bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hip contractures were associated with low gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Mechlenburg Inger , Østergaard Malene Tousgaard Foget , Menzel Christina Bach , Nordbye‐Nielsen Kirsten 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimThe aim was to identify the prevalence of hip contractures and their association with gross motor function and pain in the lower extremities among Danish children with cerebral palsy (CP).MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was based on data collected during regular clinical examinations in 2018–2019 and registered in the National Danish Clinical Quality Database of children with CP. The study population was 688 children (59% boys) aged five to 12 years across all Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels. Any associations between hip contracture and gross motor function and pain were investigated with logistic regression analysis and presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsThe prevalence of hip contracture was 22% across all five GMFCS levels, and the incidence varied across the five Danish regions. The odds ratios for hip contracture were significantly higher at GMFCS level IV (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.10–3.62) and V (OR 5.49, 95% CI 3.33–9.07) compared with level I. Hip contractures were not significantly associated with pain in the lower extremities (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.95–2.15).ConclusionHip contractures were frequent and associated with low gross motor function, but not lower extremity pain, in children with CP.
Sleep problems and worrying precede psychotic symptoms during an online intervention for psychosis
Authors: Lüdtke Thies , Pfuhl Gerit , Moritz Steffen , Rüegg Nina Lee , Berger Thomas , Westermann Stefan 
Published: December 2020

ObjectiveExperience sampling assessments (multiple assessments per day for approximately one week) indicate that positive symptoms fluctuate over time in psychosis. Precursors, such as sleep problems or worrying, predict these fluctuations. To date, it remains unclear whether the same precursors predict symptom variability also during treatment in an online intervention for psychosis, using assessments lying temporally further apart.MethodsParticipants completed brief intermediate online self‐report assessments on their computers (up to every 7 days during a 2‐month waiting period and up to twice every 6 days during a 2‐month intervention period) within a randomized controlled trial. We monitored the course of paranoia, auditory verbal hallucinations, and their theory‐driven precursors worrying, negative affect, self‐esteem, self‐reported cognitive biases, and quality of sleep in n = 124 participants (M = 10.32 assessments per participant; SD = 6.07). We tested group differences regarding the course of the composite of precursors, group differences regarding the effect of the composite on subsequent momentary psychotic symptoms, and the effect of each individual precursor on subsequent psychotic symptoms, using (lagged) linear mixed models.ResultsThe course composite precursors over time and their lagged effect on subsequent momentary psychotic symptoms did not differ between groups. During the intervention, increased worrying and decreased quality of sleep preceded heightened momentary psychotic symptoms.ConclusionThe regression‐based design does not allow drawing causal conclusions. However, worrying and sleep problems likely represent underlying mechanisms of psychotic symptom variability during online psychosis treatment, indicating that experience sampling findings from everyday life generalize to interventions with assessments lying several days apart.Practitioner points

Worrying and sleep problems represent important mechanisms of symptom fluctuations during an online intervention for people with psychosis.

Our findings further support the notion that worrying and sleep problems are important treatment targets in psychological interventions for people with psychosis.

Momentary levels of worrying and quality of sleep can signal subsequent fluctuations of psychotic symptom severity so practitioners should monitor these variables during treatment.

