplant subjects.

Results.
Eighty-three systematic reviews (17 Cochrane and 66 non-Cochrane reviews) met the inclusion criteria. The most common intervention was drugs (80%), with the majority involving immunosuppressant drugs 55% (n = 46), followed by surgery in 14% (n = 12). The median follow-up duration was 12 months (maximum, 240 mo). Intention-to-treat or modified intention-to-treat analysis was reported in 24% (n = 20) of the reviews (76% of Cochrane and 10% of non-Cochrane). Overall, the majority of systematic reviews did not quantify (90% [n = 60] non-Cochrane and 29% [n = 5] Cochrane) or include the reasons for missing participant data (88% [n = 58] non-Cochrane and 24% [n = 4] Cochrane). Eleven percent (n = 9) handled missing participant data, 5% (n = 4) justified the analytical method(s) used to handle it, and 2% (n = 2) performed a sensitivity analysis for it.

Conclusions.
Systematic reviews of kidney transplantation provide inadequate information on missing participant data and usually do not handle or discuss the associated risk of bias with it.
Combination of a CD26 Inhibitor, G-CSF, and Short-term Immunosuppressants Modulates Allotransplant Survival and Immunoregulation in a Rodent Hindlimb Allotransplant Model
Authors: Chen Chien-Chang , Chen Rong-Fu , Wang Yu-Chi , Li Yun-Ting , Chuang Jiin-Haur , Kuo Yur-Ren 
Published: October 2020

Background.
Recent studies have demonstrated that inhibition of CD26 potentiates stromal cell–derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), promotes tissue regeneration, and suppresses the rejection of organ transplants. This study investigated whether the combination of a CD26 inhibitor (CD26i) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and short-term immunosuppressants modulates vascularized composite tissue allotransplant survival in a rodent orthotopic hindlimb allotransplant model.

Methods.
The hindlimb allotransplantation from Brown-Norway to Lewis rats was divided into 4 groups. Group 1 (controls) did not receive any treatment. Group 2 was treated with short-term antilymphocyte serum (ALS) and cyclosporine-A (CsA). Group 3 was administrated CD26i and G-CSF. Group 4 received a combination of CD26i/G-CSF/ALS/CsA. Each subgroup comprised 10 rats. Peripheral blood and sampling of transplanted tissues were collected for immunological and histological analysis.

Results.
The results revealed that allotransplant survival was found to be significantly prolonged in group 4 with CD26i/G-CSF/ALS/CsA treatment compared with those in the other groups. The interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-βl levels, the percentage of CD4+/CD25+/FoxP3+ T cells, as well as the levels of SDF-1α expressions were significantly increased in group 4 compared with those in the other groups. Group 4 revealed a statistical increase in the percentage of donor cells (RT1n) expression in the recipient peripheral blood, and the mixed lymphocyte reaction showed hyporesponsiveness of the T cells to donor alloantigens.

