bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SNP genotypes reveal breed substructure, selection signatures and highly inbred regions in Piétrain pigs
Authors: Gorssen W. , Meyermans R. , Buys N. , Janssens S. 
Published: December 2019

SummaryThe Piétrain pig originates from the Belgian village Piétrain some time between 1920 and 1950. Owing to its superior conformation, the Piétrain has spread worldwide since the 1960s. As initial population sizes were limited and close inbreeding was commonplace, the breed’s genetic diversity has been questioned. Therefore, this study examines Piétrain breed substructure, diversity and selection signatures using SNP data in comparison with Duroc, Landrace and Large White populations. Principal component analysis indicated three subpopulations, andFSTanalysis showed that US Piétrains differ most from European Piétrains. Average inbreeding based on runs of homozygosity (ROH) segments larger than 4 Mb ranged between 16.7 and 20.9%. The highest chromosomal inbreeding levels were found on SSC8 (42.7%). ROH islands were found on SSC8, SSC15 and SSC18 in all Piétrain populations, but numerous population‐specific ROH islands were also detected. Moreover, a large ROH island on SSC8 (34–126 Mb) appears nearly fixed in all Piétrain populations, with a unique genotype. Chromosomal ROH patterns were similar between Piétrain populations. This study shows that Piétrain populations are genetically diverging, with at least three genetically distinct populations worldwide. Increasing genetic diversity in local Piétrain populations by introgression from other Piétrain populations seems to be only limited. Moreover, a unique 90 Mb region on SSC8 appeared largely fixed in the Piétrain breed, indicating that fixation was already present before the 1960s. We believe that strong selection and inbreeding during breed formation fixed these genomic regions in Piétrains. Finally, we hypothesize that independent coat color selection may have led to large ROH pattern similarities on SSC8 between unrelated pig breeds.
Is disability exclusion associated with experiencing an unmet need for health care?
Authors: Temple Jeromey B. , Stiles Jay A. , Utomo Ariane , Kelaher Margaret , Williams Ruth 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between disability exclusion and experiencing an unmet need for health care.MethodsThe 2015 Survey of Disability Ageing and Carers was used to measure the prevalence of unmet needs for health care stratified by measures of exclusion. Log‐Poisson models were fitted to examine the association between discrimination, avoidance and unmet needs for health care.ResultsApproximately 10% of respondents reported an unmet need to attend a GP, specialist or hospital and 25% reported an unmet need to obtain dental treatment. For those reporting an instance of discrimination in the last 12 months, the rates of experiencing unmet needs for health care were significantly higher (GP 29%, specialist 26%, dental 46%, hospital 18%). With controls included, discrimination or avoidance significantly increased the probability of reporting an unmet need for health care regardless of the context of previous experiences of exclusion.ConclusionDisability discrimination or avoidance is strongly associated with experiencing an unmet need for health care among older people with disabilities.
Drawing in the Dark: Seeing, Not Seeing, and Anthropological Insight
Authors: Hendrickson Carol 
Published: December 2019

SUMMARYThis article considers the ways that visual field notes can relate to issues of seeing, not seeing, and insights that arise synaptically when field observations, theoretical considerations, and personal experiences are brought into conversation and spark. The goal is to complicate the connection between drawing and seeing and, with this, to push for more hands‐on creation of images as part of field research and an active engagement with ideas via the visual.
