bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estriol serum levels in new and chronic users of vaginal estriol cream: A prospective observational study
Authors: te West Nevine I. D. , Day Ric O. , Hiley Basia , White Chris  , Wright Mike , Moore Kate H. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAimsTo quantify estriol serum concentrations in “new” and “chronic users” of topical estriol cream using quantitative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.MethodsIn this singlecentre prospective observational study, postmenopausal women with urogynaecological complaints were enrolled: 40 had not used topical estriol previously (“new users”) and 50 had been applying estriol cream for more than 12 weeks (“chronic users”). In “new users,” serum estriol levels were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks use. Estriol cream 1 mg/g was used daily for 3 weeks, then twice weekly with applicator (group 1A) or digitally (group 1B) or three times per week digitally (group 1C). “Chronic users” applied the cream twice (n = 7) or three (n = 43) times per week. Serum samples were taken in the morning after using cream the previous night. The main outcome measures were estriol serum concentrations in “new” and “chronic users” of estriol cream.ResultsBaseline serum estriol concentrations were less than 5 pmol/L in all 40 “new users.” At 12 weeks, the 12‐hour serum estriol levels ranged from less than 5 to 494 pmol/L (median 22.8; Interquartile range [IQR] 9.2–108.5). Seven “new users” had levels more than 100 pmol/L. Most of the 50 “chronic users” also had 12‐hour levels less than 100 pmol/L (median 15.1 pmol/L [IQR 2.7–33.9]: three had levels more than 100 pmol/L.ConclusionsThis study reports serum estriol concentrations in a large number of “new” and “chronic users” of vaginal estriol cream, employing a novel highly sensitive and specific technique. Overall, the results are reassuring: 87% had 12‐hour estriol levels less than 100 pmol/L.
What do we really know about the role of caffeine on urinary tract symptoms? A scoping review on caffeine consumption and lower urinary tract symptoms in adults
Authors: Le Berre Mélanie , Presse Nancy , Morin Mélanie , Larouche Maryse , Campeau Lysanne , Hu Yu Xin , Reid Isabelle , Dumoulin Chantale 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAimsThe purpose of this scoping review was to map out the existing literature on caffeine intake and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in adults.MethodsIn this scoping review, we searched for all studies available until June 2019 in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register, PsycINFO, LILACS, LiSSa, Web of Science, and Joanna Briggs Institute electronic databases, in addition to a hand search of the bibliographies of all relevant articles and a gray literature search. Both intervention studies on the effects of caffeine reduction in adults with LUTS and observational studies on the association between caffeine intake and LUTS‐related outcomes in adults were included and assessed for methodological quality by two independent reviewers.ResultsFourteen intervention and 12 observational studies were included. Overall, there was a decrease in urgency episodes (level of evidence 2, grade of recommendation B) and nocturnal enuresis episodes (4, C) with caffeine reduction. Observational studies reported an unclear association between caffeine intake and LUTS‐related outcomes. Most importantly, this present review highlighted high heterogeneity in the studied populations, caffeine measures, and reported outcomes. There was also unknown or high risk of bias in most identified studies.ConclusionsCaffeine reduction appears to reduce LUTS. Future studies on caffeine reduction interventions should target populations with urgency and urge urinary incontinence, which show the most promising results, and include valid and reliable measures of caffeine intake and LUTS. Finally, future studies should also use reporting guidelines to ensure lower risk of bias.
Fetal therapies for cytomegalovirus: What we tell prospective parents
