bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aboriginal dental assistants can safely apply fluoride varnish in regional, rural and remote primary schools in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Skinner John , Dimitropoulos Yvonne , Masoe Angela , Yaacoub Albert , Byun Roy , Rambaldini Boe , Christie Vita , Gwynne Kylie 
Published: September 2020

AbstractProblemThere are significant inequalities in oral health status between Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal children in Australia, particularly where the children have insufficient access to various forms of fluoride. There has been a growing interest in seeing fluoride varnish programs used more widely for Aboriginal children due to proven effectiveness. Despite this, there has been limited scale‐up of these programs in Australia. This study investigates the feasibility of using Aboriginal dental assistants to provide regular fluoride varnish applications for Aboriginal children in the primary school setting.DesignA mixed‐methods approach including auditing the number of Aboriginal dental assistants were trained and then approved by the NSW Chief Health Officer to apply fluoride varnish, and collection and reporting of participant data on the each of the fluoride varnish days in the local patient management system.SettingSix Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services from regional NSW were invited to participate in the study. They also nominated a primary school and an Aboriginal dental assistant to participate in the study.Key measures for improvementData were obtained from four ‘fluoride varnish days’ held at the schools over a 12‐month period between December 2017 and December 2018. The number of Aboriginal dental assistants were trained and then approved by the NSW Chief Health Officer to apply fluoride varnish is also reported.Strategies for changeIn total, 8 Aboriginal dental assistants were trained to apply fluoride varnish during the study. Overall, students participating in the study received three or more fluoride varnish applications.Effects of changeResults showed that Aboriginal dental assistants are able to safely and effectively apply fluoride varnish in a school setting with remote supervision.Lessons learntThis program can be scaled at the state level in NSW, and this could provide the basis for a nationally consistent program. Initial discussions have been held with several jurisdictions to lead this process via the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) based on the results of this study and the support of key stakeholders. The Poche Centre as part of its scale‐up planning for the Fluoride Varnish Program is examining the feasibility of including the apply fluoride varnish skillset in its existing Aboriginal Dental Assistant Scholarship Program.
Relation of atrial electromechanical delay to P‐wave dispersion on surface ECG using vector velocity imaging in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Mahfouz Badran Hala , Soltan Ghada , Eltahan Eslam , Yacoub Magdi H. , Faheem Naglaa 
Published: September 2020

AbstractObjectivesHeterogeneity of structural and electrophysiologic properties of atrial myocardium is common characteristic in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We assessed the dispersion of atrial refractoriness on surface ECG using P‐wave dispersion (PWD) and its relation to atrial electromechanical functions using vector velocity imaging (VVI) in HCM population.MethodsSeventy‐nine HCM patients (mean age: 43.7 ± 13 years, 67% male) were compared with 25 healthy individuals as control. P‐wave durations, Pmax and Pmin, P‐wave dispersion (PWD), and P terminal force (PTF) were measured from 12‐lead ECG. LA segmental delay (TTP‐d) and dispersion (TTP‐SD) of electromechanical activation were derived from atrial strain rate curves.ResultsHCM patients had longer PR interval, PW duration, higher PWD, PTF, QTc compared to control (p < .001). HCM patients were classified according to presence of PWD into two groups, group I with PWD > 46 ms (n = 25) and group II PWD ≤ 46 ms (n = 54). Group I showed higher prevalence of female gender, higher PTF, QTc interval, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, p < .01, LVOT gradient (p < .001), LV mass index (p < .01), E/E' (p < .01), and severe mitral regurgitation (p < .001). Moreover, PWD was associated with increased atrial electromechanical delay (TTP‐d) and LA mechanical dyssynchrony (TTP‐SD), p < .001. LA segmental delay and dispersion of electromechanical activation were distinctly higher among HCM patient.ConclusionPWD is simple ECG criterion, and it is associated with more severe HCM phenotype and LA electromechanical delay while PTF is linked only to atrial remodeling.