Choroidal structural changes in preterm children with and without retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Lavric Alenka , Tekavcic Pompe Manca , Markelj Spela , Ding Jianbin , Mahajan Sarakshi , Khandelwal Neha , Agrawal Rupesh 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPurposeEvaluate choroidal structural changes in preterm children with and without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using image binarization technique on swept‐source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT) scans.MethodsProspective case–control study. Forty‐one (79 eyes) children aged 5–15 years with a history of preterm birth and 33 (63 eyes) age‐matched full‐term children were recruited. Demographics including gestational age at birth, birth weight and history of ROP were documented. All subjects had undergone complete eye examinations, including best‐corrected visual acuity and SS‐OCT imaging. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was calculated, and images were binarized to obtain stromal and luminal areas (LA). The choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was derived from the proportion of LA to the total subfoveal choroidal area.ResultsThere were no significant differences in SFCT between the preterm children with (286.63 ± 83.98 μm) or without (306.59 ± 77.29 μm) ROP and the full‐term children (311.82 ± 42.87; p = 0.20 and 0.67, respectively). The CVI was significantly reduced in the preterm children with ROP (68.66 ± 3.24%; p = 0.005) compared with the CVI in the full‐term control group (71.37 ± 3.63%); however, the CVI in the preterm children without ROP (71.68 ± 3.09%; p = 0.93) was not significantly affected.ConclusionThe reduced CVI in preterm children with ROP may indicate compromised choroidal vascularity. The CVI was found to be a more sensitive OCT biomarker than the SFCT and may be helpful in evaluating associated choroidal structural changes in preterm children, especially those with a history of ROP.
Natural course of the intraretinal hyperreflective sign after macular haemorrhage absorption in eyes with pathologic myopia
Authors: Hung Kuo‐Chi , Wang Shih‐Wen , Hsia Yun , Chen Muh‐Shy , Tsai Chia‐Ying , Ho Tzyy‐Chang 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPurposeWe investigated the natural course of the intraretinal hyperreflective (IRH) sign after macular haemorrhage (MHE) absorption in eyes with pathologic myopia.MethodsThis prospective observational cohort study evaluated 28 patients with pathologic myopia and MHE. The eyes were categorized into IRH and non‐IRH sign groups according to IRH sign development. All eyes were evaluated; follow‐up visits were scheduled at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after MHE absorption.ResultsOf 28 patients (14 eyes each in the IRH and non‐IRH groups), nine (32.1%) were men and 19 (67.9%) were women. The average age (mean ± SD) was 46.64 ± 11.92 versus 52.71 ± 12.19 years in the IRH and non‐IRH groups. The IRH sign coincided with the MHE invasion site. The sign persisted for the entire follow‐up period in all but two eyes, in which it disappeared at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Maximal MHE thickness was significantly greater in the IRH sign group (162.9 ± 67.84 versus 104.2 ± 32.34 μm, p = 0.013). The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was significantly better in the non‐IRH sign group at 12 (p = 0.029) and 24 (p = 0.033) months. The incidence of myopic traction maculopathies (MTM) was significantly higher in the IRH (57.1%) than in the non‐IRH sign group (14.3%; p = 0.046).ConclusionThe IRH sign can develop after MHE in pathologic myopia and can remain stable long after MHE absorption; furthermore, it is predictive of future MTM.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: effectiveness of direct‐acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: He Sichan , Lockart Ian , Alavi Maryam , Danta Mark , Hajarizadeh Behzad , Dore Gregory J. 
Published: December 2019

SummaryBackgroundDirect‐acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly curative and tolerable. Among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), optimal timing of DAA therapy remains unclear. Data on efficacy of DAA therapy in patients with HCC would inform this decision‐making.AimTo evaluate response to DAA therapy among patients diagnosed with HCV infection and HCC.MethodsBibliographic databases and conference abstracts were searched. Meta‐analysis was conducted to pool sustained virologic response (SVR) estimates.ResultsFifty‐six studies with 5522 patients with HCV and HCC were included. Overall SVR was 88.3% (95% CI 86.1‐90.4). Twenty‐seven studies included patients with prior or present HCC (n = 3126) and patients without HCC (n = 49 138), in which SVR was 88.2% (95% CI 85.0‐91.4) and 92.4% (95% CI 91.1‐93.7) among patients with and without HCC, respectively (odds ratio: 0.54, 95% CI 0.43‐0.68, P < .001). In the subgroup analyses, higher SVR was seen in patients who received curative HCC management (SVR 90.4%, 95% CI 88.3‐92.4), or treated with sofosbuvir + NS5A inhibitor DAAs (SVR 96.9%, 95% CI 94.3‐99.4), or in patients with HCV genotype 1 infection (SVR 92.0%, 95% CI 88.1‐95.6).ConclusionResponse to DAA therapy was lower in patients with HCC compared to those without HCC, regardless of cirrhosis status. Among HCC patients, there was an impact of proportion with curative HCC management on DAA therapy response.
