bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modulation of gut mucosal microbiota as a mechanism of probiotics‐based adjunctive therapy for ulcerative colitis
Authors: Chen Ping , Xu Haiyan , Tang Hai , Zhao Feiyan , Yang Chengcong , Kwok Lai‐Yu , Cong Chunli , Wu YanFang , Zhang Wenyi , Zhou XiaoFeng , Zhang Heping 
Published: September 2020

SummaryThis was a pilot study aiming to evaluate the effects of probiotics as adjunctive treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). Twenty‐five active patients with UC were assigned to the probiotic (n = 12) and placebo (n = 13) groups. The probiotic group received mesalazine (60 mg kg−1 day−1) and oral probiotics (containing Lactobacillus casei Zhang, Lactobacillus plantarum P‐8 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis V9) twice daily for 12 weeks, while the placebo group received the same amounts of mesalazine and placebo. The clinical outcomes were assessed. The gut mucosal microbiota was profiled by PacBio single‐molecule, real‐time (SMRT) sequencing of the full‐length 16S rRNA of biopsy samples obtained by colonoscopy. A significantly greater magnitude of reduction was observed in the UC disease activity index (UCDAI) in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.043), accompanying by a higher remission rate (91.67% for probiotic‐receivers versus 69.23% for placebo‐receivers, P = 0.034). The probiotics could protect from diminishing of the microbiota diversity and richness. Moreover, the gut mucosal microbiota of the probiotic‐receivers had significantly more beneficial bacteria like Eubacterium ramulus (P < 0.05), Pediococcus pentosaceus (P < 0.05), Bacteroides fragilis (P = 0.02) and Weissella cibaria (P = 0.04). Additionally, the relative abundances of the beneficial bacteria correlated significantly but negatively with the UCDAI score, suggesting that the probiotics might alleviate UC symptoms by modulating the gut mucosal microbiota. Our research has provided new insights into the mechanism of symptom alleviation in UC by applying probiotic‐based adjunctive treatment.
Envisioning emerging frontiers on human gut microbiota and its applications
Authors: Ventura Marco , Milani Christian , Turroni Francesca , van Sinderen Douwe 
Published: September 2020

SummaryThe human gut microbiota is involved in multiple health‐influencing host interactions during the host’s entire life span. Microbes colonize the infant gut instantaneously after birth and subsequently the founding and interactive progress of this early gut microbiota is considered to be driven and modulated by different host‐ and microbe‐associated forces. A rising number of studies propose that the composition of the human gut microbiota in the early stages of life impact on the human health conditions at later stages of life. This notion has powered research aimed at detailed investigations of the infant gut microbiota composition. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms supporting the gut microbiome functionality and the interaction of the early gut microbes with the human host remain largely unknown.
Thrombocytopenia in intensive care unit patients: A scoping review
Authors: Jonsson Andreas Bender , Rygård Sofie Louise , Hildebrandt Thomas , Perner Anders , Møller Morten Hylander , Russell Lene 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundThrombocytopenia is frequent in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and may be associated with adverse outcomes. We aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes associated with thrombocytopenia in adult ICU patients.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. We included study reports on adult ICU patients with thrombocytopenia and assessed patient‐important outcomes, including mortality and health‐related quality‐of‐life.ResultsWe included a total of 70 studies comprising a total of 215 098 patients; 57 were cohort studies. The incidence of thrombocytopenia varied from 8 to 56 per 100 admissions (very low quality of evidence). We identified several risk factors including age, sepsis, and higher disease severity (low quality of evidence). Thrombocytopenia was associated with bleeding, use of life support, length of stay in the ICU, and increased mortality (low/very low quality of evidence). Data on platelet transfusion before invasive procedures and transfusion thresholds were limited. No studies assessed the benefits and harms of thromboprophylaxis in ICU patients with thrombocytopenia.ConclusionsThrombocytopenia is common and associated with increased morbidity and mortality in adult ICU patients. Several risk factors for thrombocytopenia exists, but the evidence‐base on management strategies, including transfusion thresholds and thromboprophylaxis in ICU patients is very limited.
