bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vascular endothelial growth factor on Runt‐related transcript factor‐2 in aortic valve cells
Authors: Li Shao‐Jung , Kao Yu‐Hsun , Chung Cheng‐Chih , Cheng Wan‐Li , Lin Yung‐Kuo , Chen Yi‐Jen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundCalcific aortic valve disease is associated with ageing and high mortality. However, no effective pharmacological treatment has been developed. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor are overexpressed in the calcified aortic valve tissue. However, the role of VEGF in calcific aortic valve disease pathogenesis and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Materials and methodsRunt‐related transcription factor 2 expression and calcium‐related signalling were investigated in porcine valvular interstitial cells with or without human VEGF‐A recombinant protein (VEGF165, 1‐100 ng/mL) treatment and/or calmodulin‐dependent kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor (KN93, 10 µmol/L) and inositol triphosphate receptor inhibitor (2‐aminoethyldiphenyl borate, 30 µmol/L) for 5 days.ResultsVEGF165‐treated cells had higher Runt‐related transcription factor 2 expression and CaMKII/ adenosine 3',5'‐monophosphate response element‐binding protein (CREB) signalling activation than did control cells. KN93 reduced Runt‐related transcription factor 2 expression and CREB phosphorylation in VEGF165‐treated cells. The 2‐aminoethyldiphenyl borate also reduced Runt‐related transcription factor 2 expression in VICs treated with VEGF165.ConclusionVEGF upregulated Runt‐related transcription factor 2 expression in VICs by activating the IP3R/CaMKII/CREB signalling pathway.
Functional imaging in youth at risk for transdiagnostic serious mental illness: Initial results from thePROCANstudy
Authors: Metzak Paul D. , Addington Jean , Hassel Stefanie , Goldstein Benjamin I. , MacIntosh Bradley J. , Lebel Catherine , Wang Jian Li , Kennedy Sidney H. , MacQueen Glenda M. , Bray Signe 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundIn their early stages, serious mental illnesses (SMIs) are often indistinguishable from one another, suggesting that studying alterations in brain activity in a transdiagnostic fashion could help to understand the neurophysiological origins of different SMI. The purpose of this study was to examine brain activity in youth at varying stages of risk for SMI using functional magnetic resonance imaging tasks (fMRI) that engage brain systems believed to be affected.MethodsTwo hundred and forty three participants at different stages of risk for SMI were recruited to the Canadian Psychiatric Risk and Outcome (PROCAN) study, however only 179 were scanned. Stages included asymptomatic participants at no elevated risk, asymptomatic participants at elevated risk due to family history, participants with undifferentiated general symptoms of mental illness, and those experiencing attenuated versions of diagnosable psychiatric illnesses. The fMRI tasks included: (1) a monetary incentive delay task; (2) an emotional Go‐NoGo and (3) ann‐back working memory task.ResultsStrong main effects with each of the tasks were found in brain regions previously described in the literature. However, there were no significant differences in brain activity between any of the stages of risk for SMI for any of the task contrasts, after accounting for site, sex and age. Furthermore, results indicated no significant differences even when participants were dichotomized as asymptomatic or symptomatic.ConclusionsThese results suggest that univariate BOLD responses during typical fMRI tasks are not sensitive markers of SMI risk and that further study, particularly longitudinal designs, will be necessary to understand brain changes underlying the early stages of SMI.
Matched sibling donor stem cell transplantation for sickle cell disease: Results from the Spanish group for bone marrow transplantation in children
Authors: Benítez‐Carabante María Isabel , Beléndez Cristina , González‐Vicent Marta , Alonso Laura , Uría‐Oficialdegui María Luz , Torrent Monserrat , Pérez‐Hurtado José María , Fuster José Luis , Cela Elena , Díaz‐de‐Heredia Cristina ,   Grupo Español de Trasplante de Médula Ósea en Niños (GETMON), Grupo Español de Trasplante Hematopoyético (GETH)
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectivesThe prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) in Spain is markedly inferior compared with other European and Mediterranean countries. However, the diagnosis of new patients with SCD is expected to increase. In this multicenter retrospective study, we analyze the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) results obtained in Spain.MethodsForty‐five patients who underwent a matched sibling donor (MSD) HSCT between 1999 and 2018 were included. Primary endpoint was event‐free survival (EFS), and secondary endpoints included acute and chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) and overall survival (OS).ResultsBone marrow was the most frequent stem cell source (93.3%). Most patients received a conditioning regimen based on busulfan and cyclophosphamide (69%). Cumulative incidence of grade III‐IV acute GvHD and chronic GvHD was 6.8% (95% CI: 2.3%‐20.1%) and 5.4% (95% CI: 1.38%‐19.9%), respectively. EFS and overall survival (OS) at 3 years post‐HSCT were 89.4% (95% CI: 73.9%‐95.9%) and 92.1% (95% CI: 77.2%‐97.4%), respectively. All patients aged ≤ 5 presented 100% EFS and OS.ConclusionsAn early referral to HSCT centers should be proposed early in life, before severe complications occur. MSD HSCT should be considered a curative option for all patients aged ≤ 5 years and for older pediatric patients who present complications derived from the disease.
