bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacogenetics of antitumor necrosis factor therapy in severe sarcoidosis
Authors: Crommelin Heleen , Vorselaars Adriane , van der Vis Joanne , Deneer Vera , van Moorsel Coline H.M. 
Published: March 2020

Purpose of review
Antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment is an effective third-line treatment option in severe sarcoidosis. But not all patients respond to treatment. Pharmacogenetics studies the influence of genetic variations on treatment response.

Recent findings
In sarcoidosis, only one study reported on a relationship between genetic variation in TNF and response to anti-TNF therapy. In immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) other than sarcoidosis, several genetic variants were associated with response to anti-TNF therapy. Genes related to TNF, the target of this group of drugs, and the pathway by which TNF exerts its effect, TNF receptor, were studied most extensively. Recent findings related genetic variations in the human leukocyte antigen region to development of antidrug antibodies.
We also included new original data on genetic variations and response to anti-TNF therapy in severe sarcoidosis. We found that TNFRSF1A rs1800693 AA genotype, TNFRSF1B 196T and absence of HLA-DRB1

∗

03 associate with better response after infliximab treatment in severe sarcoidosis.

Summary
Data on pharmacogenetics of anti-TNF therapy in severe sarcoidosis are scarce. Findings in other IMIDs indicate there may be a role for pharmacogenetics in predicting response and adverse events in anti-TNF therapy, also in sarcoidosis. Future studies are needed to evaluate pharmacogenetics as a predicting marker in anti-TNF therapy in sarcoidosis.
Comorbidity Assessment Is Uneven Across Veterans Health Administration and Medicare for the Same Patient
Authors: Gidwani-Marszowski Risha , Boothroyd Derek , Needleman Jack , Illarmo Samantha , Asch Steven M. 
Published: March 2020

Objective:
Compare comorbidity identification in Medicare and Veterans Health Administration (VA) data for the purposes of risk adjustment.

Data Sources:
Analysis of Medicare and VA datasets for dually-enrolled Veterans receiving care in both settings, fiscal years 2010–2014.

Study Design:
A retrospective analysis of administrative data for a national sample of cancer decedents.

Data Extraction Methods:
Comorbidities were evaluated using Elixhauser and Charlson coding algorithms.

Principal Findings:
Clinical comorbidities were more likely to be recorded in Medicare than in VA datasets. Of 42 comorbidities, 36 (86%) were recorded at a different frequency. For example, congestive heart failure was recorded for 22.0% of patients in Medicare data and for 11.3% of patients in VA data (P<0.001).

Conclusion:
There are large differences in comorbidity assessment across VA and Medicare administrative data for the same patient, posing challenges for risk adjustment.
ANGPTL4: a multifunctional protein involved in metabolism and vascular homeostasis
Authors: Fernández-Hernando Carlos , Suárez Yajaira 
Published: March 2020

Purpose of review
Since the first discovery of Angiopoetin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) in 2000, the involvement of ANGPTL4 in different aspects of lipid metabolism and vascular biology has emerged as an important research field. In this review, we summarize the fundamental roles of ANGPTL4 in regulating metabolic and nonmetabolic functions and their implication in lipid metabolism and with several aspects of vascular function and dysfunction.

Recent findings
ANGPTL4 is a secreted glycoprotein with a physiological role in lipid metabolism and a predominant expression in adipose tissue and liver. ANGPTL4 inhibits the activity of lipoprotein lipase and thereby promotes an increase in circulating triglyceride levels. Therefore, ANGPTL4 has been highly scrutinized as a potential therapeutic target. Further involvement of ANGPTL4 has been shown to occur in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, vascular permeability and stem cell regulation, which opens new opportunities of using ANGPTL4 as potential therapeutic targets for other pathophysiological conditions.

Summary
Further determination of ANGPTL4 regulatory circuits and defining specific molecular events that mediate its biological effects remain key to future ANGPTL4-based therapeutic applications in different disease settings. Many new and unanticipated roles of ANGPTL4 in the control of cell-specific functions will assist clinicians and researchers in developing potential therapeutic applications.
Current and future gene therapies for hemoglobinopathies
Authors: Brendel Christian , Williams David A. 
Published: March 2020

Purpose of review
In this work we briefly summarize the key features and currently available conventional therapies for the two main β-hemoglobinopathies, sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia, and review the rapidly evolving field of novel and emerging genetic therapies to cure the disease.

Recent findings
Gene therapy using viral vectors or designer nuclease-based gene editing is a relatively new field of medicine that uses the patient's own genetically modified cells to treat his or her own disease. Multiple different approaches are currently in development, and some have entered phase I clinical studies, including innovative therapies aiming at induction of fetal hemoglobin.