Combined evaluation of ambulatory‐based late potentials and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia to predict arrhythmic events in patients with previous myocardial infarction: A Japanese noninvasive electrocardiographic risk stratification of sudden cardiac death (JANIES) substudy
Authors: Hashimoto Kenichi , Amino Mari , Yoshioka Koichiro , Kasamaki Yuji , Kinoshita Toshio , Ikeda Takanori 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundNoninvasive electrocardiographic (ECG) markers are promising arrhythmic risk stratification tools for identifying sudden cardiac death. However, little is known about the usefulness of noninvasive ECG markers derived from ambulatory ECGs (AECG) in patients with previous myocardial infarction (pMI). We aimed to determine whether the ECG markers derived from AECG can predict serious cardiac events in patients with pMI.MethodsWe prospectively analyzed 104 patients with pMI (88 males, age 66 ± 11 years), evaluating late potentials (LPs), heart rate turbulence, and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) derived from AECG. The primary endpoint was the documentation of ventricular fibrillation or sustained ventricular tachycardia.ResultsEleven patients reached the primary endpoint during a follow‐up period of 25 ± 9.5 months. Of the 104 patients enrolled in this study, LP positive in worst values (w‐LPs) and NSVT were observed in 25 patients, respectively. In the arrhythmic event group, the worst LP values and/or NSVT were found in eight patients (7.6%). The positive predictive and negative predictive values of the combined assessment with w‐LPs and NSVT were 56% and 94%, respectively, for predicting ventricular lethal arrhythmia. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that the combination of w‐LPs and NSVT had a poorer event‐free period than negative LPs (p < .0001). In the multivariate analysis, the combined assessment of w‐LPs and NSVT was a significant predictor of arrhythmic events (hazard ratio = 14.1, 95% confidence intervals: 3.4–58.9, p < .0001).ConclusionCombined evaluation of w‐LPs and NSVT was a powerful risk stratification strategy for predicting arrhythmia that can lead to sudden cardiac death in patients with pMI.
B3 lesion upgrade rates in a tertiary Australian breast centre: a 8‐year experience (2012–2019)
Authors: Huang Yang Y. , Park Hyerin , McLaren Sally , Thirunavukkarasu Palan , Lin Joshua T. W. , Rajakaruna Ramela , Dhillon Ravinder , Ponniah Ananda K. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundB3 breast lesions identified on core needle biopsy have uncertain malignant potential. Traditional management of these lesions has been surgical excision, but there is growing interest in less invasive and more cost‐effective alternatives such as vacuum‐assisted excisional biopsy (VAEB). Determining the rate of malignant upgrade for B3 lesions is important as it may identify low‐risk lesions where VAEB could be considered.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted of women undergoing an elective excisional biopsy for a B3 lesion identified on core needle biopsy at a tertiary Australian breast centre. The pre‐operative biopsy diagnosis and subsequent excisional biopsy diagnosis were used to calculate the proportion of cases where the diagnosis was upgraded to malignancy.ResultsA total of 299 eligible patients were identified. Pre‐operative diagnosis of papillary lesion with atypia was associated with the highest upgrade rate (50%, n = 12). The next highest upgrade rates occurred in those with flat epithelial atypia (37.50%, n = 8); atypical ductal hyperplasia (24.71%, n = 85); lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)/atypical lobular hyperplasia with calcification (17.65%, n = 17); and papillary lesion without atypia (4.72%, n = 106). Patients with radial scar (n = 51), classical LCIS without calcification (n = 7) and mucocoele‐like lesion (n = 8) had a 0% upgrade rate.ConclusionVAEB may be appropriate for low malignant risk lesions such as papillary lesion without atypia, mucocoele‐like lesion and radial scar lesion without atypia. Open‐surgical‐excisional biopsy remains appropriate for high upgrade lesions such as atypical ductal hyperplasia, papillary lesion with atypia, flat epithelial atypia and classical LCIS with calcification. Long‐term prospective randomized multicentre studies and continuing multidisciplinary approach is recommended for future clinical implementation.
