bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liraglutide Attenuates Myocardial Fibrosis via Inhibition of AT1R-Mediated ROS Production in Hypertensive Mice
Authors: Chen Peng , Yang Fen , Wang Wenya , Li Xiao , Liu Dongling , Zhang Yongxi , Yin Guotian , Lv Fenghua , Guo Zhikun , Mehta Jawahar L. , Wang Xianwei 
Published: July 2020

Background/Aims: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide has been reported to exert cardioprotective effects, but its effect on cardiac fibrosis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of liraglutide on cardiac fibrosis and potential mechanisms. Methods: C57BL/6 mice (3-month old) were randomly divided into control, hypertension, and hypertension + liraglutide groups. The hypertensive state was created by infusion of Ang II (100 ng/kg·min) for 4 weeks through subcutaneously implanted osmotic pumps. The control mice were infused with saline. Mice were also given vehicle or liraglutide (400 μg/kg·day). Blood pressure (BP), blood sugar, myocardial fibrosis, AT1R expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. To further elucidate the mechanisms of fibrosis, mouse cardiac fibroblasts were isolated and treated with liraglutide (300 nM/L) or losartan (10 μM) for 3 hours, followed by Ang II (10−7 M) for additional 12 hours. Reactive oxygen species production and expressions of collagen-1 and -3 were measured. Results: Liraglutide reduced BP and blood sugar but did not affect the body weight of the hypertensive mice. Liraglutide also inhibited collagen accumulation, AT1R expression, and ROS generation in the hearts of the hypertensive mice. In in vitro studies, pretreatment with liraglutide and losartan (as control) markedly inhibited Ang II-induced ROS production and collagen expression in the cultured cardiac fibroblasts. Conclusion: Liraglutide reduces myocardial fibrosis in the hypertensive mice, which appears to be dependent on at least in part inhibition of ROS production.
Effectiveness of a simple intervention for prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections on a medical hospital unit
Authors: Au Anita G , Shurraw Sabin , Hoang Holly , Wang Sukun , Wang Xiaoming 
Published: July 2020

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common hospital-acquired infections with 80% as a result of urinary catheterisation. Aim/Objective: This study examined the impact of a simple intervention consisting of a daily chart reminder in patients with indwelling urinary catheters (IUC) on the duration of catheter use and the incidence of catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs). Methods: The trial used a prospective pretest–post-test design with a control group over a six-month period conducted on two medical units of a community teaching hospital. We included all patients admitted to two medical units between 1 June and 30 November 2016 who had an IUC inserted at the study site. During the intervention phase, a sticker was placed in the charts of patients with urinary catheters reminding physicians to assess for catheter removal if not clinically necessary. Results: A total of 195 patients participated in this study (112 control unit, 83 intervention unit). There was a decrease in the duration of IUC use on the intervention unit from 11.7 days to 7.5 days ( P = 0.0028). There was a decrease in repeated catheterisation from 11.1% to 2.1% ( P = 0.0882), and CAUTIs from 17.5% to 4.6% ( P = 0.0552) but this did not reach statistical significance. Discussion: The implementation of a daily IUC reminder sticker in patient charts was associated with a significant reduction in the mean duration of indwelling catheter use with a trend towards a reduction in the frequency of repeated urinary catheterisation and rate of CAUTIs.
Instagram and Pilon Fractures: An Analysis of Social Media and Its Relationship to Patient Injury Perception
Authors: Rizkalla James Mina , Lines Tanner , Daoud Yahya , Zide Jacob 
Published: July 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate social media posts regarding pilon fractures and its relationship to patient injury perception. We evaluated Instagram media posts in patients who have suffered pilon fractures for the following variables: gender, tone, discussion of rehabilitation, activities of daily living (ADL) reference, incision/scar reference, pain, post of radiograph/imaging, external fixation reference, discussion of bracing/splinting, pre- or postoperative swelling, and need for reoperation. Results were determined by comparing each variable to gender and tone of the post to study patient injury perception. Methods: Public Instagram posts from within a 1-year time period were isolated and evaluated using the hashtag “#pilonfracture.” Individual posts were analyzed by authors. In total, 241 patient posts were included for investigation and analysis of patient injury perception via social media. Results: Of all included posts, 88% of posts had a positive tone. A majority of the posts (66.8%) mentioned rehabilitation and postoperative progress. There were significant associations between positive tone and rehabilitation ( P = .0001), as well as positive tone and ADLs ( P = .0361). Conclusion: Reported outcomes after surgical management of pilon fractures are generally poor. Nonetheless, this analysis of patients sharing their experience on social media after open reduction internal fixation of pilon fractures demonstrates a mostly positive attitude toward the injury and recovery. A positive tone of the post was significantly associated with mentions of rehabilitation and ADLs. Levels of Evidence: Level III: Retrospective comparative study
Multiself Bargaining
Authors: Henkel Rudy 
Published: July 2020

