bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of IL‐17A‐197G/A and IL‐17F‐7488T/C polymorphisms and osteoarthritis susceptibility: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Gao Shutao , Mao Chao , Cheng Jie , Deng Qiang , Sheng Weibin 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAimThis meta‐analysis was conducted with the aim of collecting and synthesizing the existing evidence on the association of interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A)‐197G/A and IL‐17F‐7488T/C gene polymorphisms and osteoarthritis (OA) susceptibility.MethodsSix electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang were systematically searched for potentially relevant studies previous to June 2019. The strengths of association were estimated by summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) in a model‐free approach. Heterogeneity test and sensitivity analysis were also conducted to guarantee the reliability of this study.ResultsSix eligible case‐control studies comprising 1989 OA patients and 2116 healthy controls were obtained for the meta‐analysis. Dominant model was confirmed to be the optimal genetic model (MM + Mm vs mm). The pooled estimate supported that IL‐17A‐197G/A and IL‐17F‐7488T/C polymorphisms were significantly associated with OA susceptibility in the overall population (IL‐17A‐197G/A: GG + GA vs AA, OR = 0.69, 95%CI 0.57‐0.80; P < .001; IL‐17F‐7488T/C, TT + TC vs CC, OR = 0.46, 95%CI 0.29‐0.71, P < .001). However, subgroup analyses suggested the association only existed in Asians and knee OA.ConclusionThe findings of the present study indicate that IL‐17A‐197G/A and IL‐17F‐7488T/C polymorphisms are positively associated to reduced risk of knee OA, especially in Asian populations.
Spatially balanced designs for transect‐based surveys
Authors: Foster Scott D. , Hosack Geoffrey R. , Monk Jacquomo , Lawrence Emma , Barrett Neville S. , Williams Alan , Przeslawski Rachel 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMany sampling techniques rely on taking measurements along a transect; an example is underwater imagery from towed platforms used for marine ecological studies. Despite transect‐based sampling being commonly used, methods to generate randomized survey designs have not hitherto been developed.We develop methods to generate random transect designs, which respect the user‐defined probability of sampling each grid cell (thecell inclusion probabilities). We show how to: (a) definetransect inclusion probabilitiesfrom user‐specified cell inclusion probabilities, which allows particular environments to be sampled more often; (b) alter the cell and transect inclusion probabilities so that when transects are sampled the frequencies of sampling cells approximate the cell inclusion probabilities, and; (c) draw a spatially balanced probability sample of transects.The spatially balanced transect designs approximately maintain the cell inclusion probabilities. The greatest of the small departures occur near the extreme corners of our convex study region, which are difficult to place transects into. The proposed designs also exhibit superior spatial balance compared to the non‐balanced counterparts. We illustrate the successful application of the method to a towed‐camera survey of deep‐sea (500–2,000 m depths) seamounts off Tasmania, Australia. This was a challenging application due to the complex topology of the setting, and uneven inclusion probabilities for the property of interest – the presence of a stony coral.Our approach develops the randomization approach to transect‐based surveys, thereby ensuring that transect‐based surveys can enjoy the same benefits as random point‐based surveys. The method approximates the cell inclusion probabilities, and does so while spatially balancing the transects throughout the study area. Practitioners can access the methods through theR‐packageMBHdesign, which is available from CRAN. We anticipate that it will act as a cornerstone for transect‐based ecological monitoring programmes.
Prediction of lithium response using clinical data
Authors: Nunes A. , Ardau R. , Berghöfer A. , Bocchetta A. , Chillotti C. , Deiana V. , Garnham J. , Grof E. , Hajek T. , Manchia M. , Müller‐Oerlinghausen B. , Pinna M. , Pisanu C. , O’Donovan C. , Severino G. , Slaney C. , Suwalska A. , Zvolsky P. , Cervantes P. , del Zompo M. , Grof P. , Rybakowski J. , Tondo L. , Trappenberg T. , Alda M. 