The power and potential of integrated diagnostics in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Haferlach Torsten , Schmidts Ines 
Published: December 2019

SummaryThe field of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) diagnostics, initially based solely on morphological assessment, has integrated more and more disciplines. Today, state‐of‐the‐art AML diagnostics relies on cytomorphology, cytochemistry, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics and molecular genetics. Only the integration of all of these methods allows for a comprehensive and complementary characterisation of each case, which is prerequisite for optimal AML diagnosis and management. Here, we will review why multidisciplinary diagnostics is mandatory today and will gain even more importance in the future, especially in the context of precision medicine. We will discuss ideas and strategies that are likely to shape and improve multidisciplinary diagnostics in AML and may even overcome some of today's gold standards. This includes recent technical advances that provide genome‐wide molecular insights. The enormous amount of data obtained by these latter techniques represents a great challenge, but also a unique chance. We will reflect on how this increase in knowledge can be incorporated into the routine to pave the way for personalised medicine in AML.
Tracking tidal volume noninvasively in volunteers using a tightly controlled temperature‐based device: A proof of concept paper
Authors: Sathyamoorthy Madhankumar , Lerman Jerrold , Amolenda Patricia G. , Wilson Gerri A. , Feldman Ronen , Moser John , Feldman Uri , Abraham George E. , Feldman Doron 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroductionThere is a paucity of noninvasive respiratory monitors for patients outside of critical care settings. The Linshom respiratory monitoring device is a novel temperature‐based respiratory monitor that measures the respiratory rate as accurately as capnography.ObjectivesDetermine whether the amplitude of the Linshom temperature profile was an accurate, surrogate and qualitative metric of the tidal volume (VT) that tracks VT in healthy volunteers.MethodsForty volunteers breathed room air spontaneously through a tight‐fitting continuous positive airway pressure mask with a Linshom device mounted in the mask. VT was measured contemporaneously using a standalone Maquet Servo‐i ICU ventilator. The amplitudes of the Linshom temperature profiles were paired with the contemporaneous VT measurements using least squares linear regression analysis and the coefficient of variation (R2) was determined.ResultsForty volunteers completed the study. The data from 30 of the volunteers were analysed and are presented; data from 10 volunteers were not included due to protocol violations and/or technical issues unrelated to Linshom. The fluctuations in the amplitude of the Linshom temperature profiles mapped closely with the measured VT using least squares linear regression analyses yielding a mean R2 (95% CI) value of 0.87 (0.84‐0.90).ConclusionThese results support the notion that the Linshom temperature profile is an accurate and reliable surrogate that tracks changes in VT in healthy volunteers. Further studies are warranted in patients in clinical settings to establish the effectiveness of this monitor.
Results in liver transplantation using grafts from donors after controlled circulatory death: A single‐center experience comparing donor grafts harvested after controlled circulatory death to those harvested after brain death
Authors: Otero Alejandra , Vázquez María Angeles , Suárez Francisco , Pértega Sonia , Rivas Jose Ignacio , Mosteiro Fernando , Gómez Manuel 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundIn recent years, interest in donation after cardiac death (DCD) has increased. Although DCD liver transplantation (LT) has demonstrated satisfactory long‐term outcomes, different studies have shown poorer patient and graft survival after DCD than after donation after brain death (DBD). This study aimed to evaluate the results of LT using controlled DCD (cDCD) donors, specifically the incidence of primary non‐function and ischemic cholangiopathy (IC), and to compare these results with those of LT using DBD in the same time period.MethodsBetween June 2012 and July 2018, we performed 66 transplants using cDCD and 258 with DBD grafts.ResultsThe incidence of IC was similar in both groups (2% in DBD, 1.5% in DCD; P = .999). No significant differences were found for overall graft and patient survival rates between the groups at 1 and 2 years post‐transplantation.ConclusionsThis study provided evidence that cDCD donors exhibit excellent graft and patient survival outcomes. When the warm ischemia time is <30 minutes and cold ischemia time is <6 hours, the graft and patient survival rates and the incidence of IC in DCD are similar to those in DBD, even when using donors without age restrictions.