Worrying seems to predict subsequent paranoia specifically during treatment whereas quality of sleep predicts both paranoia and auditory verbal hallucinations
Anti‐FIRΔexon2 autoantibody as a novel indicator for better overall survival in gastric cancer
Authors: Kobayashi Sohei , Hiwasa Takaki , Ishige Takayuki , Kano Masayuki , Hoshino Tyuji , Rahmutulla Bahityar , Seimiya Masanori , Shimada Hideaki , Nomura Fumio , Matsubara Hisahiro , Matsushita Kazuyuki 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThere is no clinically available biomarker for efficiently indicating the overall survival or therapy response of gastric cancer (GC). The autoantibodies (Abs) in the sera of anti‐far‐upstream element‐binding protein‐interacting repressor‐lacking exon2 (FIRΔexon2), anti‐sorting nexin 15, and anti‐spermatogenesis and oogenesis–specific basic helix–loop–helix 1 were markedly higher in GC patients than in healthy donors (HDs). These Abs were identified by large‐scale serological identification of antigens by recombinant cDNA expression cloning screenings and their expression levels were evaluated by amplified luminescence proximity homogeneous assay. In particular, compared with age‐matched HDs, the level of anti‐FIRΔexon2 Abs in GC patients was significantly higher (P < .001). The Spearman's rank correlation analysis between anti‐FIRΔexon2 Abs and clinically available tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was statistically insignificant, indicating that FIRΔexon2 Abs is an independent biomarker. We performed receiver‐operating curve analysis to evaluate the anti‐FIRΔexon2 Ab as a candidate biomarker with CEA and carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (CA19‐9). The overall survival of GC patients with high anti‐FIRΔexon2 Abs titer was significantly favorable (P = .04) than that of GC patients who were below detection level of anti‐FIRΔexon2 Abs. However, clinical stages were not apparently correlated with the levels of anti‐FIRΔexon2 Ab, CEA, and CA19‐9. In conclusion, anti‐FIRΔexon2 Abs detected in GC patients is a potential biomarker for monitoring a better prognosis. Hence, anti‐FIRΔexon2 Abs is a promising biomarker for indicating better overall survival of gastric cancer patients.
Switching between biologics in severe asthma patients. When the first choice is not proven to be the best
Authors: Papaioannou Andriana I. , Fouka Evangelia , Papakosta Despina , Papiris Spyridon , Loukides Stelios 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDuring the last decades, new treatments targeting disease mechanisms referred as biologics have been introduced in the therapy of asthma and currently, five monoclonal antibodies have been approved. Although these therapeutic agents have been formulated to target specific asthma endotypes, it is often difficult for the treating physician to identify which patient is the best candidate for each one of these specific treatments especially in the clinical scenario of a patient in whom clinical characteristics overlap between different endotypes, allowing the selection of more than one biologic agent. As no head‐to‐head comparisons between these biologics have been attempted, there is no evidence on the superiority of one biologic agent over the other. Furthermore, a physician's first therapeutic decision, no matter how carefully has been made, may often result in suboptimal clinical response and drug discontinuation, indicating the need for switching to a different biologic. In this short review, we discuss the available evidence regarding the switching between biologics in patients with severe asthma and we propose a simple algorithm on switching possibilities in case that the physicians’ initial choice is proven not to be the best.
E3 ubiquitin ligase Casitas B lineage lymphoma-b and its potential therapeutic implications for immunotherapy
Authors: Jafari D , Mousavi M J , Keshavarz Shahbaz S , Jafarzadeh L , Tahmasebi S , Spoor J , Esmaeilzadeh A 
Published: December 2020

SummaryThe distinction of self from non-self is crucial to prevent autoreactivity and ensure protection from infectious agents and tumors. Maintaining the balance between immunity and tolerance of immune cells is strongly controlled by several sophisticated regulatory mechanisms of the immune system. Among these, the E3 ligase ubiquitin Casitas B cell lymphoma-b (Cbl-b) is a newly identified component in the ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation system, which is thought to be an important negative regulator of immune cells. An update on the current knowledge and new concepts of the relevant immune homeostasis program co-ordinated by Cbl-b in different cell populations could pave the way for future immunomodulatory therapies of various diseases, such as autoimmune and allergic diseases, infections, cancers and other immunopathological conditions. In the present review, the latest findings are comprehensively summarized on the molecular structural basis of Cbl-b and the suppressive signaling mechanisms of Cbl-b in physiological and pathological immune responses, as well as its emerging potential therapeutic implications for immunotherapy in animal models and human diseases.
