bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meta‐analysis of survival outcomes following surgical and non surgical treatments for colorectal cancer metastasis to the lung
Authors: Ratnayake Chathura B. B. , Wells Cameron I. , Atherton Phillip , Hammond John S. , White Steve , French Jeremy J. , Manas Derek , Pandanaboyana Sanjay 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundControversy exists regarding the optimal management of colorectal lung metastases (CRLM). This meta‐analysis compared surgical (Surg) versus interventional (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) and observational non‐surgical (NSurg) management of CRLM.MethodsA systematic review of the major databases including Medline, Embase, SCOPUS and the Cochrane library was performed.ResultsOne randomized and nine observational studies including 2232 patients: 1551 (69%) comprised the Surg cohort, 521 (23%) the interventional NSurg group and 160 (7%) the observational NSurg group. A significantly higher overall survival (OS) was observed when Surg was compared to interventional NSurg at 1 year (Surg 88%, 310/352; interventional NSurg 64%, 245/383; odds ratio (OR) 2.77 (confidence interval (CI) 1.94–3.97),P= 0.001), at 3 years (Surg 59%, 857/1444; interventional NSurg 26%, 138/521; OR 2.61 (CI 1.65–4.15),P= 0.002), at 5 years (Surg 47%, 533/1144; interventional NSurg 23%, 45/196; OR 3.24 (CI 1.42–7.39),P= 0.009) and at 10 years (Surg 27%, 306/1122; interventional NSurg 1%, 2/168; OR 15.64 (CI 1.87–130.76),P= 0.031). Surg was associated with a greater OS than observational NSurg at only 1 year (Surg 92%, 98/107; observational NSurg 83%, 133/160; OR 6.69 (CI 1.33–33.58),P= 0.037) and was similar to observational NSurg at all other OS time points. Comparable survival was observed among Surg and overall NSurg cohorts at 3‐ and 5‐year survival in articles published within the last 3 years.ConclusionsRecent evidence suggests comparable survival with Surg and NSurg modalities for CRLM, contrasting to early evidence where Surg had an improved survival. Significant selection bias contributes to this finding, prompting the need for high powered randomized controlled trials and registry data.
The geopolitics of improvised language: President John F. Kennedy’s ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ address
Authors: Bryan Ed 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIt is shortly after 13.00 outside Berlin’s Schöneberg Rathaus (City Hall) on 26 June 1963. A strong breeze tosses the banner which hangs behind a narrow speaker’s platform as some 450,000 people listen expectantly to the figure standing before them. Having already been speaking for just over eight minutes, President John F. Kennedy has reached the closing lines of his address: ‘All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words “Ich bin ein Berliner”.’ Although Kennedy’s ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ address has gained something of an iconic status, few are aware of its improvisational and contentious nature. Crucially, the U.S. President would follow only a quarter of the prepared text during its delivery, and geopolitically frame Berlin in such a manner as to imperil his own foreign policy. Developing insights from the so‐called ‘more‐than‐representational’ turn and informed by materials from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library (JFKPL), this paper records both how and why Kennedy elected to stray from the script. More specifically, it examines those agencies – the objects, atmospheres, emotions, and affects – which converged during Kennedy’s address and led him to employ an improvised, geopolitically volatile mode of language.
Variation in rostral anterior cingulate functional connectivity with amygdala and caudate during first manic episode distinguish bipolar young adults who do not remit following treatment
Authors: Lippard Elizabeth T. C. , Weber Wade , Welge Jeffrey , Adler Caleb M. , Fleck David E. , Almeida Jorge , DelBello Melissa P. , Strakowski Stephen M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectivesAltered activity in the ventrolateral prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices, as well as subcortical and amygdala projection sites, was previously reported during a first manic episode in youth with bipolar disorder and observed to be associated with treatment response. To extend these findings, we investigated functional connectivity among these regions in first‐episode manic participants who remitted after 8 weeks of treatment compared to those who did not.MethodsForty‐two participants with bipolar disorder (60% female) during their first manic episode were recruited and received 8 weeks of treatment. Twenty‐one remitted following treatment. Participants completed fMRI scans, at baseline and following 8 weeks of treatment, while performing a continuous performance task with emotional and neutral distractors. A healthy comparison group (n = 41) received fMRI evaluations at the same intervals. Differences in functional connectivity of the amygdala and caudate with the rostral anterior cingulate and ventrolateral prefrontal cortices at baseline (and changes in functional connectivity following treatment) were modeled between groups.ResultsAt baseline, non‐remitters showed an increase in positive connectivity between right anterior cingulate and caudate and a loss of negative connectivity between right anterior cingulate and amygdala, compared to healthy participants. Individuals who remitted following treatment showed an increase in negative connectivity between amygdala and left anterior cingulate 8 weeks following treatment.ConclusionsResults provide evidence of alterations in anterior cingulate amygdala and caudate functional connectivity in bipolar disorder non‐remitters during a first manic episode and changes in anterior cingulate functional connectivity associated with remission suggesting targets to predict treatment response.Registered at ClinicalTrials.Gov; Functional and Neurochemical Brain Changes in First‐episode Bipolar Mania. NCT00609193. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00609193?term=strakowskirank=1.