Ixazomib, an oral proteasome inhibitor, exhibits potential effect in dystrophin‐deficient mdx mice
Authors: Micheletto Maria Laura Jorge , Hermes Tulio de Almeida , Bertassoli Bruno Machado , Petri Giuliana , Perez Matheus Moreira , Fonseca Fernando Luiz Affonso , Carvalho Alzira Alves de Siqueira , Feder David 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDystrophin deficiency makes the sarcolemma fragile and susceptible to degeneration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The proteasome is a multimeric protease complex and is central to the regulation of cellular proteins. Previous studies have shown that proteasome inhibition improved pathological changes in mdx mice. Ixazomib is the first oral proteasome inhibitor used as a therapy in multiple myeloma. This study investigated the effects of ixazomib on the dystrophic muscle of mdx mice. MDX mice were treated with ixazomib (7.5 mg/kg/wk by gavage) or 0.2 mL of saline for 12 weeks. The Kondziela test was performed to measure muscle strength. The tibialis anterior (TA) and diaphragm (DIA) muscles were used for morphological analysis, and blood samples were collected for biochemical measurement. We observed maintenance of the muscle strength in the animals treated with ixazomib. Treatment with ixazomib had no toxic effect on the mdx mouse. The morphological analysis showed a reduction in the inflammatory area and fibres with central nuclei in the TA and DIA muscles and an increase in the number of fibres with a diameter of 20 µm2 in the DIA muscle after treatment with ixazomib. There was an increase in the expression of dystrophin and utrophin in the TA and DIA muscles and a reduction in the expression of osteopontin and TGF‐β in the DIA muscle of mdx mice treated with ixazomib. Ixazomib was thus shown to increase the expression of dystrophin and utrophin associated with improved pathological and functional changes in the dystrophic muscles of mdx mice.
A Prudent dietary pattern is inversely associated with liver fat content among multi‐ethnic youth
Authors: Perng Wei , Harte Robyn , Ringham Brandy M. , Baylin Ana , Bellatorre Anna , Scherzinger Ann , Goran Michael I. , Dabelea Dana 
Published: December 2020

SummaryObjectivesTo identify dietary patterns associated with hepatic fat fraction (HFF), a measure of liver fat content and risk factor for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, in a prospective study of 397 multi‐ethnic youth.MethodsWe obtained information on habitual dietary intake via the Block Kids Food Frequency Questionnaire at age 6 to 15 years (‘T1’) and 12 to 19 years (‘T2’), and measured HFF using magnetic resonance imaging at T2. We derived dietary patterns via principal components analysis and examined associations with ln‐transformed HFF using linear regression models that accounted for maternal education, gestational diabetes exposure and smoking habits; and child pubertal status, BMI and physical activity.ResultsAt T1, none of the dietary patterns identified were associated with HFF measured at T2. At T2, a Prudent dietary pattern characterized by high fruit and vegetable intake was inversely associated with HFF (−0.08 [95% CI: −0.16, −0.00]). Similarly, increased adherence to the Prudent pattern across T1 and T2 corresponded with lower ln‐HFF (−0.11 [−0.18, −0.04] units). On the other hand, adherence to a Western pattern comprising fried foods and refined carbohydrates at T2 correlated with higher HFF among non‐Hispanic White participants (0.16 [0.06, 0.26]). These findings persisted after accounting for child BMI.ConclusionsEven in healthy youth, a diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with lower HFF, whereas a diet high in fried foods and refined carbohydrates is related to higher HFF. Dietary changes may serve as an early preventive measure to mitigate liver fat accrual.