Published: October 2019

ObjectivePromptly establishing maintenance therapy could reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with bipolar disorder. Using a machine learning approach, we sought to evaluate whether lithium responsiveness (LR) is predictable using clinical markers.MethodOur data are the largest existing sample of direct interview‐based clinical data from lithium‐treated patients (n = 1266, 34.7% responders), collected across seven sites, internationally. We trained a random forest model to classify LR—as defined by the previously validated Alda scale—against 180 clinical predictors.ResultsUnder appropriate cross‐validation procedures, LR was predictable in the pooled sample with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (95% CI 0.78–0.82) and a Cohen kappa of 0.46 (0.4–0.51). The model demonstrated a particularly low false‐positive rate (specificity 0.91 [0.88–0.92]). Features related to clinical course and the absence of rapid cycling appeared consistently informative.ConclusionClinical data can inform out‐of‐sample LR prediction to a potentially clinically relevant degree. Despite the relevance of clinical course and the absence of rapid cycling, there was substantial between‐site heterogeneity with respect to feature importance. Future work must focus on improving classification of true positives, better characterizing between‐ and within‐site heterogeneity, and further testing such models on new external datasets.
Early life temperamental anxiety is associated with excessive alcohol intake in adolescence: A rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) model
Authors: Wood Elizabeth K. , Kruger Ryno , Cash Elysha , Lindell Stephen G. , Schwandt Melanie L. , Barr Christina S. , Suomi Stephen J. , Higley J. Dee 
Published: October 2019

AbstractTeenage alcohol abuse is a major health concern, particularly because the majority of alcohol consumed by teenagers is via binge drinking, a known risk factor for increasing the likelihood for the development of future alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Identifying individuals at risk for excessive alcohol intake in adolescence is a step toward developing effective preventative measures and intervention programs. As adults with AUDs tend to self‐medicate their anxiety with alcohol, this longitudinal study assesses the role of infant anxiety‐like temperament in the development of adolescent alcohol abuse using a nonhuman primate model. From birth until they were 5 months of age, behaviors of 64 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were coded twice a week using an objective mother‐infant scoring system that included behaviors traditionally used to assess anxiety and fearfulness in rhesus monkeys. When subjects were four months old, plasma cortisol was obtained. When subjects were adolescents (Mage = 44.88 months), another plasma cortisol sample was obtained about one month prior to allowing them unfettered access to an 8.4% (v/v) aspartame‐sweetened alcohol solution for one hour a day over five‐to‐seven weeks. Results showed that behavioral indications of anxiety‐like temperament in infancy, including high levels of mother‐infant mutual ventral contact, low levels of environmental exploration, and low levels of interactions with peers were predictive of high adolescent alcohol intake (ie, drinking to intoxication). Plasma cortisol levels in infancy were positively correlated with plasma cortisol in adolescence, and both were positively correlated with high adolescent alcohol intake. Our findings indicate that high levels of traditional anxiety‐like behaviors measured in the context of mother‐infant interactions, coupled with high infant and adolescent plasma cortisol, are associated with binge‐like high alcohol intake in adolescence, suggesting that individuals at risk for developing an AUD later in life may be determined, at least in part, by assessing their physiological and behavioral propensity for anxiety early in life.
Using a species distribution model to guide NSW surveys of the long‐footed potoroo (Potorous longipes)
Authors: Wauchope‐Drumm Mareshell , Bentley Joss , Beaumont Linda J. , Baumgartner John B. , Nipperess David A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractKnowledge of threatened species’ distributions is essential for effective conservation decision‐making. Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used to map species’ geographic ranges, identify new areas of suitable habitat and guide field surveys. In New South Wales (NSW), Australia, there are grave doubts about whether populations of the critically endangered long‐footed potoroo (Potorous longipes) remain extant, and identification of occupied sites is a high priority for its conservation. We used an SDM (Maxent) to identify regions in NSW that may have suitable habitat for the potoroo. The SDM was built with seven climate layers and had strong predictive performance (cross‐validated AUC = 0.94). We then combined this information on habitat suitability with vegetation and topography, to identify 58 survey sites across NSW. From April 2016 to May 2017, we undertook six field trips deploying six to eight cameras at each site for 52–63 days, resulting in 25 120 camera trap nights. A total of 215 759 images captured 43 native and feral animal species, but no long‐footed potoroos. Following the survey, newly available, independent presence and absence data were used to validate our model. A Kruskal–Wallis H test indicated that habitat suitability values were significantly higher at presence locations than absence locations (H = 58.66, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001). Finally, we refitted the Maxent model with the new data and identified additional regions that future surveys could explore. We conclude, however, that if the long‐footed potoroo remains extant in NSW, it is extremely rare.