Longer distance between umbilical cord insertions is associated with spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence
Authors: Wang Xueju , Li Luyao , Zhao Yangyu , Wei Yuan , Yuan Pengbo 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of the study was to investigate the placental characteristics in spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence.Material and methodsA retrospective case‐control study of spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence, twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome and normal monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies was performed. The primary outcome was placental characteristics.ResultsThe prevalence of artery‐artery anastomoses in spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence and twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome groups was significantly lower than in the normal monochorionic diamniotic twin group (40.0% vs 33.3% vs 88.8%, respectively, P < .001). The total number of vascular anastomoses in the spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence group (with range given in parentheses) was significantly lower than in the two control groups (3 [1‐6] vs 5 [1‐14] vs 6 [1‐20], P = .001/<.001/.794). The number of artery‐vein anastomoses in the spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence was significantly lower than in the two control groups (2 [1‐5] vs 4 [1‐13] vs 5 [1‐19], P = .011/.001/1.000). The total diameter of all vascular anastomoses was significantly smaller in the spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence than in the two control groups (0.9 mm [0.3‐4.7] vs 5.2 mm [0.8‐24.6] vs 7.3 mm [1.0‐25.1], P < .001/<.001/.104), as was the total diameter of artery‐to‐artery anastomoses (0.5 mm [0.3‐1.3] vs 2.0 mm [0.5‐11.8] vs 2.3 mm [0.7‐9.7], P = .003/<.001/1.000) and the total diameter of artery‐to‐vein anastomoses (0.8 mm [0.3‐2.1] vs 4.6 mm [0.8‐15.3] vs 4.0 mm [0.2‐21.8], P < .001/<.001/1.000). The ratio between the distance of the two umbilical cords insertion points and the placental maximum diameter in the spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence group was significantly larger than in the two control groups (0.78 [0.49‐0.99] vs 0.64 [0.32‐1.00] vs 0.55 [0.05‐1.00], P = .033/<.001/.138).ConclusionsIn spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence placentas, the number of superficial vascular anastomoses is lower, their diameter is smaller and the distance between the two umbilical cord insertion points is longer.
Anterior lens capsule: biomechanical properties and biomedical engineering perspectives
Authors: Huang Dandan , Xu Chenjia , Guo Ruru , Ji Jian , Liu Wei 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAnterior lens capsule, as the thickest basement membrane in the body, has its unique physiology characteristics. In ophthalmology, many attempts have been made to culture different kinds of cells including iris pigment epithelial cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells, corneal epithelium and endothelium cells, trabecular meshwork cells etc and anterior lens capsule has been confirmed to be served as an excellent scaffold for the growth and expansion of different ocular cells. Furthermore, anterior lens capsule also has unique potential in gestation evaluation and the treatment of various ocular diseases, including corneal ulcer, glaucoma, age‐related macular degeneration and macular hole, etc. Here, we provide an overview of the biomechanical properties and biomedical engineering perspectives of anterior lens capsule.
Effects of recording sequence on flicker electroretinographics recorded with natural pupils corrected for pupil area
Authors: Sugawara Asako , Kato Kumiko , Nagashima Ryunosuke , Ikesugi Kengo , Sugimoto Masahiko , Matsubara Hisashi , McCulloch Daphne , Kondo Mineo 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundA new handheld electroretinographic (ERG) recording system can record ERGs without mydriasis. However, this RETeval system cannot record ERGs from both eyes simultaneously. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the sequence of the ERG recordings will alter the results.MethodsWe studied 30 eyes of 30 healthy subjects. The flicker ERGs were recorded with the RETeval system without mydriasis and were elicited by 8, 16 and 32 photopic Td‐s. The flicker ERGs were recorded at two sessions. Session 1, the ERGs were recorded from the right eye and then the left eye, and Session 2, ERGs were recorded from the left eye then the right eye. We compared the implicit times, amplitudes and pupil diameters of the right eye between these two sessions.ResultsThe implicit time of the flicker ERGs was significantly shorter (p < 0.001), and the pupil diameters were significantly smaller (p = 0.013) at Session 2 than Session 1 but only for the lower stimulus intensity of eight Td‐s. There was a significant correlation of the differences in the implicit times and the differences in the pupil diameter between the two sessions (r = 0.406, p = 0.026).ConclusionsThe results indicate that the implicit times of the fundamental components of RETeval flicker ERGs can be affected by the sequence of recordings for lower stimulus intensities. This was most likely due to the differences of the pupil diameter during the recordings. We recommend that stronger stimuli be used to record the RETeval flicker ERGs to minimize the effects of the sequence of recordings.