A modified exchange algorithm for distributional robust optimization and applications in risk management
Authors: Sun Hailin , Zhang Dali , Wu Soon‐Yi , Chen Liang 
Published: December 2020

AbstractConvex semi‐definite semi‐infinite programming problems (SDSIP) represent a special class of distributionally robust optimization (DRO) problems with a wide range of applications in engineering and economics. In this paper, we propose a modified exchange algorithm for convex SDSIP that arises from DRO with matrix moment constraints. We first explore the convergence results of the modified exchange algorithm and perform the efficiency analysis based on a set of benchmark tests. In addition, we apply the SDSIP framework to investigate an optimized certainty bound risk with an ambiguity uncertainty set and implement the algorithm to solve a practical risk minimization problem in portfolio selection. The empirical results show both the efficiency of the algorithm and the robustness of the risk measure.
COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL ROUNDTABLE ON Broken Models of Public Finance
Authors: Bernstein Jared , Kazarian Paul B. , Rajgopal Shiva 
Published: December 2020

Joe Biden's chief economic adviser joins a proactive investor who was one of the largest private investors in Greek government bonds in dispelling a number of widespread misconceptions about public finance and sovereign debt, with particular focus on the inadequacies of the conventional measures used by politicians, the media, and even many economists when assessing the financial performance and condition of national governments. After describing the limitations of the “traditional debt and deficit model,” Paul B. Kazarian proposes the use of an alternative called Public Financial Management, or “PFM,” that has been implemented in New Zealand, the U.K. and 12 other countries. Such a model aims to provide a general government total balance sheet (federal, state, and local governments) that reflects all government assets and liabilities. And when using PFM, one finds, for example, that New Zealand is consistently ranked first or second in the world on Government Total Net Worth as percentage of GDP and Citizens' Wealth (CW1), whereas the U.S. falls well below the top tier.Jared Bernstein, on the other hand, is much less concerned by the understatement of U.S. debt and other liabilities than by the failure of conventionally reported U.S. debt and spending statistics to distinguish between “good” and “bad” debt, and between positive‐ and negative‐NPV public expenditures. While conceding that U.S. unfunded liabilities “sound very scary,” Bernstein points out that financial markets seem relatively unconcerned, if only because these future costs and liabilities are estimated on the basis of current law and practices, and sovereign governments, to a far greater extent than private corporations, have the power to limit liabilities or increase projected revenues just by reducing benefits or imposing or raising taxes.
The Euro @ 20: How Economic and Financial “Asymmetries” Marred the Promise of the Single Currency
Authors: Alogoskoufis George , Jacque Laurent 
Published: December 2020

The launch of the single currency in 1999 rekindled the European Union's momentum toward deeper integration. And yet progress during its first decade of low interest rates was undermined by bulging budgetary and current account deficits in several eurozone sovereigns that brought them to the brink of default in 2010. The second decade of sluggish and lopsided recovery since then has deeply scarred Europe's social fabric and widened the divide between the single currency's winners (Northern European nations) and losers (Mediterranean countries).This article provides a retrospective, cast in the form of a play in five acts, of the EU's protracted quest for monetary union that begins by explaining how the euro crisis was seeded. In Act I the authors recount the quest for a European Monetary Union and document the gradual deepening of monetary cooperation among member states. The launch of the euro in 1999, as presented in Act II, held out promise for the single currency, but was later broken by a euro crisis that is viewed (in Act III) through the lens of the optimal currency area construct. The likely future of the euro, now in its 20th year, is projected in Act IV in terms of a “muddling through” scenario. Act V closes by providing a view of two other possibilities issuing from the pandemic—one that leads to a splintering of the European monetary union, and the other to the passage of bold reforms that end up strengthening the union.