Authors: Bartlett Adam W. , Hamilton Stuart T. , Shand Antonia W. , Rawlinson William D. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCongenital CMV is the most common congenital infection in the developed world. Infection results in congenital disease ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe neurodevelopmental impairment, and occasionally fetal or neonatal death. Fetal infection can occur through maternal‐fetal transmission during primary maternal infection or maternal reactivation or re‐infection. Awareness among maternal health care providers and parents is low. The prevention of maternal CMV infection currently relies on hygiene measures, with no effective CMV vaccine or prophylactic therapies. No licensed treatment options are available to prevent maternal‐fetal transmission or fetal disease. Hyperimmunoglobulin and valaciclovir have been investigated for prevention of maternal‐fetal transmission or fetal treatment, with some evidence supporting consideration of maternal administration of hyperimmunoglobulin or valaciclovir therapy in certain circumstances. This article outlines the clinical evidence regarding proven preventative behavioral measures and experimental hyperimmunoglobulin and valaciclovir therapies, that is structured around common questions asked by pregnant women about CMV infection. It is aimed to help maternity health care providers counsel prospective parents about congenital CMV disease and the preventative and therapeutic strategies currently available.
Corpora amylacea in benign prostatic acini are associated with concurrent, predominantly low‐grade cancer
Authors: Palangmonthip Watchareepohn , Wu Ruizhe , Tarima Sergey , Bobholz Samuel A. , LaViolette Peter S. , Gallan Alexander J. , Iczkowski Kenneth A. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundCorpora amylacea (CAM), in benign prostatic acini, contain acute‐phase proteins. Do CAM coincide with carcinoma?MethodsWithin 270 biopsies, 83 prostatectomies, and 33 transurethral resections (TURs), CAM absence was designated CAM 0; corpora in less than 5% of benign acini: CAM 1; in 5% to 25%: CAM 2; in more than 25%: CAM 3. CAM were compared against carcinoma presence, clinicopathologic findings, and grade groups (GG) 1 to 2 vs 3 to 5. The frequency of CAM according to anatomic zone was counted. A pilot study was conducted using paired initial benign and repeat biopsies (33 benign, 24 carcinoma).ResultsA total of 68.9% of biopsies, 96.4% of prostatectomies, and 66.7% of TURs disclosed CAM. CAM ≥1 was common at an older age (P = .019). In biopsies, 204 cases (75%) had carcinoma; and CAM of 2 to 3 (compared to 0‐1) were recorded in 25.0% of carcinomas but only 7.4% of benign biopsies (P = .005; odds ratio [OR] = 5.1). CAM correlated with high percent Gleason pattern 3, low GG (P = .035), and chronic inflammation (CI). CI correlated inversely with carcinoma (P = .003). CAM disclosed no association with race, body mass index, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), acute inflammation (in biopsies), atrophy, or carcinoma volume.With CAM 1, the odds of GG 3 to 5 carcinoma, by comparison to CAM 0, decreased more than 2× (OR = 0.48; P = .032), with CAM 2, more than 3× (OR = 0.33; P = .005), and with CAM 3, almost 3× (OR = 0.39, P = .086). For men aged less than 65, carcinoma predictive model was: Score = (2 × age) + (5 × PSA) − (20 × degree of CAM); using our data, area under the ROC curve was 78.17%. When the transition zone was involved by cancer, it showed more CAM than in cases where it was uninvolved (P = .012); otherwise zonal distributions were similar.In the pilot study, CAM ≥1 predicted carcinoma on repeat biopsy (P < .05; OR = 8), as did CAM 2 to 3 (P < .0001; OR = 30). CI was not significant, and CAM retained significance after adjusting for CI.ConclusionCAM correlate with carcinoma. Whether abundant CAM in benign biopsies adds value amidst high clinical suspicion, warrants further study.
Steroid resistance in organizing pneumonia caused by pulmonary cryptococcosis
Authors: Nomura Motoko , Ohta Hiromitsu , Hiruta Masahiro , Kudo Fumiaki , Ohyanagi Fumiyoshi , Yamaguchi Yasuhiro 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) usually responds well to steroid therapy; however, recurrence is commonly observed when the steroid dose is tapered. A 74‐year‐old man suspected of having steroid‐resistant COP presented to our hospital. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed new consolidations of the left inferior lobe despite administration of a moderate dose of oral steroids. Repeated transbronchial lung biopsy showed pulmonary cryptococcosis. The left interior consolidations shrank gradually after antifungal therapy was initiated. Immunocompromised patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis show various CT findings, and consolidation is frequently observed. Superimposed pulmonary cryptococcosis infection should be considered in cases of steroid‐refractory COP.
Combinational treatment of 5‐fluorouracil and casticin induces apoptosis in mouse leukemia WEHI‐3 cells in vitro
Authors: Cheng Zheng‐Yu , Chueh Fu‐Shin , Peng Shu‐Fen , Lin Chia‐Hsin , Kuo Chao‐Lin , Huang Wen‐Wen , Chen Po‐Yuan , Way Tzong‐Der , Chung Jing‐Gung 
Published: April 2020