The prognostic value of C‐reactive protein for children with pneumonia
Authors: Barak‐Corren Yuval , Horovits Yair , Erlichman Matti , Picard Elie 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAimTo measure the prognostic value of C‐reactive protein (CRP) and its ability to predict pneumonia‐associated complications.MethodsA 3.75‐years retrospective cohort analysis of all paediatric emergency department visits with a discharge diagnosis of pneumonia. Visits where CRP was not measured or with a discharge diagnosis of viral pneumonia were excluded. The following five outcomes were studied: hospitalisation, presence of parapneumonic effusion (PPE), placement of a chest drain, admission to paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and bacteremia. A multivariate model was constructed and validated using k‐fold cross‐validation.ResultsDuring the study time period, there were 2561 visits for pneumonia, of which 810 were included in our analysis. The median age of included children was 3.2 years (range 0.2‐17.7). Overall, 38.8% visits ended in hospitalisation, 2.2% required admission to PICU, 15.2% were complicated by a PPE of which 28% required the placement of a chest drain. Statistically significant association was found between CRP levels and each of these outcomes (P < .001). Incorporating CRP within a multivariate prediction model provided an area under the curve of up to 0.96.ConclusionCRP can be a useful prognostic marker when evaluating a patient with suspected bacterial pneumonia and could help the paediatrician in identifying patients needing closer follow‐up.
Basic Psychological Need‐Satisfying Activities during the COVID‐19 Outbreak
Authors: Behzadnia Behzad , FatahModares Saeideh 
Published: September 2020

BackgroundThe rapidly spreading novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID‐19) worldwide may increase fear and stress, and has a cost for people’s well‐being and their motivation toward activities. In this study, we applied principles from Self‐Determination Theory to develop and test activities to satisfy basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) to enhance the experience of need satisfaction, autonomous self‐regulation, and subjective vitality, and to decrease the experience of need frustration, controlled self‐regulation, amotivation, and perceived stress.MethodUsing a 10‐day experimental research design among an Iranian sample (N = 208, Mage = 23.52, SD = 5.00), we randomly allocated participants to either an experimental (basic psychological need‐satisfying activities intervention, n = 98) or a control (neutral comparison group, n = 110) condition.ResultsRepeated measure ANCOVA showed that participants in the experimental condition reported greater psychological need satisfaction, autonomous self‐regulation, subjective vitality, and lesser psychological need frustration, amotivation, and perceived stress than did participants in the control condition.ConclusionWe conclude that the intervention was successful in helping participants enhance their motives and well‐being and reduce their stress when life is surrounded by uncertainty and during social distancing restrictions.
T cell gene therapy to treat immunodeficiency
Authors: Panchal, Neelam , Ghosh Sujal , Booth Claire 
Published: September 2020

SummaryThe application of therapeutic T cells for a number of conditions has been developed over the past few decades with notable successes including donor lymphocyte infusions, virus‐specific T cells and more recently CAR‐T cell therapy. Primary immunodeficiencies are monogenetic disorders leading to abnormal development or function of the immune system. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and, in specific candidate diseases, haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy has been the only definitive treatment option so far. However, autologous gene‐modified T cell therapy may offer a potential cure in conditions primarily affecting the lymphoid compartment. In this review we will highlight several T cell gene addition or gene‐editing approaches in different target diseases with a focus on what we have learnt from clinical experience and promising preclinical studies in primary immunodeficiencies. Functional T cells are required not only for normal immune responses to infection (affected in CD40 ligand deficiency), but also for immune regulation [disrupted in IPEX syndrome (immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X‐Linked) due to dysfunctional FOXP3 and CTLA4 deficiency] or cytotoxicity [defective in X‐lymphoproliferative disease and familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) syndromes]. In all these candidate diseases, restoration of T cell function by gene therapy could be of great value.