Cross‐cultural applicability of the Self‐Care Self‐Efficacy Scale in a multi‐national study
Authors: Yu Doris Sau‐Fung , De Maria Maddalena , Barbaranelli Claudio , Vellone Ercole , Matarese Maria , Ausili Davide , Rejane Rabelo‐Silva Eneida , Osokpo Onome Henry , Riegel Barbara 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimThe Self‐Care Self‐Efficacy Scale (SCSES) was newly developed as a self‐report measure for self‐care self‐efficacy for chronic illness. This study investigated its measurement equivalence (ME) in different cultural groups, including United States, China (Hong Kong), Italy, and Brazil.DesignA multi‐national study for cross‐cultural validation of the Scale.MethodsFrom January 2015 ‐ December 2018, investigators recruited 957 patients (United State: 200; Hong Kong: 300; Italy: 285; and Brazil: 142) with chronic illness from inpatient and outpatient settings. The SCSES was administered and clinical and demographic data were collected from participants. Based on the Meredith framework, multi‐group confirmatory factor analysis evaluated the configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance of the scale across the four populations through a series of nested models, with evaluation of reliability and coherence of the factor solution.ResultsThe mean ages of the groups ranged from 65–77 years, 56.4% was male. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the single‐factor SCSES were 0.93, 0.89, 0.92, and 0.90 for the United States, China (Hong Kong), Italy, and Brazil, respectively. Three of the four levels of ME were partially or totally supported. The highest level achieved was partial scalar invariance level (χ2 [52] = 313.4, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.067; 95% CI = 0.056–0.077; CFI = 0.966; TLI = 0.960, SRMR = 0.080).ConclusionPatients from the four countries shared the same philosophical orientation towards scale items, although some of the items contributed differently to represent the concept and participants shared the same schemata for score interpretation.ImpactSelf‐efficacy is important in producing effective and sustainable self‐care behavioural changes. Cultural ideation shapes the ways individuals interpret and report their self‐care self‐efficacy. The study findings support cross‐cultural and cross‐national utility of the SCSES for research on self‐care across United States, China (Hong Kong), Italy, and Brazil.
Use of behaviour change techniques by direct support professionals to support healthy lifestyle behaviour for people with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities
Authors: Overwijk Annelies , van der Putten Annette A. J. , van der Schans Cees P. , Willems Mariël , Hilgenkamp Thessa I. M. , Waninge Aly 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundBehaviour change techniques (BCTs) can be employed to support a healthy lifestyle for people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study is to determine whether and which BCTs are used by direct support professionals (DSPs) for supporting healthy lifestyle behaviour of people with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities.MethodDirect support professionals (n = 18) were observed in their daily work using audio‐visual recordings. To code BCTs, the Coventry Aberdeen London Refined (CALO‐RE‐NL) taxonomy was employed.ResultsDirect support professionals used 33 BCTs out of 42. The most used BCTs were as follows: ‘feedback on performance’, ‘instructions on how to perform the behaviour’, ‘doing together’, ‘rewards on successful behaviour’, ‘reward effort towards behaviour’, ‘DSP changes environment’, ‘graded tasks’, ‘prompt practice’ and ‘model/demonstrate behaviour’.ConclusionsAlthough a variety of BCTs is used by DSPs in their support of people with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities when facilitating healthy lifestyle behaviour, they rely on nine of them.
Clinical impact of defibrillation testing in a real‐world S‐ICD population: Data from the ELISIR registry
Authors: Ricciardi Danilo , Ziacchi Matteo , Gasperetti Alessio , Schiavone Marco , Picarelli Francesco , Diemberger Igor , Bontempi Luca , Di Belardino Natale , Bisignani Giovanni , De Bonis Silvia , Mitacchione Gianfranco , Calabrese Vito , Lavalle Carlo , Piro Agostino , Pignalberi Carlo , Santini Luca , Grigioni Francesco , Tondo Claudio , Biffi Mauro , Forleo Giovanni Battista 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundCurrent guidelines recommend defibrillation testing (DT) performance in patients with a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S‐ICD), theoretically to reduce the amount of ineffective shocks. DT, however, has been proven unnecessary in transvenous ICD and real‐world data show a growing trend in avoidance of DT after S‐ICD implantation.MethodsAll patients undergoing S‐ICD implant at nine associated Italian centers joining in the ELISIR registry (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04373876) were enrolled and classified upon DT performance. Long‐term follow‐up events were recorded and compared to report the long‐term efficacy and safety of S‐ICD implantations without DT in a real‐world setting.ResultsA total of 420 patients (54.0 ± 15.5 years, 80.0% male) were enrolled in the study. A DT was performed in 254 (60.5%) patients (DT+ group), while in 166 (39.5%) was avoided (DT− group). Over a median follow‐up of 19 (11–31) months, a very low rate (0.7%) of ineffective shocks was observed, and no significant differences in the primary combined arrhythmic outcome were observed between the two groups (p = .656). At regression analysis, the only clinical predictor associated with the primary combined outcome was S‐ICD placement for primary prevention (odds ratio: 0.42; p = .013); DT performance instead was not associated with a reduction in primary outcome (p = .375).ConclusionImplanting an S‐ICD without DT does not appear to impact the safety of defibrillation therapy and overall patients' survival.