Anticipating white‐nose syndrome in the Southern Hemisphere: Widespread conditions favourable toPseudogymnoascus destructanspose a serious risk to Australia's bat fauna
Authors: Turbill Christopher , Welbergen Justin A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThere is a serious concern that white‐nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease causing severe population declines in North American bats, could soon threaten bats on the Australian continent. Despite an ‘almost certain' risk of incursion within the next ten years, and high virulence in naïve bat populations, we remain uncertain about the vulnerability of Australian bats toWNS. In this study, we intersected occurrences for the 27 cave roosting bat species in Australia with interpolated data on mean annual surface temperature, which provides a proxy for thermal conditions within a cave and hence its suitability for growth by the fungal pathogenPseudogymnoascus destructans. Our analysis identifies favourable roost thermal conditions within 30–100% of the ranges of eight bat species across south‐eastern Australia, including for seven species already listed as threatened with extinction. These results demonstrate the potential for widespread exposure toP. destructansand suggest thatWNScould pose a serious risk to the conservation of Australia's bat fauna. The impacts of exposure toP. destructanswill depend, however, on the sensitivity of bats to developingWNS, and a more comprehensive vulnerability assessment is currently prevented by a lack of information on the hibernation biology of Australian bats. Thus, given the clear potential for widespread exposure of Australia's bats toP. destructansdemonstrated by our study, two specific policy actions seem justified: (i) urgent implementation of border controls that identify and decontaminate cave‐associated fomites and (ii) dedicated funding to enable research on key aspects of bat winter behaviour and hibernation physiology. Further, as accidental translocation of this fungus could also pose a risk to other naïve bat faunas in cooler regions of southern Africa and South America, we argue that a proactive, globally coordinated approach is required to understand and mitigate the potential impacts ofWNSspreading to Southern Hemisphere bats.
Red blood cell transfusion in surgery: an observational study of the trends in the USA from 2011 to 2016
Authors: Nordestgaard A. T. , Rasmussen L. S. , Sillesen M. , Steinmetz J. , Eid A. I. , Meier K. , Kaafarani H. M. A. , Velmahos G. C. 
Published: October 2019

SummaryGuidelines recommend restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategies. We conducted an observational study to examine whether the rate of peri‐operative red blood cell transfusion in the USA had declined during the period from 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2016. We included 4,273,168 patients from all surgical subspecialties. We examined parallel trends in rates of the following: pre‐operative transfusion; prevalence of bleeding disorders and coagulopathy; and minimally invasive procedures. To account for changes in population and procedure characteristics, we performed multivariable logistic regression to assess whether the risk of receiving a transfusion had declined over the study period. Clinical outcomes included peri‐operative myocardial infarction, stroke and all‐cause mortality at 30 days. Peri‐operative red blood cell transfusion rates declined from 37,040/441,255 (8.4%) in 2011 to 46,845/1,000,195 (4.6%) in 2016 (p < 0.001) across all subspecialties. Compared with 2011, the corresponding adjusted OR (95%CI) for red blood cell transfusion decreased gradually from 0.88 (0.86–0.90) in 2012 to 0.51 (0.50–0.51) in 2016 (p < 0.001). Pre‐operative red blood cell transfusion rates and the prevalence of bleeding disorders decreased, whereas haematocrit levels and the proportion of minimally invasive procedures increased. Compared with 2011, the adjusted hazard ratios (95%CI) in 2012 and 2016 were 0.96 (0.90–1.02) and 1.05 (0.99–1.11) for myocardial infarction, 0.91 (0.83–0.99) and 0.99 (0.92–1.07) for stroke and 0.98 (0.94–1.02) and 0.99 (0.96–1.03) for all‐cause mortality. Use of peri‐operative red blood cell transfusion declined from 2011 to 2016. This was not associated with an increase in adverse clinical outcomes.