Child Protection Team Consultation for Injuries Potentially Due to Child Abuse in Community Emergency Departments
Authors: Tiyyagura Gunjan , Emerson Beth , Gaither Julie R. , Bechtel Kirsten , Leventhal John M. , Becker Heather , Della Guistina Karen , Balga Thomas , Mackenzie Bonnie , Shum May , Shapiro Eugene D. , Auerbach Marc A. , McVaney Caitlin , Morrell Patricia , Asnes Andrea G. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractObjectivesEmergency care for children is provided predominantly in community emergency departments (CEDs), where abusive injuries frequently go unrecognized. Increasing access to regional child abuse experts may improve detection of abuse in CEDs. In three CEDs, we intervened to increase involvement of a regional hospital child protection team (CPT) for injuries associated with abuse in children < 12 months old. We aimed to increase CPT consultations about these infants from the 3% baseline to an average of 50% over 12 months.MethodsWe interviewed CED providers to identify barriers and facilitators to recognizing and reporting abuse. Providers described difficulties differentiating abusive from nonabusive injuries and felt that a second opinion would help. Using a plan‐do‐study‐act approach, beginning in April 2018, we tested, refined, and implemented interventions to increase the frequency of CPT consultation, including leadership and champion engagement, provider training, clinical pathway implementation, and an audit and feedback process. Data were collected for 15 months before and 17 months after initiation of interventions. We used a statistical process control chart to track CPT consultations about children < 1 year old with high‐risk injuries, use of skeletal surveys (SSs), and reports to child protective services (CPS).ResultsEvidence of special cause was identified beginning in June 2018, with a shift of 8 points to one side of the center line. For the subsequent 8‐month period, the CPT was consulted for a mean of 47.5% of children with high‐risk injuries; this was sustained for an additional 7 months. The average percentage of infants with high‐risk injuries who received a SS increased from 6.7% to 18.9% and who were reported to CPS increased from 10.7% to 32.6%.ConclusionTargeted interventions in CEDs increased the frequency of CPT consultation, SS use, and reports to CPS for infants with high‐risk injuries. Such interventions may improve recognition of physical abuse.
Associations between Individual‐level and Area‐level social disadvantage and oral health behaviours in Australian adolescents
Authors: Kaunein Nadia , Singh Ankur , King Tania 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundOral health behaviours are significant determinants of oral health. There is evidence that socioeconomic position influences oral health behaviours, but little is known about this association during adolescence. This study aims to investigate the association between social disadvantage (individual and area level) and oral health behaviours among Australian adolescents.MethodsThis study utilized data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). The sample consisted of 2877 adolescents. Exposure measures were area‐level social disadvantage (Socioeconomic Indexes for Areas) and parent‐reported household income from Wave 5. Outcomes, measured in Wave 6, were three different adolescent‐reported oral health behaviours: frequency of brushing, consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSB) and dental visits. Associations between quintiles of each exposure and each oral health behaviour were tested by fitting multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsHousehold income and area‐level disadvantage were associated with dental visits and brushing frequency. Associations between social disadvantage and consumption of SSBs were less apparent, with only the least disadvantaged adolescents having lower odds of consumption of SSBs compared to the most disadvantaged group.ConclusionIndividual and area‐level socioeconomic factors are associated with dental visits, and frequency of brushing.Broad population‐based strategies must be adopted to reduce intake of SSBs, however, targeted strategies are needed among more disadvantaged populations to address infrequent toothbrushing and irregular dental visits among adolescents.
Risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: A nationwide propensity score matched study in Taiwan
Authors: Huang Po‐Wei , Chiou Yi‐Ran , Wu Shang‐Liang , Liu Ju‐Chi , Chiou Kuan‐Rau 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAimsChronic inflammation is linked to cancer. This study aims to evaluate the association between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) through a Taiwanese nationwide database.MethodsWe used the National Health Insurance Research Database between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2012. The starting date is either the date of the first clinical visit or the diagnosis of CRS. Patients were followed up until the first occurrence of target disease or the last date of medical record. Propensity score 1 to 2 matching was used to match pairs of patients with/without CRS.ResultsA total of 951 380 eligible patients were included in our study, with 36 210 patients diagnosed with CRS. After 1 to 2 propensity score matching, non‐CRS cohort consisted of 69 258 patients and CRS cohort consisted of 34 629 patients. CRS was associated with the risk of developing NPC (adjusted OR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.61–3.09). However, no significant association among CRS and NPC was observed in patients followed up for more than 1 year (adjusted OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.76–1.78).ConclusionsPatients with CRS diagnosis have relationship with developing NPC within 1 year of follow‐up, but not for longer intervals. The short‐term association may be due to reversed causation or biased diagnosis. Accordingly, the study suggests CRS a weak role for NPC.
Chrono‐Socialism with Chinese Characteristics: Temporal Balancing and Moralities of Time in Contemporary Urban China
Authors: Mason Katherine A. 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACTThis article addresses the management and control of time in contemporary urban China. It traces how competing claims to, and experiences of, time as a limited resource shape the terms of moral engagement among middle‐class women, their families, their employers, and their friends. Drawing upon two distinct periods of fieldwork among middle‐class families in urban China between 2007 and 2017, I show how Chinese subjects balance private, public, and interpersonal claims on time, creating hybrid approaches to time management that I refer to as chrono‐socialism with Chinese characteristics. This balancing act is gendered: women, and especially mothers, are charged with protecting the moral status of their families and their children through effective temporal balancing. Paying attention to moments of discordant expectations, in the form of expressions of impatience, can illuminate the logics of temporal balancing in the domains of work, play, and rest. [time, morality, impatience, socialism with Chinese characteristics, China]
Comparison of the phaco chop and drill‐and‐crack techniques for phacoemulsification of hard cataracts: A fellow eye study
Authors: Abdelmotaal Hazem , Abdel‐Radi Mahmoud , Rateb Mahmoud F. , Eldaly Zeiad H. , Abdelazeem Khaled 
Published: September 2020

AbstractPurposeTo quantify the intraoperative parameters and postoperative outcomes after using the phaco chop technique in one eye and drill‐and‐crack technique in the other eye in patients with bilateral dense brunescent cataract.MethodsThe Lens Opacities Classification System III grading system was used to select 132 eyes of 66 patients with bilateral nuclear opalescence (NO) grade NO4 or grade NO5. One eye in each patient with bilateral dense brunescent cataract was subjected to phacoemulsification using the phaco chop technique, while the other eye was subjected to phacoemulsification with the drill‐and‐crack technique for nucleus disassembly. The intraoperative parameters were quantified. Surgical outcome was assessed preoperatively and 1 day, 4 weeks and 12 weeks postoperatively, and the outcomes of the two techniques were compared.ResultsThere was no significant difference between the techniques in operative parameters [cumulative dissipated energy (p = 0.74), surgical time (p = 0.68) or surgical difficulty during nucleus disassembly (p = 0.80)]. There was no significant difference in the postoperative change in central corneal thickness between the techniques at day 1, 4 weeks and 12 weeks or in corneal endothelial cell density loss at 4 and 12 weeks (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the techniques in the mean corrected distance visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle resolution) at 4 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.25).ConclusionThe phaco chop and drill‐and‐crack techniques are equally effective for disassembly of hard NO4 and NO5 cataracts.