Conclusion.
The combination of CD26i/G-CSF and short-term immunosuppressants prolongs allotransplant survival by inducing immunoregulatory effects and enhancing the percentage of SDF-1α expression. This immunomodulatory approach has great potential as a strategy to increase vascularized composite allotransplantation survival.
Neighborhood environment, social cohesion, and epigenetic aging
Authors: Martin Chantel L. , Ward-Caviness Cavin K. , Dhingra Radhika , Zikry Tarek M. , Galea Sandro , Wildman Derek E. , Koenen Karestan C. , Uddin Monica , Aiello Allison E 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACTLiving in adverse neighborhood environments have been linked to increased risk of aging-related diseases and mortality; however, the biological mechanisms explaining this observation remain poorly understood. DNA methylation (DNAm), a proposed biomarker of biological aging responsive to environmental stressors, offers promising insight into molecular pathways. We examined associations of three measures of neighborhood conditions (poverty, quality, and social cohesion) with three different epigenetic clocks (Horvath, Hannum, and Levine) using data from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study (n=158). Using linear regression models, we evaluated associations in the total sample and stratified by gender and social cohesion. Differential effects by gender were found between men and women. Neighborhood poverty was associated with PhenoAge acceleration among women, but not among men (women: β = 1.4; 95% CI: −0.4, 3.3 vs. men: β = −0.3; 95% CI: −2.2, 1.5) in fully adjusted models. In models stratified on social cohesion, association of neighborhood poverty and quality with accelerated DNAm aging remained elevated for residents living in neighborhoods with lower social cohesion, but were null for those living in neighborhoods with higher social cohesion. Our study suggests that living in adverse neighborhood conditions can speed up epigenetic aging, while positive neighborhood characteristics may buffer effects.
HeartBioPortal2.0: new developments and updates for genetic ancestry and cardiometabolic quantitative traits in diverse human populations
Authors: Khomtchouk Bohdan B. , Vand Kasra A. , Nelson Christopher S. , Palmisano Salvator , Grossman Robert L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide for both genders and across most racial and ethnic groups. However, different races and ethnicities exhibit different rates of cardiovascular disease and its related cardiorenal and metabolic co-morbidities, suggesting differences in genetic predisposition and risk of onset, as well as socioeconomic and lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, etc.) that act upon an individual’s unique underlying genetic background. Here we present HeartBioPortal2.0, a major update to HeartBioPortal, the world’s largest CVD genetics data precision medicine platform for harmonized CVD-relevant genetic variants, which now enables search and analysis of human genetic information related to heart disease across ethnically diverse populations and cardiovascular/renal/metabolic quantitative traits pertinent to CVD pathophysiology. HeartBioPortal2.0 is structured as a cloud-based computing platform and knowledge portal that consolidates a multitude of CVD-relevant next-generation sequencing data modalities into a single powerful query and browsing interface between data and user via a user-friendly web application publicly available to the scientific research community. Since its initial release, HeartBioPortal2.0 has added new cardiovascular/renal/metabolic disease relevant gene expression data as well as genetic association data from numerous large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) consortiums such as CARDIoGRAMplusC4D, TOPMed, FinnGen, AFGen, MESA, MEGASTROKE, UK Biobank, CHARGE, Biobank Japan, MyCode, among other studies. In addition, HeartBioPortal2.0 now includes support for quantitative traits and ethnically diverse populations, allowing users to investigate the shared genetic architecture of any gene or its variants across the continuous cardiometabolic spectrum from health (e.g., blood pressure traits) to disease (hypertension), facilitating the understanding of CVD trait genetics that inform health-to-disease transitions and endophenotypes. Custom visualizations in the new and improved user interface (UI), including performance enhancements and new security features such as user authentication collectively re-imagine HeartBioPortal’s user experience and provide a data commons that co-locates data, storage and computing infrastructure in the context of studying the genetic basis behind the leading cause of global mortality.Database URLhttps://www.heartbioportal.com/
Sanitation and Diarrheal Morbidity: Evidence from Afghanistan
Authors: Malik Manzoor Ahmad , Akhtar Saddaf Naaz 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionLack of sanitation facilities and inadequate water is key to many diseases’ outcomes, mainly diarrhea. These factors not just affect the health status of a country and but also result in increased mortality and morbidity pattern, particularly among the vulnerable population like children and women. Thus, the study assesses the linkages between diarrheal diseases and sanitation in Afghanistan affected since long by political instability which has derailed the health system of the country.Material and MethodsWe used 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey to assess the linkages between sanitation and diarrheal diseases among under-five children. Bivariate and multivariate analyses have used to carry out the study. The logistic model was used to evaluate the risk factors that lead to diarrheal outcomes.ResultsOur findings from the results showed that the prevalence of diarrhea among under-five children in Afghanistan was 29%. Pashai is the most affected, with 36% among ethnicities, whereas eastern Afghanistan is the most affected region with the prevalence of (38%). Open defecated Population (OR: 1.17, p<0.001), Tap water (OR: 1.31, p<0.001), Well water (OR: 1.24, p<0.001), and Sharing toilet (OR: 1.15, p<0.001) are significantly associated with childhood diarrhea.ConclusionsA significant impact has found with factors like-inadequate sanitation, shared toilet facility, clean water and other elements with childhood diarrhea in Afghanistan. The region-wise difference has also found to be very high across the regions. Thus, it has found that a lack of such factors has a more significant impact on the health of children and needs a particular focus from a policy purpose.
Positive allosteric modulators of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase adjust the orientation of the membrane-binding domain and alter its spatial free energy profile
Authors: Niemelä Akseli , Koivuniemi Artturi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractLecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase protein (LCAT) promotes the esterification reaction between cholesterol and phospholipid derived acyl chains. Positive allosteric modulators have been developed to treat LCAT deficiencies and, plausibly, also cardiovascular diseases in the future. The mechanism of action of these compounds is poorly understood. Here computational docking and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were utilized to study the interactions between LCAT and the activating compounds. Results indicate that all drugs bind to the allosteric binding pocket in the membrane-binding domain in a similar fashion. The presence of the compounds in the allosteric site results in a distinct spatial orientation and sampling of the membrane-binding domain (MBD). The MBD’s different spatial arrangement plausibly affects the lid’s movement from closed to open state andvice versa, as suggested by steered molecular dynamics simulations.