Alterations of retinal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography correlate with neurophysiological measures in diabetic polyneuropathy
Authors: Yamada Yuichiro , Himeno Tatsuhito , Tsuboi Kotaro , Shibata Yuka , Kawai Miyuka , Asada‐Yamada Yuriko , Hayashi Yusuke , Asano‐Hayami Emi , Hayami Tomohide , Ishida Yuichiro , Ejima Yohei , Motegi Mikio , Asano Saeko , Kato Makoto , Nagao Eriko , Nakai‐Shimoda Hiromi , Ishikawa Takahiro , Morishita Yoshiaki , Kondo Masaki , Tsunekawa Shin , Kato Yoshiro , Nakayama Takayuki , Kamei Motohiro , Nakamura Jiro , Kamiya Hideki 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAims/IntroductionDiabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are traditionally regarded as microvascular complications. However, these complications may share similar neurodegenerative pathologies. Here we evaluate the correlations in the severity of DPN and changes in the thickness of neuroretinal layers to elucidate whether these complications exist at similar stages of progression.Materials and MethodsA total of 43 patients with type 2 diabetes underwent a nerve conduction study (NCS), a macular optical coherence tomography, and a carotid artery ultrasound scan. Diabetic polyneuropathy was classified according to Baba’s classification using NCS. The retina was automatically segmented into four layers; ganglion cell complex (GCC), inner nuclear layer/outer plexiform layer (INL/OPL), outer nuclear layer/photoreceptor inner and outer segments, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The thickness of each retinal layer was separately analyzed for the fovea and the parafovea.ResultsFourteen patients were classified as having moderate to severe diabetic polyneuropathy. The thicknesses of the foveal and parafoveal INL/OPL increased in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy compared with patients without. The thickness of the parafoveal retinal pigment epithelium decreased in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. The thinning of parafoveal ganglion cell complex and foveal and parafoveal retinal pigment epithelium were positively correlated with deterioration of nerve functions in the nerve conduction study, but the thickening of INL/OPL was positively correlated with the nerve function deterioration. The thinning of parafoveal ganglion cell complex and foveal retinal pigment epithelium were positively correlated with the thickening of the carotid intima‐media.ConclusionsDepending on the progression of diabetic polyneuropathy, the ganglion cell complex and retinal pigment epithelium became thinner and the INL/OPL became thicker. These retinal changes might be noteworthy for pathological investigations and for the assessment of diabetic polyneuropathy and diabetic retinopathy.
Dynamic optical coherence tomography shows characteristic alterations of blood vessels in malignant melanoma
Authors: Welzel J. , Schuh S. , De Carvalho N. , Themstrup L. , Ulrich M. , Jemec G.B.E. , Holmes J. , Pellacani G. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundDynamic optical coherence tomography (D‐OCT) allows in vivo visualization of blood vessels in the skin and in malignant tumours. Vessel patterns in malignant melanoma may be associated with tumour stage.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe blood vessel patterns in melanomas and to correlate them with stage.MethodsOne hundred fifty‐nine malignant melanomas were assessed in a multicentre study. Every tumour was imaged using D‐OCT prior to surgery and histologic evaluation. The tumour data such as thickness and ulceration as well as the staging at primary diagnosis and a follow‐up of at least 40 months resulted in a stage classification. The vessel patterns were assessed according to predefined categories, compared with healthy adjacent skin, and correlated to stage.ResultsMelanomas contained more blood vessels in different patterns compared with healthy adjacent skin. In particular, irregular vascular shapes such as blobs, coils, curves and serpiginous vessels were more common in melanomas. In addition, these patterns were significantly more often found in high‐risk and metastatic melanomas than in low‐risk lesions.ConclusionIn melanomas, the density of the blood vessels is increased, and irregular vascular patterns are more frequent. At higher stages, especially in metastatic melanomas, these atypical vessels are significantly more common.