bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between hydrochlorothiazide exposure and different incident skin, lip and oral cavity cancers: A series of population‐based nested case–control studies
Authors: Morales Daniel R. , Pacurariu Alexandra , Slattery Jim , Kurz Xavier 
Published: February 2020

AimsHydrochlorothiazide‐induced photosensitivity may increase squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and lip cancer risk. The aim was to quantify these risks.MethodsNested case–control studies using data from the UK THIN database from 01 January 1999 to 01 May 2016. Adults with incident SCC, BCC, melanoma, lip cancer and oral cancer were matched (on age, sex and calendar year of cohort entry) to controls using incidence density sampling. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) for each outcome were calculated for ever and cumulative hydrochlorothiazide exposure, measuring the impact of additionally adjusting for smoking and body mass index (BMI). Adjusted rate differences were estimated, including the number needed to harm.ResultsCumulative hydrochlorothiazide doses ≥50 000 mg were associated with a significantly increased risk of SCC IRR = 3.05 (1.93–4.81) and BCC IRR = 1.34 (1.06–1.69). Using a 5‐year lag‐period, hydrochlorothiazide exposure was also associated with a significantly increased risk of lip cancer (IRR 2.85, 95% confidence interval 1.32–6.15). No significantly increased risk of melanoma or oral cavity cancer was observed. Following adjustment for smoking and BMI, which had inverse associations with several skin cancer types, associations for hydrochlorothiazide remained significant. The overall number needed to harm with high‐dose cumulative hydrochlorothiazide exposure was: 804 for SCC; 2463 for BCC, and 200 000 for lip cancer but varied by age and sex.ConclusionHydrochlorothiazide exposure was associated with an increased risk of SCC, BCC and lip cancer that is not explained following adjustment for smoking and BMI. These findings may support clinical and regulatory decision making.
Media coverage of drug regulatory agencies' safety advisories: A case study of citalopram and denosumab
Authors: Fabbri Alice , O'Keeffe Mary , Moynihan Ray , Møllebæk Mathias , Mohammad Annim , Bhasale Alice , Puil Lorri , Mintzes Barbara 
Published: February 2020

AimsDrug regulators issue safety advisories to warn clinicians and the public about new evidence of harmful effects of medicines. It is unclear how often these messages are covered by the media. Our aim was to analyse the extent of media coverage of two medicines that were subject to safety advisories from 2007 to 2016 in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.MethodsTwo medicines widely used to treat mental health or physical conditions were selected: citalopram and denosumab. Media reports were identified by searching LexisNexis and Factiva. Reports were included if they stated at least one health benefit or harm. A content analysis of the reports was conducted.ResultsIn total, 195 media reports on citalopram and 239 on denosumab were included. For citalopram, 43.1% (84/195) of the reports mentioned benefits, 85.6% (167/195) mentioned harms and 9.7% (19/195) mentioned the harm described in the advisories (cardiac arrhythmia). For denosumab, 94.1% (225/239) of the reports mentioned benefits and 39.7% (95/239) mentioned harms. The harms described in the advisories were rarely mentioned: 10.9% (26/239) of the reports mentioned osteonecrosis and ≤5% mentioned any of the other harms (atypical fractures, hypocalcaemia, serious infections and dermatologic reactions).ConclusionsWe found limited media coverage of the harms highlighted in safety advisories. Almost two‐thirds of the media stories on denosumab did not include any information about harms, despite the many advisories during this time frame. Citalopram coverage covered harms more often but rarely mentioned cardiac arrhythmias. These findings raise questions about how to better ensure that regulatory risk communications reach the general public.