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Intramuscular and Oral Betamethasone and Dexamethasone in Reproductive Age Women in India
Authors: Jobe Alan H. , Milad Mark A. , Peppard Thomas , Jusko William J. 
Published: December 2019

High‐dose betamethasone and dexamethasone are standard of care treatments for women at risk of preterm delivery to improve neonatal respiratory and mortality outcomes. The dose in current use has never been evaluated to minimize exposures while assuring efficacy. We report the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PDs) of oral and intramuscular treatments with single 6 mg doses of dexamethasone phosphate, betamethasone phosphate, or a 1:1 mixture of betamethasone phosphate and betamethasone acetate in reproductive age South Asian women. Intramuscular or oral betamethasone has a terminal half‐life of 11 hours, about twice as long as the 5.5 hours for oral and intramuscular dexamethasone. The 1:1 mixture of betamethasone phosphate and betamethasone acetate shows an immediate release of betamethasone followed by a slow release where plasma betamethasone can be measured out to 14 days after the single dose administration, likely from a depo formed at the injection site by the acetate. PD responses were: increased glucose, suppressed cortisol, increased neutrophils, and suppressed basophils, CD3CD4 and CD3CD8 lymphocytes. PD responses were comparable for betamethasone and dexamethasone, but with longer times to return to baseline for betamethasone. The 1:1 mixture of betamethasone phosphate and betamethasone acetate caused much longer adrenal suppression because of the slow release. These results will guide the development of better treatment strategies to minimize fetal and maternal drug exposures for women at risk of preterm delivery.
Adequate tumour cellularity is essential for accurate PD‐L1 immunohistochemistry assessment on cytology cell‐block specimens
Authors: Hendry Shona , Byrne David J. , Christie Michael , Steinfort Daniel P. , Irving Louis B. , Wagner Carrie‐Anne , Ellwood Timothy , Cooper Wendy A. , Fox Stephen B. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectivesPD‐L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an essential predictive biomarker for patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), required to inform treatment decisions regarding anti‐PD‐1 immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. This study aims to investigate the concordance between PD‐L1 IHC assessed on NSCLC cytology and histology specimens and to determine the impactce of tumour cellularity.MethodsMatched cytology and histology NSCLC specimens were retrieved from the archives of the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. PD‐L1 IHC was performed concurrently on both specimens at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre using the SP263 assay kit on the Ventana Benchmark Ultra staining platform and scored by two experienced pathologists.ResultsOverall agreement between matched cytology and histology specimens was good (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.653, n = 58); however, markedly increased when the analysis was limited to cell‐blocks with >100 tumour cells (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.957, n = 29). Specificity at both 1% and 50% cut‐offs was high regardless of cellularity; however, sensitivity decreased in samples with <100 tumour cells.ConclusionsPD‐L1 IHC on cytology cell‐block specimens in NSCLC is an acceptable alternative to histological specimens, provided adequate tumour cells are present. Clinicians and pathologists should be mindful of the risk of false negative PD‐L1 IHC in samples with low tumour cellularity, to avoid excluding patients from potentially beneficial treatment.