SCTR hypermethylation is a diagnostic biomarker in colorectal cancer
Authors: Li DaPeng , Zhang Lei , Fu JinMing , Huang Hao , Sun SiMin , Zhang Ding , Zhao LiYuan , Ucheojor Onwuka Justina , Zhao YaShuang , Cui BinBin 
Published: September 2020

AbstractDiagnostic markers for both colorectal cancer (CRC) and its precursor lesions are lacking. Although aberrant methylation of the secretin receptor (SCTR) gene was observed in CRC, the diagnostic performance has not been evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and verify the diagnostic value of SCTR methylation of CRC and its precursor lesions through integrating the largest methylation data. The diagnostic performance of SCTR methylation was analyzed in the discovery set from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) CRC methylation data (N = 440), and verified in a large‐scale test set (N = 938) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Targeted bisulfite sequencing analysis was developed and applied to detect the methylation status of SCTR in our independent validation set (N = 374). Our findings revealed that the SCTR gene was frequently hypermethylated at its CpG islands in CRC. In the TCGA discovery set, the diagnostic score was constructed using 4 CpG sites (cg01013590, cg20505223, cg07176264, and cg26009192) and achieved high diagnostic performance (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.964). In the GEO test set, the diagnostic score had robust diagnostic ability to distinguish CRC (AUC = 0.948) and its precursor lesions (AUC = 0.954) from normal samples. Moreover, hypermethylation of the SCTR gene was also found in cell‐free DNA samples collected from CRC patients, but not in those from healthy controls. In the validation set, consistent results were observed using the targeted bisulfite sequencing array. Our study highlights that hypermethylation at CpG islands of the SCTR gene is a potential diagnostic biomarker in CRCs and its precursor lesions.
Detection of specific IgE against linear epitopes from Gal d 1 has additional value in diagnosing hen’s egg allergy in adults
Authors: Ehlers Anna M. , Otten Henny G. , Wierzba Eva , Flügge Ulrike , Le Thuy‐My , Knulst André C. , Suer Waltraud 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundAlthough hen's egg allergy is more prevalent in children, up to 0.6% of adults from different European countries suffer from a persistent or newly onset hen's egg allergy, making accurate diagnosis in adults necessary. However, sensitization to hen's egg extracts, components and linear epitopes is solely studied in children.MethodsHen's egg allergic (n = 16) and tolerant (n = 19) adults were selected by sensitization towards recombinant components rGal d 1 and/or 3. Sensitization profiles towards egg white and yolk extract and the native components Gal d 1, 2, 3 and 4 were respectively evaluated with the ImmunoCAP or the EUROLINE system. Characterization of linear epitopes was performed with a peptide microarray containing 15mer peptides representing the entire sequence of mature Gal d 1 and 3.ResultsOverall, sIgE titres against hen's egg extracts and single components overlapped largely between allergic and tolerant adults. Although the median sIgE/sIgG4 ratio to Gal d 1 was increased in allergic adults, the range was comparable between both groups. Clinically relevant sensitization to Gal d 1 was confirmed by sIgE‐binding to the linear epitopes aa30‐41, aa39‐50 or aa84‐95 in 6/13 allergic adults, mainly suffering from objective symptoms. In comparison, these epitopes were recognized by 1/15 tolerant patient. Only a few linear epitopes were detected for Gal d 3, suggesting a greater importance of conformational epitopes for the recognition of Gal d 3.Conclusion and Clinical RelevanceSpecific IgE‐binding to linear epitopes of Gal d 1 is highly specific in identifying hen's egg allergic adults with objective symptoms.