Acute spinal cord injuries before and after the New Zealand Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan
Authors: Lin Peny , Vandal Alain C. , Patel Alpesh 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundEarly medical and surgical intervention in acute spinal cord injuries can improve long‐term functional outcomes. This study aims to observe the effects of the New Zealand (NZ) Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan on timing to acute decompression and comparing this to the period prior to the policy change.MethodData were collected in the form a retrospective audit from medical records of 12 patients admitted to Middlemore Hospital from 2010 to 2013 prior to the NZ Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan, and 11 patients from 2014 to 2015 following the policy change. Time of decompression is defined as either closed reduction or open reduction plus decompression. Patients were transferred from an initial regional hospital to Middlemore Hospital or directly to Middlemore Hospital following injury. Important time points were compared before and after the NZ Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan.ResultsCox regression modelling was used to compare statistical data. Following the regional policy change, patients had a shorter time of transfer between hospitals, pre‐surgical work up, and hence shorter time to decompression. The mean time of injury to decompression before the policy change is 57.8 and 24.9 h after.ConclusionSince implementing the NZ Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan, time to decompression has been significantly reduced compared with the same group prior.
Intraoperative nerve monitoring in endocrine surgery: prevalence and reasons for its use in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Leong David Chee Weng , Lo Johnny , Ryan Simon , Nguyen Hieu , Lisewski Dean 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundIntraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) has increasingly been used in thyroid surgery by general, endocrine and head and neck surgeons. The purpose of this paper was to explore the prevalence and reasons for the usage of IONM in endocrine surgery in Australia and New Zealand.MethodsA survey was sent to general surgeons registered with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons involved in endocrine surgery and members of the Australian and New Zealand Endocrine Surgeons. Users were divided into surgeon type, area of work, hospital type and volume of surgery. These data were analysed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.ResultsSignificant differences in IONM usage levels were observed between endocrine and general surgeons, area of work and volume of surgery performed. Endocrine surgeons are significantly more likely to use IONM than general surgeons. Surgeons who work in tertiary hospitals are more likely to use IONM as compared to those working in district hospitals. Surgeons who perform less than 100 thyroidectomies were more likely to be users of IONM.ConclusionIONM is not routinely used in thyroid surgery in Australia and New Zealand. The main reasons for the use of IONM given in our study by routine users were to establish familiarity of equipment and medicolegal reasons. Selective users chose as the most common reasons, a documented pre‐existing unilateral nerve paresis or a hostile surgical field. Non‐users stated that there was conflicting evidence that it improves outcomes and increased costs.
Babies in occiput posterior position are significantly more likely to require an emergency cesarean birth compared with babies in occiput transverse position in the second stage of labor: A prospective observational study
Authors: Tempest Nicola , Lane Steven , Hapangama Dharani ,   UK Audit Ressearch Trainee Collaborative in Obstetrics, Gynecology (UK‐ARCOG)
Published: October 2019

AbstractIntroductionMalposition complicates 2‐13% of births at delivery, leading to increased obstetric interventions (cesarean section and instrumental delivery) and higher rates of adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. Limited data are available regarding the likely rates of obstetric intervention and subsequent neonatal and maternal outcomes of births with babies in persistent occiput posterior position vs those in persistent occiput transverse position. The UK Audit and Research trainee Collaborative in Obstetrics and Gynecology (UK‐ARCOG) network set out to collect data prospectively at delivery on final mode of delivery and immediate outcomes.Material and methodsThe UK‐ARCOG network collected data on all births with malposition of the fetal head complicating the second stage of labor (n = 838) (occiput posterior/occiput transverse) requiring rotational vaginal operative birth or emergency cesarean to expedite delivery across 66 participating UK National Health Service maternity units over a 1‐month period. The outcomes considered were the need for emergency cesarean section without a trial of instrumental delivery, success of the first method of delivery employed in achieving a vaginal delivery and neonatal/maternal outcomes.ResultsObstetricians regarded assistance with an operative vaginal delivery method to be unsafe in 15% of babies in occiput posterior position and 6.1% of babies in occiput transverse position, and they were delivered by primary emergency cesarean section. When vaginal delivery was deemed safe (defined as attempted assisted vaginal rotational delivery), the first instrument attempted was successful in 74.4% of occiput posterior babies and 79.3% of occiput transverse babies.ConclusionsOur data facilitates decision making by obstetricians to increase safety of assisted rotational operative delivery of a malpositioned baby at initial assessment and in counseling women. Until data from a well‐designed randomized controlled trial of instrumental delivery vs emergency cesarean section are available, this manuscript provides contemporaneous national data from a high resource setting within a structured training program, to assist the selection of an appropriate instrument/method for the delivery of a malpositioned baby.