AbstractLeukemia is one of the major diseases causing cancer‐related deaths in the young population, and its cure rate is unsatisfying with side effects on patients. Fluorouracil (5‐FU) is currently used as an anticancer drug for leukemia patients. Casticin, a natural polymethoxyflavone, exerts anticancer activity against many human cancer cell lines in vitro, but no other reports show 5‐FU combined with casticin increased the mouse leukemia cell apoptosis in vitro. Herein, the antileukemia activity of 5‐FU combined with casticin in WEHI‐3 mouse leukemia cells was investigated in vitro. Treatment of two‐drug combination had a higher decrease in cell viability and a higher increase in apoptotic cell death, the level of DNA condensation, and the length of comet tail than that of 5‐FU or casticin treatment alone in WEHI‐3 cells. In addition, the two‐drug combination has a greater production rate of reactive oxygen species but a lower level of Ca2+ release and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) than that of 5‐FU alone. Combined drugs also induced higher caspase‐3 and caspase‐8 activities than that of casticin alone and higher caspase‐9 activity than that of 5‐FU or casticin alone at 48 hours treatment. Furthermore, 5‐FU combined with casticin has a higher expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD [Cu/Zn]) and lower catalase than that of 5‐FU or casticin treatment alone. The combined treatment has higher levels of Bax, Endo G, and cytochrome C of proapoptotic proteins than that of casticin alone and induced lower levels of B‐cell lymphoma 2 (BCL‐2) and BCL‐X of antiapoptotic proteins than that of 5‐FU or casticin only. Furthermore, the combined treatment had a higher expression of cleaved poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) than that of casticin only. Based on these findings, we may suggest that 5‐FU combined with casticin treatment increased apoptotic cell death in WEHI‐3 mouse leukemia cells that may undergo mitochondria and caspases signaling pathways in vitro.
Higher-Order Linearization and Regularity in Nonlinear Homogenization
Authors: Armstrong Scott , Ferguson Samuel J. , Kuusi Tuomo 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe prove large-scale $$C^\infty $$C∞ regularity for solutions of nonlinear elliptic equations with random coefficients, thereby obtaining a version of the statement of Hilbert’s 19th problem in the context of homogenization. The analysis proceeds by iteratively improving three statements together: (i) the regularity of the homogenized Lagrangian $$\overline{L}$$L¯, (ii) the commutation of higher-order linearization and homogenization, and (iii) large-scale $$C^{0,1}$$C0,1-type regularity for higher-order linearization errors. We consequently obtain a quantitative estimate on the scaling of linearization errors, a Liouville-type theorem describing the polynomially-growing solutions of the system of higher-order linearized equations, and an explicit (heterogenous analogue of the) Taylor series for an arbitrary solution of the nonlinear equations—with the remainder term optimally controlled. These results give a complete generalization to the nonlinear setting of the large-scale regularity theory in homogenization for linear elliptic equations.
Validating the Global Surgery Geographical Accessibility Indicator: Differences in Modeled Versus Patient‐Reported Travel Times
Authors: Rudolfson Niclas , Gruendl Magdalena , Nkurunziza Theoneste , Kateera Frederick , Sonderman Kristin , Nihiwacu Edison , Ramadhan Bahati , Riviello Robert , Hedt‐Gauthier Bethany 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundSince long travel times to reach health facilities are associated with worse outcomes, geographic accessibility is one of the six core global surgery indicators; this corresponds to the second of the “Three Delays Framework,” namely “delay in reaching a health facility.” Most attempts to estimate this indicator have been based on geographical information systems (GIS) algorithms. The aim of our study was to compare GIS derived estimates to self‐reported travel times for patients traveling to a district hospital in rural Rwanda for emergency obstetric care.MethodsOur study includes 664 women who traveled to undergo a Cesarean delivery in Kirehe, Rwanda. We compared self‐reported travel time from home to the hospital (excluding waiting time) with GIS estimated travel times, which were computed using the World Health Organization tool AccessMod, using linear regression.ResultsThe majority of patients used multiple modes of transportation (walking = 48.5%, public transport = 74.2%, private transport = 2.9%, and ambulance 70.6%). Self‐reported times were longer than GIS estimates by a factor of 1.49 (95% CI 1.40–1.57). Concordance was higher when the GIS model took into account that all patients in Rwanda are referred via their health center (β = 1.12; 95% CI 1.05–1.18).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, in this largest to date GIS validation study for geographical access to healthcare in low‐ and middle‐income countries, a standard GIS model was found to significantly underestimate real travel time, which likely is in part because it does not model the actual route patients are travelling. Therefore, previous studies of 2‐h access to surgery will need to be interpreted with caution, and future studies should take local travelling conditions into account.
Long-term management is needed for conserving plant diversity in a Wadden Sea salt marsh
Authors: Chen Qingqing , Bakker Jan P. , Alberti Juan , Smit Christian 
Published: April 2020