Bone mineral density and trabecular bone score in patients with 21‐hydroxylase deficiency after glucocorticoid treatment
Authors: Gao Yinjie , Wang Ou , Guan Wenmin , Wu Xueyan , Mao Jiangfeng , Wang Xi , Yu Wei , Nie Min 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectivePatients with 21‐hydroxylase deficiency (21‐OHD) are at risk of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture due to long‐term glucocorticoid treatment. Trabecular bone score (TBS) is complementary to conventional BMD as a marker for bone quality in patients with glucocorticoid‐induced osteoporosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the BMD and TBS in a cohort of patients with 21‐OHD and analyse factors related to TBS.DesignAn observational study.PatientsA total of 46 21‐OHD adult patients treated with glucocorticoid for over 10 years who visited Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2015 and 2019 were recruited. Eight male patients included in this study were all under 50 years old, and 38 female patients were all premenopausal.MeasurementsDiagnosis was confirmed by multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification combined with sequencing. Data were collected on physical characteristics, serum hormones and glucocorticoid treatment. Skeletal quality was evaluated by BMD and TBS, and factors related to TBS were analysed.ResultsAmong the 46 patients, 2 (4.3%) had low BMD (Z‐score ≤ −2), while 11 (23.9%) patients had low TBS (degraded or partially degraded microarchitecture). The proportion of bone abnormality evaluated by TBS was higher than that by BMD (p < .001). Patients with lower TBS had significantly higher daily hydrocortisone dosage (p = .009 for males; p = .019 for females). TBS value was negatively correlated with daily hydrocortisone dosage (r = −.317, p = .026), and positively correlated with BMI in female patients (r = .345, p = .034). And there was a negative correlation between TBS value and the current age in male patients (r = −.741, p = .036). The distribution of genotypes (p = 1.000 for male; p = .567 for female) or phenotypes (p = .486 for male; p = .075 for female) had no statistical difference in patients with normal or abnormal TBS.ConclusionsApproximately 24% of patients with 21‐OHD had abnormal microarchitecture of their bone in our study, and TBS score was negatively correlated with daily glucocorticoid dosage in patients. TBS may be used alongside conventional BMD as a complementary marker for bone evaluation in 21‐OHD patients.
The inter‐ and intrarater reliability and feasibility of dietetic assessment of sarcopenia and frailty in potential liver transplant recipients: A mixed‐methods study
Authors: Johnston Heidi E. , de Crom Tosca , Hargrave Cathy , Adhyaru Pooja , Woodward Aidan J. , Pang Siong , Ali Azmat , Coombes Jeff S. , Keating Shelley E. , McLean Kate , Mayr Hannah L. , Macdonald Graeme A. , Hickman Ingrid J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSarcopenia and frailty are associated with poorer outcomes in potential liver transplant (LT) recipients. We examined the reliability and feasibility of dietitians assessing sarcopenia and frailty. Seventy‐five adults referred for LT underwent assessments of muscle mass (abdominal CTs), physical function (handgrip strength; HGS, short physical performance battery; SPPB), and frailty (Liver Frailty Index; LFI). Inter‐ and intrarater reliability and agreement were assessed in subsets of patients using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland‐Altman plots. CTs were analyzed by a dietitian and two independent experts, two dietitians assessed function and frailty. Feasibility assessed system, patient, and profession factors (staff survey). Inter‐ and intrarater reliability for CT‐defined low muscle were excellent (ICCs > 0.97). Reliability between dietitians was excellent for HGS (0.968, 95% CI, 0.928–0.986), SPPB (0.932, 95% CI, 0.798–0.973), and LFI (0.938, 95% CI 0.861–0.973). Bland‐Altman analysis indicated excellent agreement for HGS. All transplant clinicians valued sarcopenia and frailty in LT assessments and considered the dietitian appropriate to perform them. Seven saw no barriers to implementation into practice, while five queried test standardization, learning from repeat testing, and resource cost. Dietetic assessments of sarcopenia and frailty are reliable, feasible, and valued measures in the assessment of potential LT recipients.