Assessing the effects of elephant foraging on the structure and diversity of an Afrotropical forest
Authors: Rosin Cooper , Beals Kendall K. , Belovitch Michael W. , Harrison Ruby E. , Pendred Megan , Sullivan Megan K. , Yao Nicolas , Poulsen John R. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAfrican forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) are ecosystem engineers that browse and damage large quantities of vegetation during their foraging and movement. Though elephant trail networks and clearings are conspicuous features of many African forests, the consequences of elephant foraging for forest structure and diversity are poorly documented. In this study in northeastern Gabon, we compare stem size, stem density, proportional damage, species diversity, and species relative abundance of seedlings and saplings in the vicinity of seven tree species that produce elephant‐preferred fruits (“elephant trees”) relative to control trees that do not. Across 34 survey trees, with a combined census area of 2.04 ha, we recorded data on 26,128 woody stems in three sizes classes. Compared with control trees, the area around elephant trees had the following: (a) a significantly greater proportion of damaged seedlings and a marginally greater proportion of damaged saplings (with 82% and 24% greater odds of damage, respectively); (b) no significant difference in stem density or species diversity; and (c) a significantly greater relative abundance of seedlings of elephant tree species. Increasing distance away from focal elephant trees was associated with significantly reduced sapling stem damage, significantly increased sapling stem density, and significantly increased sapling species diversity. Considered in sum, our results suggest that elephants can affect the structure and diversity of Afrotropical forests through their foraging activities, with some variation based on location and plant size class. Developing a more complete understanding of elephants’ ecological effects will require continued research, ideally with manipulative experiments.Abstract in French is available with online material.
L’évolution de l’exercice du contrôle dans l’administration publique fédérale canadienne
Authors: Caron Isabelle 
Published: February 2020

Sommaire Cet article s’intéresse à l’évolution de l’exercice du contrôle dans l’appareil administratif fédéral canadien. Plus précisément, il cherche à vérifier si la philosophie de gestion adoptée par le gouvernement fédéral canadien en 2000, qui prônait une plus grande souplesse du système, s’est véritablement incarnée dans les politiques du gouvernement. La recherche se penche sur le contenu des politiques administratives en matière de gestion financière du gouvernement fédéral canadien entre 2000 et 2018.
Biocontrol potential of Pseudomonas azotoformans, Serratia marcescens and Trichoderma virens against Fusarium wilt of Dalbergia sissoo
Authors: Banerjee Sabyasachi , Singh Seema , Pandey Shailesh , Bhandari Maneesh S. , Pandey Amit , Giri Krishna 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWilt disease caused by Fusarium solani is a serious constraint to Dalbergia sissoo (shisham) plantations in northern India. In this study, the antagonistic potential of 40 bacterial isolates recovered from rhizophere soil of healthy shisham trees, and a well‐characterized Trichoderma species (Trichoderma virens) were tested for their possibility as biocontrol agents for F. solani. Two promising isolates (S1 and S15) were identified which inhibited pathogen growth, caused chitin degradation, produced siderophores and solubilized phosphate in vitro. Isolate S15 scored highest for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production while isolate S1 was a non‐HCN producer. These two isolates were identified as Serratia marcescens (S1) and Pseudomonas azotoformans (S15) following sequence analysis of 16S rDNA. In dual culture assays, T. virens caused 80% inhibition of mycelial growth of the test fungus. The three selected antagonists when tested in planta in the glasshouse completely suppressed production of wilt symptoms on 12‐month‐old shisham plants. Further work is needed to ascertain the potential of these isolates to be used as biocontrol agents to manage shisham wilt under field conditions.
Efficacy and safety of 5‐hydroxytryptophan on depression and apathy in Parkinson's disease: a preliminary finding
Authors: Meloni M. , Puligheddu M. , Carta M. , Cannas A. , Figorilli M. , Defazio G. 