Contribution of the astrocytic tau pathology to synapse loss in progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration
Authors: Briel Nils , Pratsch Katrin , Roeber Sigrun , Arzberger Thomas , Herms Jochen 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPrimary 4‐repeat tauopathies with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) like Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) or Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) show diverse cellular pathology in various brain regions. Besides shared characteristics of neuronal and oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions of accumulated hyperphosphorylated tau protein (pTau), astrocytes in PSP and CBD contain pathognomonic pTau aggregates — hence, lending the designation tufted astrocytes (TA) or astrocytic plaques (AP), respectively. pTau toxicity is most commonly assigned to neurons, whereas the implications of astrocytic pTau for maintaining neurotransmission within the tripartite synapse of human brains is not well understood. We performed immunofluorescent synapse labeling and automated puncta quantification in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and striatal regions from PSP and CBD postmortem samples to capture morphometric synaptic alterations. This approach indicated general synaptic losses of both, excitatory and inhibitory bipartite synapses in the frontal cortex of PSP cases, whereas in CBD lower synapse densities were only related to astrocytic plaques. In contrast to tufted astrocytes in PSP, affected astrocytes in CBD could not preserve synaptic integrity within their spatial domains, when compared to non‐affected internal astrocytes or astrocytes in healthy controls. These findings suggest a pTau pathology‐associated role of astrocytes in maintaining connections within neuronal circuits, considered as the microscopic substrate of cognitive dysfunction in CBD. By contrasting astrocytic‐synaptic associations in both diseases, we hereby highlight astrocytic pTau as an important subject of prospective research and as a potential cellular target for therapeutic approaches in the primary tauopathies PSP and CBD.
INEXAS: A Phase 2 Randomized Trial of On‐demand Inhaled Interferon Beta‐1a in Severe Asthmatics
Authors: McCrae Christopher , Olsson Marita , Gustafson Per , Malmgren Anna , Aurell Malin , Fagerås Malin , Da Silva Carla A. , Cavallin Anders , Paraskos Jonathan , Karlsson Karin , Wingren Cecilia , Monk Phillip , Marsden Richard , Harrison Tim 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundUpper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are important triggers for asthma exacerbations. We hypothesized that inhalation of the anti‐viral cytokine, interferon (IFN)‐β, during URTI, could prevent these exacerbations.ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of on‐demand inhaled IFN‐β1a (AZD9412) to prevent severe asthma exacerbations following symptomatic URTI.MethodsThis was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in which patients with severe asthma (GINA 4‐5; n = 121) reporting URTI symptoms were randomized to 14 days of once‐daily nebulized AZD9412 or placebo. The primary endpoint was severe exacerbations during treatment. Secondary endpoints included 6‐item asthma control questionnaire (ACQ‐6) and lung function. Exploratory biomarkers included IFN‐response markers in serum and sputum, blood leucocyte counts and serum inflammatory cytokines.ResultsFollowing a pre‐planned interim analysis, the trial was terminated early due to an unexpectedly low exacerbation rate. Asthma worsenings were generally mild and tended to peak at randomization, possibly contributing to the lack of benefit of AZD9412 on other asthma endpoints. Numerically, AZD9412 did not reduce severe exacerbation rate, ACQ‐6, asthma symptom scores or reliever medication use. AZD9412 improved lung function (morning peak expiratory flow; mPEF) by 19.7 L/min. Exploratory post hoc analyses indicated a greater mPEF improvement by AZD9412 in patients with high blood eosinophils (>0.3 × 109/L) at screening and low serum interleukin‐18 relative change at pre‐treatment baseline. Pharmacodynamic effect of AZD9412 was confirmed using IFN‐response markers.Conclusions & Clinical RelevanceColds did not have the impact on asthma patients that was expected and, due to the low exacerbation rate, the trial was stopped early. On‐demand AZD9412 treatment did not numerically reduce the number of exacerbations, but did attenuate URTI‐induced worsening of mPEF. Severe asthma patients with high blood eosinophils or low serum interleukin‐18 response are potential subgroups for further investigation of inhaled IFN‐β1a.