Pain‐related increase in serotonin transporter gene methylation associates with emotional regulation in 4.5‐year‐old preterm‐born children
Authors: Provenzi Livio , Fumagalli Monica , Scotto di Minico Giunia , Giorda Roberto , Morandi Francesco , Sirgiovanni Ida , Schiavolin Paola , Mosca Fabio , Borgatti Renato , Montirosso Rosario 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAimThe main goal of this study was to assess the association between pain‐related increase in serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) methylation and emotional dysregulation in 4.5‐year‐old preterm children compared with full‐term matched counterparts.MethodsPreterm (n = 29) and full‐term (n = 26) children recruited from two Italian hospitals were followed‐up from October 2011 to December 2017. SLC6A4 methylation was assessed from cord blood at birth from both groups and peripheral blood at discharge for preterm ones. At 4.5 years, emotional regulation (ie, anger, fear and sadness) was assessed through an observational standardised procedure.ResultsPreterm children (18 females; mean age = 4.5, range = 4.3‐4.8) showed greater anger display compared with full‐term controls (14 females; mean age = 4.5, range = 4.4‐4.9) in response to emotional stress. Controlling for adverse life events occurrence from discharge to 4.5 years and SLC6A4 methylation at birth, CpG‐specific SLC6A4 methylation in the neonatal period was predictive of greater anger display in preterm children but not in full‐term ones.ConclusionThese findings contribute to highlight how epigenetic regulation of serotonin transporter gene in response to NICU pain exposure contributes to long‐lasting programming of anger regulation in preterm children.
Vascular adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase: Enhancer, brake or both?
Authors: Chen Hui , Vanhoutte Paul Michel , Leung Susan Wai Sum 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAdenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), expressed/present ubiquitously in the body, contributes to metabolic regulation. In the vasculature, activation of AMPK is associated with several beneficial biological effects including enhancement of vasodilatation, reduction of oxidative stress and inhibition of inflammatory reactions. The vascular protective effects of certain anti‐diabetic (metformin and sitagliptin) or lipid‐lowering (simvastatin and fenofibrate) therapeutic agents, of active components of Chinese medicinal herbs (resveratrol and berberine) and of pharmacological agents (AICAR, A769662 and PT1) have been attributed to the activation of AMPK (in endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and/or perivascular adipocytes), independently of changes in the metabolic profile (eg glucose tolerance and/or plasma lipoprotein levels), leading to improved endothelium‐derived nitric oxide‐mediated vasodilatation and attenuated endothelium‐derived cyclooxygenase‐dependent vasoconstriction. By contrast, endothelial AMPK activation with pharmacological agents or by genetic modification is associated with reduced endothelium‐dependent relaxations in small blood vessels and elevated systolic blood pressure. Indeed, AMPK activators inhibit endothelium‐dependent hyperpolarization (EDH)‐type relaxations in superior mesenteric arteries, partly by inhibiting endothelial calcium‐activated potassium channel signalling. Therefore, AMPK activation is not necessarily beneficial in terms of endothelial function. The contribution of endothelial AMPK in the regulation of vascular tone, in particular in the microvasculature where EDH plays a more important role, remains to be characterized.