Summary
Early short-term therapeutic benefit has been reported for some of the ongoing clinical trials, but confirmation of long-term safety and efficacy remains to be shown. Future therapies aiming at the targeted correction of specific disease-causing DNA mutations are emerging and will likely enter clinical testing in the near future.
En bloc resection of bladder tumors: indications, techniques, and future directions
Authors: Territo Angelo , Bevilacqua Giulio , Meneghetti Iacopo , Mercadé Asier , Breda Alberto 
Published: March 2020

Purpose of review
En bloc resection of bladder tumor (ERBT) is an innovative new surgical technique, the use of which is becoming increasingly widespread. In this review, we analyze the recent literature and explore new developments, which may impact the future role of en bloc bladder surgery.

Recent findings
ERBT increases the frequency with which detrusor muscle is present in the specimen (to 95%) and offers a significant improvement in the quality of the resection specimen, thereby helping with T1 substaging. Furthermore, the laser treatment reduces the rate of obturator nerve-related bladder perforation.

Summary
ERBT represents a considerable advancement in the surgical management of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer. It delivers excellent oncological results and is a well tolerated procedure.

Video
In the accompanying video, we shortly report the different modalities and energy sources used for bladder cancer resection. The three strategies are currently employed at the Fundació Puigvert (Barcelona).

Video abstract:

http://links.lww.com/COU/A18
The microbiome of the infertile male
Authors: Lundy Scott D. , Vij Sarah C. , Rezk Andrew H. , Cohen Jordan A. , Bajic Petar , Ramasamy Ranjith 
Published: March 2020

Purpose of review
Contrary to historic dogma, many tissues and organs in the human body contain a resident population of bacteria, fungi, and viruses collectively known as the microbiome. The microbiome plays a role in both homeostatic symbiosis and also pathogenic dysbiosis in a wide array of diseases. Our understanding of the relationship between the microbiome and male factor infertility is in its infancy but is slowly evolving.

Recent findings
Recent literature indicates that semen (and likely the testis) is not sterile and contains a distinct microbiome, and these changes in its composition are associated with alterations in semen quality and fertility status. Preliminary investigation indicates that manipulating the human microbiome may have implications in improving semen parameters and fertility.

Summary
In this review, we describe relationships between the microbiome and the genitourinary system, discuss the prior work on the relationship among bacteriospermia, leukocytospermia and male factor infertility, and summarize the current literature utilizing 16s rRNA-based next-generation sequencing on the seminal and testicular microbiome. We explore the specific microbial taxa implicated in various aspects of spermatic dysfunction and introduce preliminary evidence for therapeutic approaches to alter the microbiome and improve fertility status.
Catalog of exogenous risk factors for bladder carcinogenesis
Authors: Jahrreiss Victoria , Pradere Benjamin , Laukhtina Ekaterina , Mori Keiichiro , Shariat Shahrokh F. 
Published: March 2020

Purpose of review
The aim of this article is to provide an overview of recent findings regarding the risk factors for bladder cancer.

Recent findings
Most of the available data derive from retrospective analysis. Smoking represents the most common and important risk factor. Occupational, dietary, and environmental exogenic carcinogen exposure, as well as several lifestyle factors, can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer.

Summary
Bladder cancer is a common malignancy worldwide. Cigarette smoking, exposure to aromatic amines and arsenic are known risk factors for bladder cancer. Evidence on other modifiable risk factors such as carcinogen exposure derived from the diet or environment as well as occupational hazards is still weak. Medical conditions leading to chronic inflammation, altering insulin resistance, negatively modulating the immune system and/or genetic alterations may have a role in bladder cancer carcinogenesis. Further studies are, however, necessary to identify possible exogenic risk factors, as well as their interactions, that partake in the carcinogenesis of bladder cancer.
The role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of Peyronie's disease
Authors: Parmar Madhumita , Masterson John M. , Masterson Thomas A. 
Published: March 2020

Purpose of review
Several imaging modalities exist for the assessment of Peyronie's disease. However, comprehensive recommendations for using these objective modalities based on large-scale evidence-based studies do not yet exist. Our objective is to evaluate current imaging techniques and provide a model that we follow in our clinic in the workup and management of Peyronie's disease.

Recent findings
Computed tomography and radiography excellently visualize penile plaque calcifications, and MRI adeptly identifies plaques in complex locations, such as the corporal septum. Ultrasonography has extensive applications in plaque localization and characterization. Used along with color Doppler ultrasound, it is capable of detecting vascular abnormalities. Sonoelastography is an emerging subtype of ultrasongraphy that utilizes elastic properties of tissue to identify penile plaques that may not be visualized with other modalities.