Novel loss‐of‐function variants in DNAH17 cause multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella in humans and mice
Authors: Zhang Beibei , Khan Ihsan , Liu Chunyu , Ma Ao , Khan Asad , Zhang Yuanwei , Zhang Huan , Kakakhel Mian Basit Shah , Zhou Jianteng , Zhang Wen , Li Yang , Ali Asim , Jiang Xiaohua , Murtaza Ghulam , Khan Ranjha , Zubair Muhammad , Yuan Limin , Khan Mazhar , Wang Li , Zhang Feng , Wang Xiong , Ma Hui , Shi Qinghua 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMultiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder leading to male infertility. Recent studies have revealed that DNAH17 variants are associated with MMAF, yet there is no functional evidence in support of their pathnogenicity. Here, we recruited two consanguineous families of Pakistani and Chinese origins, respectively, diagnosed with MMAF. Whole‐exome sequencing identified novel homozygous DNAH17 variants, which led to loss of DNAH17 proteins, in the patients. Transmission electron microscope analyses revealed completely disorganized axonemal structure as the predominant anomaly and increased frequencies of missings of microtubule doublet(s) 4–7 in sperm flagella of patients. Similar to those found in patients, Dnah17−/− mice also displayed MMAF phenotype along with completely disorganized axonemal structures. Clusters of disorganized microtubules and outer dense fibers were observed in developing spermatids, indicating impaired sperm flagellar assembly. Besides, we also noticed many elongating spermatids with a deformed nuclear shape and abnormal step 16 spermatids that failed to spermiate, which subsequently underwent apoptosis in Dnah17‐null mice. These findings present direct evidence establishing that DNAH17 is a MMAF‐related gene in humans and mice, extend the clinical interpretations of DNAH17 variants, and highlight an essential and complex role of DNAH17 in spermatogenesis.
A theory‐based framework for understanding the establishment, persistence, and diffusion of community‐based conservation
Authors: Mahajan Shauna L. , Jagadish Arundhati , Glew Louise , Ahmadia Gabby , Becker Hannah , Fidler Robert Y. , Jeha Lena , Mills Morena , Cox Courtney , DeMello Nicole , Harborne Alastair R. , Masuda Yuta J. , McKinnon Madeleine C. , Painter Michael , Wilkie David , Mascia Michael B. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOver decades, biodiversity conservation researchers and practitioners have developed theories and conceptual frameworks to inform the planning, implementation, and evaluation of community‐based conservation (CBC). While a diversity of mechanisms for understanding and supporting CBC has helped tailor approaches to local needs and conditions, the absence of a unified lens to understand CBC has limited the capacity for integrating foundational theory into practice more systemically, and for learning across different projects, stakeholders, and institutions. We introduce a theory‐based framework called “the CBC framework” that draws upon three foundational theories from sociology, economics, and political science to understand the establishment, persistence, and diffusion of CBC. Experience applying aspects of the framework within different conservation organizations demonstrates how this integrative approach can provide a gateway for practitioners to engage with social science theory to understand the status and context of CBC interventions and efforts. For practitioners, scientists, evaluators, and strategists, the framework can guide the design of CBC interventions and monitoring and evaluation systems to facilitate theory‐based learning and enable evidence‐informed decision‐making. Approaches like the CBC framework that facilitate collaborative planning, evaluation, and research can help better integrate social science theory in conservation practice while increasing the capacity for conservation scientists, practitioners, and stakeholders to learn together and adaptively manage CBC to deliver positive results for both people and nature.