Published: February 2020

Background and purposeSeveral studies have indicated that altered serotonergic neurotransmission may contribute to non‐motor features commonly associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) such as apathy and depression. 5‐hydroxytryptophan (5‐HTP) is the intermediate metabolite of L‐tryptophan in the production of serotonin. To date, there has been inconsistent research on the use of 5‐HTP in PD. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 5‐HTP with those of placebo on apathy and depressive symptoms in patients with PD.MethodsA single‐center, randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled cross‐over trial was employed; 25 individuals were subsequently enrolled into the study. Patients received placebo and 50 mg of 5‐HTP daily over a period of 4 weeks. For the assessment of efficacy on depressive and apathy symptoms the Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Apathy Scale (AS) were respectively administered at screening, baseline and weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16. Primary efficacy outcomes were the comparison of 5‐HTP to placebo in mean change from baseline to weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16 in total score on the AS, BDI‐II and HDRS.ResultsRepeated‐measures analysis revealed a significant improvement of depressive symptoms during the 50‐mg 5‐HTP treatment compared with placebo as assessed by the HDRS. No effect of 5‐HTP was seen on apathy symptoms assessed by the AS.ConclusionsThis study provides preliminary evidence of clinical benefit of 5‐HTP for treating depressive symptoms in PD. Larger studies with a longer treatment duration are needed to corroborate these early findings.
Study of community assembly patterns and interspecific interactions involved in insect succession on rat carcasses
Authors: ITO Minobu 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAlthough many forensic entomological studies have described patterns of carrion insect succession and theoretical studies have explained interspecific interactions that drive succession, empirical studies on the quantitative and ecological aspects of carrion insect succession, such as the degree of historical contingency in community assembly and interspecific interactions during succession, are limited. In this study, I investigated variability in the successional pathways of carrion insect communities in rat carcasses and their decomposition processes, and examined the interspecific interactions involved in succession, such as the effects of carcass utilization by early‐arriving species on late‐arriving species. Members of the families Calliphoridae and Formicidae and the species Eusilpha japonica (Motschulsky) and Nicrophorus concolor Kraatz were chiefly observed. In almost all carcasses, formicid species arrived first, and calliphorid species and E. japonica arrived simultaneously or immediately after. Nicrophorus concolor arrived last, with its time of colonization occurring earlier in carcasses with greater E. japonica abundance. Meanwhile, the early‐arriving species decreased when N. concolor arrived. Nicrophorus concolor tended to reproduce on carcasses with lower cumulative abundance of early‐arriving species and tended to feed on carcasses with greater cumulative abundance of early‐arriving species. These results show that the successional pathways of the chief carrion insect species are highly consistent among carcasses. In contrast, early‐arriving species seem to influence the utilization patterns of carcasses by late‐arriving species, and therefore produce variability in the decomposition process. These results also show that succession could be driven by facilitation and interspecific competition between early‐arriving and late‐arriving species.
High body mass index is a strong predictor of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in spinal surgery patients when prophylactic film dressings are applied: A retrospective analysis prior to the BOSS Trial
Authors: Yoshimura Mine , Ohura Norihiko , Santamaria Nick , Watanabe Yorikatsu , Akizuki Tanetaka , Gefen Amit 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWe reported the efficacy of soft silicone multilayered foam dressings in preventing intraoperatively acquired pressure injuries (IAPIs) in the prone position using a Relton‐Hall frame (BOSS trial). The aim of this study was to clarify the incidence and extract the risk factors for IAPIs in cases in which polyurethane film dressing was used against IAPIs before the BOSS trial period. This study conducted as a retrospective dual‐center cohort study between August 2014 and Jun 2015 using the medical records in the operating room. The incidence of IAPIs that developed within 24 hours after surgery was 7.1% (7/99). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI) (P = .0016, odds ratio [OR]: 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08‐1.4) and length of surgery (P < .0001, OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.86‐3.51) were independently associated with the development of IAPIs. Since high BMI was not extracted in BOSS trial, we conclude that the application of soft silicone multilayer foam dressings is important for preventing the development of IAPIs in patients with high BMI values.