Summary
Ultrasonography is the preferred imaging modality in Peyronie's disease and noninvasively characterizes penile plaques and monitors plaque response to various treatments. At our center, we perform ultrasonography with intracavernosal injection in all patients with Peyronie's disease to evaluate the degree of curvature, plaque characteristics, and concomitant erectile dysfunction to better guide management decisions.
The role of leptin and obesity on male infertility
Authors: Khodamoradi Kajal , Parmar Madhumita , Khosravizadeh Zahra , Kuchakulla Manish , Manoharan Meenakkshy , Arora Himanshu 
Published: March 2020

Purpose of review
Several studies suggest a strong association between leptin, obesity, and infertility with respect to the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, androgen regulation, and sperm production, but the direct mechanistic association between these is still largely unexplored. This review focuses on understanding the association between leptin, obesity, and male infertility.

Recent findings
Obesity is linked to fertility dysfunction in both genders. Obesity in men may affect their fertility by impaired spermatogenesis, reduced testosterone levels, erectile dysfunction, and poor libido by putatively targeting the HPG and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axes. Leptin plays key roles in many metabolic functions, including reproduction. High concentrations of leptin have been found in infertile men with disorders affecting the testicular parenchyma, including nonobstructive azoospermia, oligozoospermia, and oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia. Additionally, serum leptin levels have negative associations with serum testosterone levels and sperm parameters and positive associations with serum follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels and abnormal sperm morphology.

Summary
Excessive leptin production may be a significant contributor to the development of androgen insufficiency and reduced reproductive function in obese men. Understanding the relation between leptin, obesity, and reproduction may shed light on future targeted treatments for male infertility.
Psychiatric Symptoms, Psychosocial Factors, and Life Satisfaction Among Persons With Serious Mental Illness
Authors: Sánchez Jennifer , Wadsworth John S. , Frain Michael P. , Umucu Emre , Chan Fong 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
This study explores the effects of biopsychosocial factors on life satisfaction among persons with serious mental illness. Participants in this study included a convenience sample of 194 adults recruited from Texas and Wisconsin. A path analysis was conducted with psychiatric symptoms as an exogenous variable, and illness insight, social self-efficacy, social support, community integration, and life satisfaction as endogenous variables. Beginning with a hypothesized model, a best model was obtained after removing the paths that were not significant and adding recommended paths supported by theory. In the final model, psychiatric symptoms, social self-efficacy, social support, and community integration were directly associated with life satisfaction. Illness insight did not directly affect life satisfaction but had indirect effects. Psychiatric symptoms may be the most important and direct predictor of life satisfaction; illness insight, social self-efficacy, social support, and community integration buffer the direct of effect of psychiatric symptoms on life satisfaction.
Cardiopulmonary Endurance of Hospitalized Older Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Liao Lin-Yu , Chen Kuei-Min , Hsu Hui-Fen 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could lead to poor cardiopulmonary endurance, which affects quality of life and increases the risk of rehospitalization or mortality. However, studies investigating associated factors of cardiopulmonary endurance for COPD inpatients are scant.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate whether and how age, gender, COPD severity, body composition, dyspnea, respiratory muscle strength, and lower limb muscle strength and endurance were related to cardiopulmonary endurance in elderly inpatients with COPD.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study using a systematic sampling of older inpatients. Data of demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and disease severity were collected, and body mass index was calculated. Degrees of dyspnea were assessed by the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale. Respiratory muscle strength was reflected by the maximal inspiratory pressure and the maximal expiratory pressure. Lower limb muscle strength and endurance were assessed by a handheld dynamometer and a 30-second sit-to-stand test, respectively. Finally, cardiopulmonary endurance was assessed by a 6-minute walk test.ResultsA total of 83 older COPD inpatients participated. The mean age was 74.01 ± 6.93 years. Cardiopulmonary endurance was associated with age, COPD severity, dyspnea, respiratory muscle strength, lower limb muscle strength, and endurance. Predictors of cardiopulmonary endurance were disease severity, dyspnea, and lower limb muscle endurance. These predictors explained 53% of the variance in cardiopulmonary endurance in older inpatients with COPD.DiscussionCardiopulmonary endurance of hospitalized older adults with COPD should be strengthened by improving conditions of disease severity, dyspnea, and lower limb muscle endurance.
Prediction of Changes in Adherence to Secondary Prevention Among Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Lu Minmin , Hravnak Marilyn , Ma Jianying , Lin Ying , Zhang Xian , Shen Yunzhi , Xia Haiou 
Published: March 2020

Background
Healthcare providers are concerned about adherence to provider recommendations in coronary artery disease management. Seeking patient-related factors influencing changes in adherence over time is necessary for formulating suitable intervention measures—especially among diverse populations.

Objective
To explore whether health literacy, self-efficacy, and disease knowledge predict changes in adherence over time (between baseline and 3 months) to secondary prevention recommendations for Chinese coronary artery disease patients.