Tumor‐derived exosomes influence the cell cycle and cell migration of human esophageal cancer cell lines
Authors: Matsumoto Yasunori , Kano Masayuki , Murakami Kentaro , Toyozumi Takeshi , Suito Hiroshi , Takahashi Masahiko , Sekino Nobufumi , Shiraishi Tadashi , Kamata Toshiki , Ryuzaki Takahiro , Hirasawa Soichiro , Kinoshita Kazuya , Matsubara Hisahiro 
Published: September 2020

AbstractOur laboratory previously reported the usefulness as biomarkers of exosomes in the plasma of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. However, the influence of tumor‐derived exosomes on the tumor itself and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We here report changes in the phenotype and gene expression when cancer cells exist in an environment with tumor‐derived exosomes. The exosomes were isolated from the culture medium of human ESCC cells (TE2, T.Tn) by ultracentrifugation; cell proliferation assay, wound‐healing assay, and fluorescence imaging of the cell cycle were performed to clarify the phenotypic changes in the high concentration of tumor‐derived exosomes. Gene expression changes were also assessed by mRNA microarray, and the data were analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The data revealed that the proliferation of both TE2 and T.Tn was inhibited, and cell migration ability was upregulated in the exosome exposure group (P < .05). Fluorescence imaging using a fluorescent ubiquitination‐based cell cycle indicator expressing ESCC cells revealed that the ratio of G1‐phase cells was significantly increased in the exosome exposure group (P < .05). Findings of the GSEA clarified that high‐density exposure of cancer‐derived exosomes to their parent cancer cells downregulated the expression of genes related to cell proliferation and cell cycle, and upregulated the expression of genes related to actin filament length and extracellular structure organization. In conclusion, an environment of high‐density tumor‐derived exosomes induces changes in the gene expression and phenotype of tumor cells and may lead to tumor progression or malignant transformation.
Clinical benefits of sex steroids given as a priming prior to GH provocative test or as a growth‐promoting therapy in peripubertal growth delays: Results of a retrospective study among ENDO‐ERN centres
Authors: Galazzi Elena , Improda Nicola , Cerbone Manuela , Soranna Davide , Moro Mirella , Fatti Letizia Maria , Zambon Antonella , Bonomi Marco , Salerno Mariacarolina , Dattani Mehul , Persani Luca 
Published: September 2020

AbstractObjectivesSex steroids, administered as a priming before GH stimulation tests (GHST) to differentiate between growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) or as growth‐promoting therapy using low‐dose sex steroids (LDSS) in CDGP, are much debated. We aimed to compare auxological outcomes of CDGP or GHD children undergoing primed or unprimed GHST and to evaluate LDSS treatment in CDGP.DesignRetrospective study among three paediatric University Hospitals in Italy and UK.Methods184 children (72 females) aged 12.4 ± 2.08 years underwent primed (/P+) or unprimed (/P−) GHST and were followed up until final height (FH). CDGP patients were untreated (CDG P−) or received LDSS (CDGP+). The cohort included 34 CDG P−/P+, 12 CDGP+/P+, 51 GHD/P+, 29 CDG P−/P−, 2 CDGP+/P− and 56 GHD/P−. FH standard deviation score (SDS), Δ SDS FH‐target height (TH) and degree of success (−1 ≤ Δ SDS FH‐SDS TH ≤ +1) were outcomes of interest.ResultsGHD/P+ had better FH‐SDS (−0.87 vs −1.49; P = .023) and ΔSDS FH‐TH (−0.35 vs −0.77; P = .002) than CDGP−/P+. Overall, GHD/P+ showed the highest degree of success (90%, P = .006). Regardless of priming, both rhGH and LDSS improved degree of success compared to no treatment (89% and 86% vs 63%, P = .0009). GHD/P+ showed a trend towards a higher proportion of permanent GHD compared to GHD/P‐ (30.43% vs 15.09%; P = .067).ConclusionIn peripubertal children, priming before GHST improves diagnostic accuracy of GHST for idiopathic GHD. LDSS treatment improves auxological outcomes in CDGP.