Outcome implication of sex‐related effective orifice area normalized to body size in aortic stenosis
Authors: Gamaza Sergio , Díaz‐Retamino Enrique , Gaitero José Carlos , Giráldez Alberto , Zafra Francisco Manuel , Martín‐Santana Antonio , Oneto Jesús 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionAlthough several echocardiographic parameters have different values according to sex, there are no studies in echocardiographic variables of aortic stenosis (AS) severity. Our aim was to evaluate the sex‐related prognosis of several echocardiographic parameters in AS.MethodsTwo hundred and twenty‐five patients with at least moderate AS (effective orifice area [EOA] ≤ 1.50 cm2) were prospectively enrolled. EOA was normalized to body surface area (BSA), height, and body mass index (BMI). Receiver operating characteristic curves, in women and men separately, were plotted to determine the best cutoff value for predicting cardiovascular death.ResultsThe largest area under the curve (AUC) to predict cardiovascular death was EOA in men (AUC 0.74, P < .001) and EOA/height in women (AUC 0.81, P < .001). An EOA/height cutoff value of 0.55 cm2/m in women had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 61%; a cutoff of 0.50 cm2/m in men obtained a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 56%. During a mean follow‐up of 247 ± 183 days, there were 33 cardiovascular deaths. Women with EOA/height ≤ 0.55 cm2/m had higher cardiovascular mortality (22% vs 0%, P < .001) and men with EOA/height ≤ 0.50 cm2/m (21% vs 2%, P < .001). One‐year survival in women with EOA/height ≤ 0.55 cm2/m was 67 ± 8% and 100 ± 0% in EOA/height > 0.55 cm2/m (P < .001). In men, 1‐year survival was 70 ± 8% in EOA/height ≤ 0.50 cm2/m, and 93 ± 6% in EOA/height > 0.50 cm2/m (P = .004).ConclusionsNormalization of EOA is useful in AS, especially in women. We recommend using an EOA/height cutoff value of 0.55 cm2/m in women, and 0.50 cm2/m in men to identify a subgroup with higher cardiovascular risk.
Mitral annular disjunction in patients with primary severe mitral regurgitation and mitral valve prolapse
Authors: Konda Toshiko , Tani Tomoko , Suganuma Naoko , Fujii Yoko , Ota Mitsuhiko , Kitai Takeshi , Kaji Shuichiro , Furukawa Yutaka 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundMitral annular disjunction is a structural abnormality of the mitral annulus fibrosus which is often associated with mitral leaflet prolapse. However, few reports have described mitral annular disjunction in mitral valve prolapse (MVP). This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of mitral annular disjunction in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) caused by MVP.MethodsWe reviewed 185 consecutive patients with severe MR caused by fibroelastic deficiency (FED) and Barlow's syndrome from March 2009 to December 2010. The upper limit of the disjunction was defined at the level of the posterior scallop's insertion into the left atrial wall, whereas the lower limit was defined at the level of the left atrium's connection to the ventricular myocardium. The distance between the two levels was called mitral annular disjunction. Prolapse sites in FED patients were categorized into anterior leaflet, posterior leaflet, and commissure groups. Patients with a disjunction distance of ≥2 mm were diagnosed with mitral annular disjunction.ResultsAnnular disjunction was found in 45 patients (24%). Among them, the most common site of prolapse was the posterior leaflet (n = 35, 77.8%). During a median follow‐up of 20.3 years, arrhythmic events and sudden death occurred in seven patients (3.8%).ConclusionsMitral annular disjunction was detected in 24% of patients with severe MR and in 90% of the patients with Barlow's syndrome. There were significant differences at its sites of prolapse in FED patients. The presence and site of prolapse with mitral annular disjunction should be actively determined in FED patients.
Echocardiographic diagnosis of Shone’s syndrome
Authors: Zhang Xin , Ma Guiqin , Zheng Lin , Zhang Hongju , Sun Yan , Li Jingya , Ma Ning 
Published: October 2020

AbstractShone’s syndrome is a rare congenital heart disease that includes 4 cardiovascular anomalies: supravalvular mitral ring, parachute mitral valve, subaortic stenosis, and coarctation of the aorta. Early diagnosis and treatment result in better outcomes. Echocardiography plays an important role in the diagnosis and is the optimal examination for detecting this disease. Pressure gradients are often unreliable and inaccurate; thus, careful anatomical observation of the left ventricular inflow and outflow tracts, particularly the mitral valve, is vital for accurate diagnosis and planning appropriate management. Herein, we describe 9 cases of Shone’s syndrome, diagnosed with echocardiography and treated surgically.