AbstractEvaluation of long-term management regimes is important for guiding biodiversity conservation in salt marshes. However, such long-term experiments are sparse. Using a 46-year experiment in a salt marsh, we evaluated long-term effects of eight different management regimes (treatments; control, grazing, mowing, and their combinations) on the expansion of a late successional plant species (Elytrigia atherica), plant species richness and diversity, and community composition (species identities and dominance structure). Results show thatE. athericaexpanded strongly over time in the control treatment (without grazing or mowing) while plant species richness and diversity declined substantially. By contrast,E. athericawas greatly suppressed while plant species richness and diversity remained relatively unchanged in all other treatments except for the mowing, where species richness declined in the late season mowing treatment and plant diversity declined after 17 years in the both early and late season mowing treatment. Therefore, all management types except for the mowing were effective in conserving plant diversity. The trends for change in species identities reversed: change in species identities accumulated in the control treatment and exceeded that of other treatments 15 years after the start of the experiment. This suggests that results based on shorter-term (< 15 years) experiments may provide misleading conservation recommendations. Also, trends for change in dominance structure (taking abundance into account) were substantially different from those for species identities. Our results highlight the importance of long-term monitoring for guiding conservation management, and that monitoring should not only focus on the number of species but also community composition, to fully identify critical changes.
Doing and Allowing in the Context of Physician-Assisted Suicide
Authors: Birnbacher Dieter 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSupporting the (active) rational suicide of a patient with a terminal disease is opposed by a majority of German doctors, whereas assistance in such patients’ hastening their death by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) is predominantly judged to be acceptable. Are these two positions compatible? It is argued that the normative differentiation cannot be justified by the fact that the assistance in active suicide is itself active, whereas assistance in VSED is merely passive. Even in "letting die" a patient from hastening death by refusing nutrition and hydration there is an active element in the doctor's/the palliative care team's assurance that they will provide palliative support in case of need. Nor can the difference in evaluation be justified by relevant differences in the causal situation. Enabling a patient to perform VSED and assisting a patient's active suicide under the same circumstances are, as far as causal relevance is concerned, on a par. This holds, at least, on a condition view of causality in the tradition of John Stuart Mill. Finally, the paper discusses whether there are other morally relevant dimensions by which actively and passively supporting a patient suicide under the relevant circumstances differ, again with a negative result.
Microscopic activity sequence generation: a multiple correspondence analysis to explain travel behavior based on socio-demographic person attributes
Authors: Ahmed Usman , Moreno Ana Tsui , Moeckel Rolf 
Published: April 2020