Effects of nitrogen enrichment on tree carbon allocation: A global synthesis
Authors: Li Weibin , Zhang Hongxia , Huang Guozhu , Liu Ruixue , Wu Hongjing , Zhao Chuanyan , McDowell Nate G. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAimIncreased atmospheric nitrogen deposition may have profound effects on tree carbon allocation dynamics. However, a comprehensive understanding of how nitrogen (N) enrichment influences carbon (C) allocation across plant functional processes and tree organs in individual trees remains elusive.LocationGlobal forest ecosystems.Time period1990–2018.Major taxa studiedTrees.MethodsWe compiled data from 75 N addition experiments and conducted a meta‐analysis to evaluate the responses of C source (photosynthesis), sinks (growth and respiration) and storage (non‐structural carbohydrate concentrations) in different tree organs (foliage, above‐ground wood and roots) to N enrichment.ResultsN enrichment significantly enhanced C supply via photosynthesis (+39.6%, n = 128). C allocation to growth (biomass increment/production) significantly increased in foliage (+15.9%, n = 68) and above‐ground wood (+31.8%, n = 64; bole, branch, stem and/or twig) with increasing N availability, but not in roots, whereas allocation increased in roots via increasing fine root turnover rate (+22.6%, n = 11). N fertilization significantly increased C allocation to respiration in above‐ground wood (+46.6%, n = 12) and roots (+5.5%, n = 57), but not in foliage. N addition decreased non‐structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in foliage (−5.4%, n = 16) and roots (−5.0%, n = 21), but increased NSC in above‐ground wood (+6.1%, n = 22). In addition, N enrichment effects were strongly affected by moderator variables.Main conclusionsOur results demonstrate that N addition increased C allocation to growth and respiration more strongly than C allocation to NSC storage, and increased C allocation to above‐ground parts more strongly than to below‐ground parts. Our results are useful for better understanding the response of tree functional processes at organ level to N enrichment. The existing data also reveal that more long‐term experimental studies on mature trees in tropical and boreal forests are urgently needed to provide a basis for forecasting tree responses to N enrichment at the global scale.
Regional economic resilience of resource‐based cities and influential factors during economic crises in China
Authors: Tan Juntao , Lo Kevin , Qiu Fangdao , Zhang Xinlin , Zhao Hongbo 
Published: December 2019

AbstractResource‐based cities (RBCs) whose economies depend primarily on exploiting and processing natural resources usually have rigid, singular, and low‐end industrial structures, which often cripples their ability to cope with external disturbances such as international resource price fluctuations and economic downturns. This paper quantitatively analyzes the economic resilience of RBCs in China in terms of resistance and recoverability during the Asian financial crisis and the global financial crisis. Furthermore, it identifies the main factors affecting resilience. There are four main findings: First, RBCs were quickly and negatively impacted by the Asian financial crisis, which suggests that economic resistance was generally low during this period. In the recovery period, while the rate of recovery was slow at the beginning, economic recoverability improved after 2002. Economic resistance and recoverability were found to have a strong negative correlation. Second, at the beginning of the global financial crisis, the economic resistance of RBCs was generally high. However, after 2012, the number of cities that were severely affected by the economic crisis increased rapidly. Third, economic resistance varied across different types of RBCs. Coal‐based and forestry‐based cities had lower economic resistance, while oil & gas‐based cities were more resistant. RBCs in the Eastern region generally had low economic resistance, while the economic resilience of recessionary cities was also low. Finally, while factors affecting the economic resilience varied across the two economic cycles, we found that economic development, labor conditions and, most of all, the industrial structure had a statistically significant negative effect on economic resilience.
Epidemiology, symptomatology and treatment of patients with myasthenia gravis in an Australian hospital
Authors: Li Vivien , Jasinarachchi Mahi , Butler Ernest 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMyasthenia gravis (MG) is a disorder affecting neuromuscular transmission with heterogeneous manifestations and treatments. This study describes clinical features and management of MG patients at a metropolitan hospital in Australia. Overall findings were consistent with previously published data. However, frequency of intravenous immuno‐globulin use was higher, reasons for which are explored. Management is best conducted through specialist clinics with necessary expertise and standardised treatment protocols.
Memory T‐cell exhaustion and tolerance in transplantation
Authors: Hartigan Christina R. , Sun He , Ford Mandy L. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractOne of the biggest barriers to achieving allograft tolerance is the presence of immunological memory within the recipient, which confers a faster, more robust immune response that is in most cases more resistant to pharmacologic immunosuppression. This review will identify the mechanisms by which alloreactive T cells arise within hosts prior to transplantation, and explore the properties of immunological memory that contribute to allograft rejection. In doing so we will also illuminate how targeting pathways that induce memory T cell exhaustion can promote allograft tolerance. Recent studies demonstrating the impact of the allograft microenvironment on memory cell survival and activation, as well as new therapeutic strategies that are being explored to mitigate memory driven allograft rejection, will also be reviewed.