Surgical site infection following operative treatment of open fracture: Incidence and prognostic risk factors
Authors: Hu Qifeng , Zhao Yanhui , Sun Baishan , Qi Wei , Shi Pengju 
Published: February 2020

AbstractConsidering the high incidence of postoperative complications of open fracture, management of this injury is an intractable challenge for orthopaedist, and surgical site infection (SSI) is the devastate one. Screening for high‐risk patients and target them with appropriate interventions is important in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to identify modifiable factors that were associated with SSI following operative treatment of open fractures. This retrospective, multicentre study was conducted at three hospitals. A total of 2692 patients with complete data were recruited between June 2015 and July 2018. Demographic characteristics, operation relative variables, additional comorbidities, and biochemical indexes were extracted and analysed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to detect the optimum cut‐off value for some variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis models were performed, respectively, to identify the independent risk factors of SSI. The overall incidence of SSI was 18.6%, with 17.0% and 1.6% for superficial and deep infection, respectively. Results of univariate and multivariate analyses showed the following: fracture type, surgical duration > 122 minutes, anaesthesia time > 130 minutes, intraoperative body temperature < 36.4°C, blood glucose (GLU) > 100 mg/dL, blood platelet (PLT) < 288 × 109, and white blood cells (WBC) > 9.4 × 109 were independent risk factors of postoperative wound infection following operative treatment of open fractures. Six modifiable factors such as surgical duration > 122 minutes, anaesthesia time > 130 minutes, intraoperative body temperature < 36.4°C, GLU > 100 mg/dL, PLT < 288 × 109, and WBC > 9.4 × 109 play an important role in the prevention of SSI, and these factors should be optimized perioperatively.
Mechanism on reduction and nitridation of micrometer‐sized titania with ammonia gas
Authors: Liu Yongjie , Wang Yue , Zhang Yu , You Zhixiong , Lv Xuewei 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAmmonia gas can be simultaneously used as a reductant and nitrogen source to prepare TiN from titania. In this work, the mechanisms on reduction and nitridation of micrometer‐sized anatase with ammonia gas have been investigated, using both thermodynamic and experimental studies. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that reduction and nitridation of TiO2 by NH3 was feasible. Anatase will undergo different paths to form TiN, depending on the reaction temperature. Upon heating, NH3 was seen to partially decompose into N2 and H2, although the actual NH3 decomposition ratio was less than the theoretical value. The experimental results indicated that the obtained titanium nitride was non‐stoichiometric (TiNxO1−x, x ≤ 1), as it contained a certain amount of oxygen. Based on the phase transformation and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, the reduction and nitridation routes were deduced: TiO2 reacted with NH3 to form TiNxO1−x directly, at lower temperatures, and followed the path TiO2 → TinO2n−1 → TiNxO1−x, at higher temperatures. TinO2n−1 was determined to be Ti4O7 and Ti3O5 at 1100°C and 1200°C, respectively. Reaction temperature and time significantly affected the oxygen and nitrogen contents in TiNxO1−x, with the lattice parameter of roasted products gradually increasing—approaching those of pure TiN—with an increase in reaction temperature and holding time. At the same time, the content of oxygen in TiNxO1−x decreased, and its nitrogen content correspondingly increased.
Older Patient and Caregiver Perspectives on Medication Value and Deprescribing: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Pickering Aimee N. , Hamm Megan E. , Dawdani Alicia , Hanlon Joseph T. , Thorpe Carolyn T. , Gellad Walid F. , Radomski Thomas R. 