I propose a dual-self model in which two selves have conflicting preferences over the action to be taken by an agent. Departing from existing dual-self models, the two selves are treated symmetrically. They have identical instantaneous utility, and only differ in their time preference. The default action of the agent is modelled as the outcome of a Tullock contest among the selves, where the self who wins chooses their preferred action. Viewing the outcome of this contest as the point of disagreement, the selves are allowed to negotiate to a mutually preferred outcome, and this negotiation is modelled as a Nash bargaining problem. I show that multiple well documented ‘behavioural’ deviations from standard utility maximizing behaviour can be generated from this model, including time inconsistent behaviour such as diminishing impatience, as well as violations of independence of irrelevant alternatives in choice problems. Notably the preference reversals from time inconsistency are ‘smooth’, as opposed to the singular reversal in quasi-hyperbolic discounting, the standard model used in the literature. Further, the model implies correlation of these deviations due to their dependence on the same parameters. Finally, this approach provides insight on evaluating the welfare effects of various interventions. JEL Classifications: D01, D11, D79, D91
Recipient and donor genetic variants associated with mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Martin Paul J. , Levine David M. , Storer Barry E. , Nelson Sarah C. , Dong Xinyuan , Hansen John A. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Many studies have suggested that genetic variants in donors and recipients are associated with survival-related outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but these results have not been confirmed. Therefore, the utility of testing genetic variants in donors and recipients for risk stratification or understanding mechanisms leading to mortality after HCT has not been established. We tested 122 recipient and donor candidate variants for association with nonrelapse mortality (NRM) and relapse mortality (RM) in a cohort of 2560 HCT recipients of European ancestry with related or unrelated donors. Associations discovered in this cohort were tested for replication in a separate cohort of 1710 HCT recipients. We found that the donor rs1051792 A allele in MICA was associated with a lower risk of NRM. Donor and recipient rs1051792 genotypes were highly correlated, making it statistically impossible to determine whether the donor or recipient genotype accounted for the association. Risks of grade 3 to 4 graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and NRM in patients with grades 3 to 4 GVHD were lower with donor MICA-129Met but not with MICA-129Val, implicating MICA-129Met in the donor as an explanation for the decreased risk of NRM after HCT. Our analysis of candidate variants did not show any other association with NRM or RM. A genome-wide association study did not identify any other variants associated with NRM or RM.
ERS International Congress, Madrid, 2019: highlights from the Clinical Techniques, Imaging and Endoscopy Assembly
Authors: d'Hooghe Julia , Alvarez Martinez Haizea , Pietersen Pia Iben , Laursen Christian B. , Hersch Nicole , Tárnoki Ádám Domonkos , Walsh Simon , Annema Jouke , Gompelmann Daniela 
Published: July 2020

This manuscript summarises the highlights from Assembly 14, “Clinical techniques, imaging and endoscopy”, which were presented at the 2019 European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress in Madrid, Spain. Novel diagnostic approaches and innovative therapeutic strategies in patients with lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, obstructive airway disorders and infectious diseases are discussed. The authors from the different Assembly 14 subgroups focus on the key take-home messages given new study results, and place them in the context of current knowledge in these areas.At the 2019 ERS International Congress, encouraging results of numerous trials in the field of interventional pulmonology, imaging and ultrasound were presented. Key topics included novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in patients with lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, obstructive airway disorders and infectious diseases.
Ability of the LACE index to predict 30-day hospital readmissions in patients with community-acquired pneumonia
Authors: Dobler Claudia C. , Hakim Maryam , Singh Sidhartha , Jennings Matthew , Waterer Grant , Garden Frances L. 
Published: July 2020

Background and objectiveHospital readmissions within 30 days are used as an indicator of quality of hospital care. We aimed to evaluate the ability of the LACE (Length of stay, Acuity of admission, Comorbidities based on Charlson comorbidity score and number of Emergency visits in the last 6 months) index to predict the risk of 30-day readmissions in patients hospitalised for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study a LACE index score was calculated for patients with a principal diagnosis of CAP admitted to a tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia. The predictive ability of the LACE score for 30-day readmissions was assessed using receiver operator characteristic curves with C-statistic.ResultsOf 3996 patients admitted to hospital for CAP at least once, 8.0% (n=327) died in hospital and 14.6% (n=584) were readmitted within 30 days. 17.8% (113 of 636) of all 30-day readmissions were again due to CAP, followed by readmissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure and chest pain. The LACE index had moderate discriminative ability to predict 30-day readmission (C-statistic=0.6395) but performed poorly for the prediction of 30-day readmissions due to CAP (C-statistic=0.5760).ConclusionsThe ability of the LACE index to predict all-cause 30-day hospital readmissions is comparable to more complex pneumonia-specific indices with moderate discrimination. For the prediction of 30-day readmissions due to CAP, the performance of the LACE index and modified risk prediction models using readily available variables (sex, age, specific comorbidities, after-hours, weekend, winter or summer admission) is insufficient.
Small airway function in obese individuals with self-reported asthma
Authors: Oppenheimer Beno W. , Goldring Roberta M. , Soghier Israa , Smith David , Parikh Manish , Berger Kenneth I. 
Published: July 2020