Opioid overdose risk during and after drug treatment for heroin dependence: An incidence density case–control study nested in the VEdeTTE cohort
Authors: Faggiano Fabrizio , Mathis Federica , Diecidue Roberto , Vigna‐Taglianti Federica , Paola Caria Maria , Colledge Samantha , Hickman Matthew , Bargagli Annamaria , Davoli Marina 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIntroduction and AimsTo corroborate protective effects of a range of drug treatment modalities against overdose mortality risk.Design and MethodsNested case–control study, with incidence density sampling, selecting controls retrospectively at each case event. Cases and controls came from a sub‐cohort of opioid‐dependent patients (n = 4444) from two Italian regions (Lazio and Piedmont). From 1998 to 2005, there were 91 overdose deaths (cases) matched to 352 controls. The primary outcome was overdose mortality and the primary exposure was drug treatment: opioid agonist treatment (OAT), opioid detoxification, residential community, psychosocial and other pharmacological treatment. Conditional logistic regression models generated intervention effects comparing mortality risk in and out of treatment, adjusting for confounding variables.ResultsOverall, drug treatment reduced overdose mortality risk by 80% [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.10–0.33, P < 0.001] compared to being out of treatment. There was a particularly strong protective effect of OAT on overdose mortality (AOR 0.08, 95% CI 0.03–0.23, P < 0.001) compared to being out of treatment. There was evidence of a substantially elevated risk of overdose in the first month of leaving treatment (AOR 23.50, 95% CI 7.84–70.19, P < 0.001) compared to being in treatment.Discussion and ConclusionsThe nested case–control design strengthened earlier findings that OAT in Italy has strong protective effects on overdose mortality risk, much stronger than has been previously seen in other Western European settings.
Conscientious objection in medicine: Experience in Chile
Authors: Kottow Miguel 
Published: September 2020

AbstractLatin American countries have slowly enacted laws decriminalizing abortion in three circumstances: Life‐threatening risk for the pregnant woman, extra‐uterine non‐viability of malformed foetus, and pregnancy due to rape or incest. Chile is one of the last countries to adopt such a law, formulated in an increasingly restrictive format. Conservative politicians and Church‐related healthcare institutions promptly announced individual and institutional conscientious objection based on the right of private facilities to obey their ideology and personal moral integrity. Juridical consultations and Constitutional Court rulings allowed private hospitals to uphold their objection even if contracted to provide some public health services. Under these conditions, only a few hundred women requested and obtained a legal abortion, while an estimated 100,000 continued to depend on unsafe procedures. Bioethical debate was silenced by the unfettered drive for conscientious objection that continues to limit women’s autonomy, and fails to ease the public health scourge of massive unsafe clandestine abortions.
Lutheran conceptions of human dignity in a global context: A conversation with Indian Dalits and European/Americans
Authors: Ronnevik Andrew 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis paper explores Lutheran conceptions of human dignity expressed by European/Americans (Oswald Bayer and John Witte, Jr.) and Dalits (Raj Bharath Patta and Surekha Nelavala). The former emphasize the human coram Deo, the lost dignity of the individual sinner, and the imputed dignity of the justified. The latter attend especially to humans coram hominibus, the dignity of the “sinned upon” in Indian society, and the full inclusion of Dalits. While neither view replaces the other, I argue that European/Americans must become more responsive to differentiated social realities in which persons are “sinful” and “sinned upon” in unequal ways.
Obesity as a risk factor for COVID‐19 mortality in women and men in the UK biobank: Comparisons with influenza/pneumonia and coronary heart disease
Authors: Peters Sanne A. E. , MacMahon Stephen , Woodward Mark 
Published: September 2020

AbstractObesity is associated with severe COVID‐19 outcomes, yet, it is unclear whether the risk of COVID‐19 mortality associated with obesity is similar between the sexes. We used data from the UK Biobank to assess the risk of COVID‐19 mortality associated with various anthropometric measures in women and men. To put these results in context, we also compared these estimates with those for mortality from influenza/pneumonia and coronary heart disease (CHD). The analyses included 502 493 individuals (54% women), of whom 410 (36% women) died from COVID‐19, 549 (36% women) died from influenza/pneumonia and 3355 (19% women) died from CHD. A higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio and waist‐to‐height ratio were each associated with a greater risk of death from COVID‐19, influenza/pneumonia and CHD in both sexes, with the exception of the association between higher BMI and the risk of influenza/pneumonia death in men. A higher BMI was associated with a stronger risk of COVID‐19 mortality in women than men; the women‐to‐men ratio of hazard ratios was 1.20 (95% confidence interval 1.00; 1.43). This study demonstrates the role of obesity in COVID‐19 mortality and shows that the relative effects of a higher BMI on COVID‐19 mortality may be stronger in women than men.