Methods
A longitudinal study was performed for 662 patients following percutaneous coronary intervention in China. Self-reported data were collected at baseline during hospitalization and at a 3-month telephone follow-up. Variables included demographics, health literacy, self-efficacy, disease knowledge, and adherence to secondary prevention recommendations for medication taking and a heart-healthy lifestyle. Multinomial logistic regression identified predictors of adherence changes over time.

Results
Patients were categorized into three groups: sustained/declined to nonadherence between baseline and 3 months, improved to adherence, and sustained adherence. The number of patients in sustained/declined to nonadherence group was small. Absence of stents predicted sustained/declined to nonadherence to medication and lifestyle over time. Health literacy was not associated with adherence changes over time. Higher self-efficacy scores were associated with lower likelihood of sustained/declined to nonadherence to a healthy lifestyle over time, whereas higher disease knowledge scores were associated with higher sustained/declined to nonadherence to medication.

Conclusions
Adherence to secondary prevention 3 months after discharge was relatively good in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease who received percutaneous coronary intervention. Absence of stents and lower self-efficacy can predict the poor adherence changes, which should be considered in formulating follow-up care.
The Prognostic Significance of APOBEC3B and PD-L1/PD-1 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Feng ChangYin , Zhang YingYing , Huang JianPing , Zheng QiaoLing , Yang YingHong , Xu BenHua 
Published: March 2020

Purpose:
Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3B (APOBEC3B) is a recently discovered protein that is considered important in causing mutations in tumor cell genome bases. Whether APOBEC3B is expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) still remains unknown. Studies have shown that programmed-cell-death receptor-1 ligand (PD-L1) is highly expressed in NPC, but its clinical significance has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to evaluate APOBEC3B and PD-L1 protein expression in NPC and also investigate their prognostic significance.

Materials and Methods:
One hundred and three patients with NPC were retrospectively collected in this study, and were followed-up for 5 years. The expression of APOBEC3B and PD-L1/PD-1 in NPC was detected by immunohistochemical staining.

Results:
High expression of APOBEC3B was observed in 42.7% of NPC patients. The high expression rate of APOBEC3B was 31.5% in patients without recurrence or metastasis within 5 years, and 55.1% in those patients with recurrence or metastasis, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.016). There was no significant difference in APOBEC3B expression among patients with different sex, age group, and clinical stage (P>0.05). The positive expression rate of PD-L1 was 55.3% in all patients with NPC. There was no significant difference in PD-L1 expression among patients with different sex, age group, clinical stage, and tumor recurrence or metastasis condition (P> 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the expression of APOBEC3B and PD-L1 in NPC patients. The positive expression rate of PD-1 was 1.9% (2/103) in patients with NPC.

Conclusions:
APOBEC3B showed association with aggressive behavior and poor outcome in NPC, and is also considered as a potential marker for predicting NPC recurrence or metastasis. PD-L1 is not associated with the aggressive behavior and poor outcome in NPC.
Quarterly screening optimizes detection of sexually transmitted infections when prescribing HIV preexposure prophylaxis
Authors: Tang Eric C. , Vittinghoff Eric , Philip Susan S. , Doblecki-Lewis Susanne , Bacon Oliver , Chege Wairimu , Coleman Megan E. , Elion Richard , Buchbinder Susan , Kolber Michael A. , Liu Albert Y. , Cohen Stephanie E. 
Published: March 2020

Objective:
The optimal screening frequency of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for MSM and transgender women (TGW) on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is unclear, with present guidelines recommending screening every 3–6 months. We aimed to determine the number of STIs for which treatment would have been delayed without quarterly screening.

Design:
The US PrEP Demonstration Project was a prospective, open-label cohort study that evaluated PrEP delivery in STI clinics in San Francisco and Miami, and a community health center in Washington, DC. In all, 557 HIV-uninfected MSM and TGW were offered up to 48 weeks of PrEP and screened quarterly for STIs.

Methods:
The proportion of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis infections for which treatment would have been delayed had screening been conducted every 6 versus every 3 months was determined by taking the number of asymptomatic STIs at weeks 12 and 36 divided by the total number of infections during the study follow-up period for each STI.

Results:
Among the participants, 50.9% had an STI during follow-up. If screening had been conducted only semiannually or based on symptoms, identification of 34.3% of gonorrhea, 40.0% of chlamydia, and 20.4% of syphilis infections would have been delayed by up to 3 months. The vast majority of participants (89.2%) with asymptomatic STIs reported condomless anal sex and had a mean of 8.1 partners between quarterly visits.

Conclusions:
Quarterly STI screening among MSM on PrEP could prevent a substantial number of partners from being exposed to asymptomatic STIs, and decrease transmission.