Published: February 2020

OBJECTIVESShared decision making is essential to deprescribing unnecessary or harmful medications in older adults, yet patients' and caregivers' perspectives on medication value and how this affects their willingness to discontinue a medication are poorly understood. We sought to identify the most significant factors that impact the perceived value of a medication from the perspective of patients and caregivers.DESIGNQualitative study using focus groups conducted in September and October 2018.SETTINGParticipants from the Pepper Geriatric Research Registry (patients) and the Pitt+Me Registry (caregivers) maintained by the University of Pittsburgh.PARTICIPANTSSix focus groups of community‐dwelling adults aged 65 years or older, or their caregivers, prescribed five or more medications in the preceding 12 months.MEASUREMENTSWe sought to identify (1) general views on medication value and what makes medication worth taking; (2) how specific features such as cost or side effects impact perceived value; and (3) reactions to clinical scenarios related to deprescribing.RESULTSWe identified four themes. Perceived effectiveness was the primary factor that caused participants to consider a medication to be of high value. Participants considered a medication to be of low value if it adversely affected quality of life. Participants also cited cost when determining value, especially if it resulted in material sacrifices. Participants valued medications prescribed by providers with whom they had good relationships rather than valuing level of training. When presented with clinical scenarios, participants ably weighed these factors when determining the value of a medication and indicated whether they would adhere to a deprescribing recommendation.CONCLUSIONWe identified that perceived effectiveness, adverse effects on quality of life, cost, and a strong relationship with the prescriber influenced patients' and caregivers' views on medication value. These findings will enable prescribers to engage older patients in shared decision making when deprescribing unnecessary medications and will allow health systems to incorporate patient‐centered assessment of value into systems‐based deprescribing interventions. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:746–753, 2020
Exploring scoring methods for research studies: Accuracy and variability of visual and automated sleep scoring
Authors: Berthomier Christian , Muto Vincenzo , Schmidt Christina , Vandewalle Gilles , Jaspar Mathieu , Devillers Jonathan , Gaggioni Giulia , Chellappa Sarah L. , Meyer Christelle , Phillips Christophe , Salmon Eric , Berthomier Pierre , Prado Jacques , Benoit Odile , Bouet Romain , Brandewinder Marie , Mattout Jérémie , Maquet Pierre 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSleep studies face new challenges in terms of data, objectives and metrics. This requires reappraising the adequacy of existing analysis methods, including scoring methods. Visual and automatic sleep scoring of healthy individuals were compared in terms of reliability (i.e., accuracy and stability) to find a scoring method capable of giving access to the actual data variability without adding exogenous variability. A first dataset (DS1, four recordings) scored by six experts plus an autoscoring algorithm was used to characterize inter‐scoring variability. A second dataset (DS2, 88 recordings) scored a few weeks later was used to explore intra‐expert variability. Percentage agreements and Conger's kappa were derived from epoch‐by‐epoch comparisons on pairwise and consensus scorings. On DS1 the number of epochs of agreement decreased when the number of experts increased, ranging from 86% (pairwise) to 69% (all experts). Adding autoscoring to visual scorings changed the kappa value from 0.81 to 0.79. Agreement between expert consensus and autoscoring was 93%. On DS2 the hypothesis of intra‐expert variability was supported by a systematic decrease in kappa scores between autoscoring used as reference and each single expert between datasets (.75–.70). Although visual scoring induces inter‐ and intra‐expert variability, autoscoring methods can cope with intra‐scorer variability, making them a sensible option to reduce exogenous variability and give access to the endogenous variability in the data.
Rapid block of pre‐mRNA splicing by chemical inhibition of analog‐sensitive CRK9 in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Gosavi Ujwala , Srivastava Ankita , Badjatia Nitika , Günzl Arthur 
Published: February 2020

AbstractTrypanosoma brucei CRK9 is an essential cyclin‐dependent kinase for the parasite‐specific mode of pre‐mRNA processing. In trypanosomes, protein coding genes are arranged in directional arrays that are transcribed polycistronically, and individual mRNAs are generated by spliced leader trans‐splicing and polyadenylation, processes that are functionally linked. Since CRK9 silencing caused a decline of mRNAs, a concomitant increase of unspliced pre‐mRNAs and the disappearance of the trans‐splicing Y structure intermediate, CRK9 is essential for the first step of splicing. CRK9 depletion also caused a loss of phosphorylation in RPB1, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase (pol) II. Here, we established cell lines that exclusively express analog‐sensitive CRK9 (CRK9AS). Inhibition of CRK9AS in these cells by the ATP‐competitive inhibitor 1‐NM‐PP1 reproduced the splicing defects and proved that it is the CKR9 kinase activity that is required for pre‐mRNA processing. Since defective trans‐splicing was detected as early as 5 min after inhibitor addition, CRK9 presumably carries out reversible phosphorylation on the pre‐mRNA processing machinery. Loss of RPB1 phosphorylation, however, took 12–24 hr. Surprisingly, RNA pol II‐mediated RNA synthesis in 24 hr‐treated cells was upregulated, indicating that, in contrast to other eukaryotes, RPB1 phosphorylation is not a prerequisite for transcription in trypanosomes.