AbstractActivity sequencing is a crucial component of disaggregate modeling approaches. This paper presents a methodology to analyse and predict activity sequence patterns for persons based on their socio-demographic attributes. The model is developed using household travel survey data from Germany. The presented method proposes an efficient approach to replace complex activity-scheduling modules in activity-based models. First, the paper describes a multiple correspondence analysis technique to identify the correlation between activity sequence patterns and socio-demographic attributes. Secondly, a probabilistic model is developed, which could predict likely activity sequence patterns for an agent based on the results of the multiple correspondence analysis. The model is predicting activity sequence patterns fairly accurately. For example, the activity sequence pattern home–work–home is well predicted ($${\mathrm{R}}^{2}$$

R

2

= 0.99) for all the workers, and the activity sequence pattern home–education–home is rather well predicted ($${\mathrm{R}}^{2}$$

R

2

= 0.90) for students. The model predicts the 112 most common activity sequence patterns reasonably well, which covers 72% of all activity sequence patterns observed.
Wasteful or sensible? Donor imageries in İstanbul’s food banks
Authors: Türkkan Candan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis paper explores how the staff of İstanbul’s food banks perceive the donors and the donations. The paper begins by exploring the literature on food banks; what food banks recover and redistribute; and the role food banks play in managing food insecurity. Next, how these three issues are represented in different models of food banks are discussed: in the non-profit model, the donors are “socially aware citizens” who contribute to the common good by helping to feed the hungry; whereas, for the for-profit model they are “caring capitalists” doing their best to reduce their carbon footprint and eliminate food waste while effectively managing the costs of waste disposal. In the municipal social markets, in contrast, the donors are “prodigal consumers” who cannot make correct resource allocation decisions and waste food as a result. For all the models, the donors are predominantly individuals or households and waste generation is perceived as a consumer problem, whereas in practice the donors are mostly corporations giving away their surplus stock. The paper concludes by underlining that this misperception shifts the conversation on waste generation and management away from production and supply chain problems and disciplines individuals as consumers.
TGFβ suppresses CD8+ T cell expression of CXCR3 and tumor trafficking
Authors: Gunderson Andrew J. , Yamazaki Tomoko , McCarty Kayla , Fox Nathaniel , Phillips Michaela , Alice Alejandro , Blair Tiffany , Whiteford Mark , O’Brien David , Ahmad Rehan , Kiely Maria X. , Hayman Amanda , Crocenzi Todd , Gough Michael J. , Crittenden Marka R. , Young Kristina H. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractTransforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a multipotent immunosuppressive cytokine. TGFβ excludes immune cells from tumors, and TGFβ inhibition improves the efficacy of cytotoxic and immune therapies. Using preclinical colorectal cancer models in cell type-conditional TGFβ receptor I (ALK5) knockout mice, we interrogate this mechanism. Tumor growth delay and radiation response are unchanged in animals with Treg or macrophage-specific ALK5 deletion. However, CD8αCre-ALK5flox/flox (ALK5ΔCD8) mice reject tumors in high proportions, dependent on CD8+ T cells. ALK5ΔCD8 mice have more tumor-infiltrating effector CD8+ T cells, with more cytotoxic capacity. ALK5-deficient CD8+ T cells exhibit increased CXCR3 expression and enhanced migration towards CXCL10. TGFβ reduces CXCR3 expression, and increases binding of Smad2 to the CXCR3 promoter. In vivo CXCR3 blockade partially abrogates the survival advantage of an ALK5ΔCD8 host. These data demonstrate a mechanism of TGFβ immunosuppression through inhibition of CXCR3 in CD8+ T cells, thereby limiting their trafficking into tumors.
Cancer neoantigen prioritization through sensitive and reliable proteogenomics analysis
Authors: Wen Bo , Li Kai , Zhang Yun , Zhang Bing 
Published: April 2020

AbstractGenomics-based neoantigen discovery can be enhanced by proteomic evidence, but there remains a lack of consensus on the performance of different quality control methods for variant peptide identification in proteogenomics. We propose to use the difference between accurately predicted and observed retention times for each peptide as a metric to evaluate different quality control methods. To this end, we develop AutoRT, a deep learning algorithm with high accuracy in retention time prediction. Analysis of three cancer data sets with a total of 287 tumor samples using different quality control strategies results in substantially different numbers of identified variant peptides and putative neoantigens. Our systematic evaluation, using the proposed retention time metric, provides insights and practical guidance on the selection of quality control strategies. We implement the recommended strategy in a computational workflow named NeoFlow to support proteogenomics-based neoantigen prioritization, enabling more sensitive discovery of putative neoantigens.