Validation of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction measurements by high‐definition blood flow imaging: Comparisons with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and contrast echocardiography
Authors: Ahmad Masood , Wu Geru , Frank Luba , Dimaano Meneleo M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundWe recently reported the efficacy of High‐definition blood flow imaging (HDI) in the assessment of left ventricular (LV) function and demonstrated that the results are comparable to those obtained by contrast echocardiography (CE). The present study validates HDI in measurements of LV volumes and ejection fraction (EF) by simultaneous comparisons with CE and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).MethodsEighteen patients (age range 25‐79 years) with limited echocardiographic images had measurements of LV end‐diastolic volume (EDV, mL), end‐systolic volume (ESV, mL), and EF (%) by HDI, CE, and CMR.ResultsUsing the three techniques, measurements of EDV, ESV, and EF correlated well with correlation coefficients (r) ranging from .91 to .98 in comparisons between HDI and CMR, and .89 to .97 in comparisons between CE and CMR. The limits of agreement for the inter‐methods comparisons by Bland‐Altman analysis (mean ± 1.96 SD) between HDI and CMR were 4.92 ± 16.87% for EF, 21.53 ± 32.18 mL for EDV, and 10.69 ± 36.12 mL for ESV, between CE and CMR, the agreement limits were 2.48 ± 18.52% (LVEF), 24.58 ± 47.41 mL (EDV), and 14.09 ± 43.55 mL (ESV).ConclusionsMeasurements of LV volumes and EF by HDI and CE correlated well with CMR. Using CMR as the gold standard, the agreements in measurements of LV volumes were superior for HDI compared to CE. In measurements of EF, CE showed less mean difference when compared to HDI. HDI measurements compared well with those obtained by CMR.
Beyond conidiobolomycosis – the other ‘zygomycoses’
Authors: Johnson P. J. , Townsend K. S. , Martin L. M. 
Published: October 2020

SummaryDisease resulting from infection by Zygomycetes fungi (including two groups of coenocytic fungal pathogens: the Mucormycota and the Entomophthoramycota) has been collectively referred to as zygomycosis. Clinical disease associated with both the Mucormycota and the Entomophthoramycota is rarely encountered in horses. Potentially life‐threatening, mucormycosis is an angioinvasive disease that principally affects immunocompromised individuals. The order of Entomophthorales include two genera: Conidiobolus and Basidiobolus. The most common of these,Conidiobolus coronatus, typically causes chronic necrohaemorrhagic tumefactions in the nostrils, nasal passages and nasopharyngeal walls of immunocompetent equine hosts, most commonly seen in the south‐eastern USA and parts of Australia. Infection byBasidiobolus ranarumis reported less frequently and usually causes solitary ulcerative skin lesions with pruritus. This short commentary intends to complement the accompanying review of conidiobolomycosis by summarising reported cases of mucormycosis and basidiobolomycosis in horses. Moreover, some new information regarding taxonomic challenges to traditional ‘Zygomycosis’ classification is presented.
Early settlement and growth of stocked European glass eels in a fragmented watercourse
Authors: Félix Pedro M. , Costa José Lino , Quintella Bernardo R. , Almeida Pedro R. , Monteiro Rui , Santos Joana , Portela Teresa , Domingos Isabel 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOne of the actions that has been implemented to support the recovery of the panmictic population of European eel is stocking of waterbodies where natural recruitment is low or null. However, growth conditions of the stocked eels can vary greatly. This circumstance emphasises the importance to determine ideal habitat conditions to contribute to the success of stocking actions and, consequently, to increase the production of silver eels. This study aims to evaluate the early settlement and growth of stocked glass eels in the upper reaches of a fragmented river. Stocking was carried out, in 2014, at three sites of an inland tributary of the Mondego river basin (Central Portugal), and its monitoring was conducted during the following two years, until 2016, along with the collection of environmental and hydromorphological parameters. The results showed a successful dispersion throughout the study area. Growth varied spatially, although environmental parameters have not clearly explained this variation, but overall with high growth rates and a positive allometric growth in this early stage of stocking, suggesting a good condition of the stocked individuals. This study showed that these upper reaches of fragmented watercourses, a shared feature amongst most European rivers that are currently inaccessible for natural recruitment, may be suitable habitats for eel stocking.