Pharmacological management of South Asians with type 2 diabetes: Consensus recommendations from the South Asian Health Foundation
Authors: Hanif Wasim , Ali Sarah N , Bellary Srikanth , Patel Vinod , Farooqi Azhar , Karamat Muhammad Ali , Saeed Mujahid , Sivaprasad Sobha , Patel Kiran , Khunti Kamlesh 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSouth Asians constitute approximately 1.6 billion people from the Indian subcontinent, comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; and make up the largest diaspora globally. Compared to the White European population, this group is at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes along with cardiovascular, renal and eye complications. Over the recent years, a number of new therapies for type 2 diabetes have become available for which cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have been published. The recent ADA/EASD consensus guidelines on diabetes, pre‐diabetes and cardiovascular diseases’ offer a transitional shift in type 2 diabetes management. The new consensus recommendations are based on recent CVOTs, many of which had a representation of South Asian cohorts. In light of this new evidence, there is urgent need for an integrated, evidence‐based, cost‐effective and individualised approach specific for South Asians. This review takes into consideration the evidence from these CVOTs and provides best practice recommendations for optimal management of South Asian people with type 2 diabetes, alongside the previously published consensus report from South Asian Health Foundation in 2014 [1].
Double left brachiocephalic veins with vascular ring and normal intracardiac anatomy: Prenatal diagnosis of a rare association
Authors: Rakha Shaimaa , Batouty Nihal M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractOne of the extremely rare systemic venous anomalies is double left brachiocephalic veins (LBVs). In the current work, a rare association of double LBVs with a vascular ring and normal intracardiac anatomy is described in fetal life with postnatal confirmation using echocardiography and computed tomography. The prenatal diagnosis of such an infrequent lesion is feasible using fetal echocardiography. Despite the smooth prenatal and postnatal course, potential risk during certain interventions or surgeries should be highlighted in parent counseling.
Size and shape regulation during larval growth in the lepidopteranPieris brassicae
Authors: Fusco Giuseppe , Rigato Emanuele , Springolo Arianna 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBy adopting a longitudinal study design and through geometric morphometrics methods, we investigated size and shape regulation in the head capsule during the larval development of the cabbage butterflyPieris brassicaeunder laboratory conditions. We found evidence of size regulation by compensatory growth, although not equally effective in all larval stages. Size compensation is not attained through the regulation of developmental timing, but rather through the modulation of per‐time growth rate. As for the shape, neither the variance of the symmetric component of shape, nor the level of fluctuating asymmetry show any evidence of increase across stages, either at the population or individual level, which is interpreted as a mark of ontogenetic shape regulation. In addition, also the geometry of individual asymmetry is basically conserved across stages. While providing specific documentation on the ontogeny of size and shape variation in this insect, this study may contribute to a more general understanding of developmental regulation and its influence on phenotypic evolution.
Forest fire induces short‐term shifts in soil food webs with consequences for carbon cycling
Authors: Gongalsky Konstantin B. , Zaitsev Andrey S. , Korobushkin Daniil I. , Saifutdinov Ruslan A. , Butenko Konstantin O. , de Vries Franciska T. , Ekschmitt Klemens , Degtyarev Maksim I. , Gorbunova Anastasia Yu. , Kostina Natalia V. , Rakhleeva Anna A. , Shakhab Svetlana V. , Yazrikova Taisia E. , Wolters Volkmar , Bardgett Richard D. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe tested for fire‐induced (5–6 years post‐fire) changes in the structure and functioning of the soil food web along a 3000‐km north–south transect across European Russia, spanning all major forest types in the northern hemisphere outside the tropics. The total biomass of the detrital food web, including microbes and invertebrates, was not affected by fire. However, fire reduced the biomass of microfauna and mites, but had no impact on mesofauna or macrofauna. Fire also reduced rates of carbon (C) mobilisation by soil biota. Our results demonstrate that fire‐induced shifts in soil food webs have significant short‐term effects on forest soil C cycling, but that these effects vary across forest types and geographic locations.
Interleukin 31 and targeted vaccination in a case series of six horses with chronic pruritus
Authors: Fettelschoss V. , Olomski F. , Birkmann K. , Kündig T. M. , Bergvall K. , Fettelschoss‐Gabriel A. 
Published: December 2020

SummaryChronic pruritus is defined as prolonged itching symptoms associated with a variety of skin conditions. These pruritic conditions clinically manifest in a dermatitis phenotype and commonly are of allergic origin with hypersensitivities towards environmental allergens. Interleukin‐31 (IL‐31) is a common player in allergic pruritus across species. The objective of the study was evaluation of the clinical efficacy of a therapeutic vaccine targeting IL‐31 in horses with chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO) and that could not be explained by insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH). This consecutive case series pilot study included client‐owned horses with a long history of CPUO. Four horses affected by year‐round CPUO were vaccinated with a vaccine consisting of equine IL‐31 (eIL‐31) covalently coupled to a virus‐like particle (VLP) derived from cucumber mosaic virus containing a tetanus toxoid universal T cell epitope (CuMVTT). Clinical signs and pruritic behaviour were documented by photography and owner questionnaire pre and post vaccination. In addition, in three CPUO horses, levels of IL‐31, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP‐1) were quantified from skin punch biopsies. IL‐31, TSLP and MCP‐1 levels were upregulated in pruritic, alopecic skin lesions compared to healthy skin of the same horse. Clinical signs and pruritic behaviour improved in all four horses upon vaccination with eIL‐31‐CuMVTT vaccine. The vaccine was well tolerated without safety concerns throughout the study. The main limitations of this study are the absence control treated horses and allergy diagnostics. It was concluded that Anti‐IL‐31 therapy might be applied as an allergen‐independent treatment option for horses with CPUO overcoming the challenges of identifying the allergic trigger.
Congenital stricture of the vestibulo‐vaginal fold in a mare with normal karyotype
Authors: Guimarães T. , Oliveira C. , Crespo J. , Porto B. , Cunha R. , Rocha A. 
Published: December 2020

SummaryA diagnosis of congenital stricture of the vestibulo‐vaginal fold was reached in an 11‐year‐old mare without previous reproductive records, during a breeding soundness examination. The mare had an annular stricture of the vestibule–vaginal fold that did not allow palpation or vaginoscopic visual examination of the anterior portion of the vagina. Endoscopic evaluation of both anterior and posterior portions of the vagina revealed a normal mucosa without scar tissue. Ultrasound examination of the cervix, uterus and ovaries did not reveal any other abnormality. The mare had a normal karyotype – 64 XX. Vestibulo‐vaginal stricture or stenosis is a congenital anomaly that occurs when there is an incomplete perforation of the hymen or occurs in association with hypoplasia of the genital canal that results in the formation of an annular fibrotic stenosis at the vestibule–vaginal junction. To our knowledge, this is the first report of vestibulo‐vaginal stricture in a mare with confirmed normal karyotype, 64,XX.
Writing in Spanish as a heritage language: A multidimensional analysis
Authors: Asención‐Delaney Yuly 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSpanish heritage speakers in the United States exhibit a wide range of linguistic profiles due to a combination of political, social, and educational factors. Most of them acquire Spanish at home without formal instruction in writing. Although previous research has explored the main challenges faced by these learners in Spanish writing courses, no current research has examined the linguistic features that characterize their writing using a corpus‐based approach that would facilitate the identification of their actual patterns of language use. This study presents the findings of a multidimensional analysis of the writing produced by Spanish heritage learners in three composition classes at the college level. The findings show how 47 lexical and grammatical features co‐occur in four distinctive discourse types: informational, descriptive, narrative, and detached, with some variation observed across proficiency levels.
Pandelivery1: Reflections on black delivery app workers experiences during COVID‐19 in Brazil
Authors: Lage Mariana Luísa da Costa , Rodrigues Antonio Carlos 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis article reflects on how the COVID‐19 pandemic has affected the lives of black men who work as app delivery workers in Brazil. The coronavirus spread affected the demand for delivery services in the last mile delivery without necessarily improving working conditions. We highlight not only how structural racism shapes the daily lives of these workers, revealing experiences of inequality, marginalization, suffering, but also their resistance strategies.