Diagnosis of asthma in obese individuals frequently relies on clinical history, as airflow by spirometry may remain normal. This study hypothesised that obese subjects with self-reported asthma and normal spirometry will demonstrate distinct clinical characteristics, metabolic comorbidities and enhanced small airway dysfunction as compared with healthy obese subjects.Spirometry, plethysmography and oscillometry data pre/post-bronchodilator were obtained in 357 obese subjects in three groups as follows: no asthma group (n=180), self-reported asthma normal spirometry group (n=126), and asthma obstructed spirometry group (n=51). To assess the effects of obesity related to reduced lung volume, oscillometry measurements were repeated during a voluntary inflation to predicted functional residual capacity (FRC).Dyspnoea was equally prevalent in all groups. In contrast, cough, wheeze and metabolic comorbidities were more frequent in the asthma normal spirometry and asthma obstructed spirometry groupsversusthe no asthma group (p<0.05). Despite similar body size, oscillometry measurements demonstrated elevatedR5–20(difference between resistance at 5 and 20 Hz) in the no asthma and asthma normal spirometry groups (0.19±0.12; 0.23±0.13 kPa/(L·s−1), p<0.05) but to a lesser degree than the asthma obstructed spirometry group (0.34±0.20 kPa/(L·s−1), p<0.05). Differences between groups persisted post-bronchodilator (p<0.05). Following voluntary inflation to predicted FRC,R5–20in the no asthma and asthma normal spirometry groups fell to similar values, indicating a reversible process (0.11±0.07; 0.12±0.08 kPa/(L·s−1), p=NS). Persistently elevatedR5–20was seen in the asthma obstructed spirometry group, suggesting chronic inflammation and/or remodelling (0.17±0.11 kPa/(L·s−1), p<0.05).Thus, small airway abnormalities of greater magnitude than observations in healthy obese people may be an early marker of asthma in obese subjects with self-reported disease despite normal airflow. Increased metabolic comorbidities in these subjects may have provided a milieu that impacted airway function.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire: what current and future providers do and do not know about electronic cigarettes
Authors: Hwang Josephine , Lee Crystal , Mastrolonardo Eric , Frasso Rosemary 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Health care providers play a pivotal role as educators on health-related matters ranging from vaccination to smoking cessation. With the rising popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), providers face a new challenge. To date, studies have identified a general lack of knowledge among providers regarding e-cigarettes and discomfort with counseling patients on e-cigarette use. This study aims to systematically explore the perspectives of different health care providers on e-cigarettes and their health implications. With a growing availability of research on the health consequences of e-cigarette use, our study also aims to assess the familiarity of our participants with this literature.

Methods
From July to October 2018, a sample of attendings (n = 15), residents (n = 15), medical students (n = 33), and nursing students (n = 28) from Thomas Jefferson University participated in a freelisting interview and survey.

Results
Our study found that perceptions of e-cigarettes vary across different participant groups, as evidenced by the range of responses when asked to think about e-cigarettes and their health implications. We identified gaps in knowledge among students regarding FDA regulation of e-cigarettes and found that attending physicians are less aware than junior trainees of the prevalence of use. Familiarity with evidence-based health consequences was variable and low across all groups. Finally, participants most commonly reported learning about e-cigarettes from news outlets and social media rather than professional platforms.

Conclusion
This study highlights the need for curricular development in nursing and medical schools, residency training, and continuing medical education regarding e-cigarette use and their impact on human health.
Quality of life in cancer patients treated with mistletoe: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Loef Martin , Walach Harald 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundMistletoe extracts are used as an adjunct therapy for cancer patients, but there is dissent as to whether this therapy has a positive impact on quality of life (QoL).MethodsWe conducted a systematic review searching in several databases (Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Science Citation Index, clinicaltrials.gov,opengrey.org) by combining terms that cover the fields of “neoplasm”, “quality of life” and “mistletoe”. We included prospective controlled trials that compared mistletoe extracts with a control in cancer patients and reported QoL or related dimensions. The quality of the studies was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool version 2. We conducted a quantitative meta-analysis.ResultsWe included 26 publications with 30 data sets. The studies were heterogeneous. The pooled standardized mean difference (random effects model) for global QoL after treatment with mistletoe extracts vs. control was d = 0.61 (95% CI 0.41–0.81,p < 0,00001). The effect was stronger for younger patients, with longer treatment, in studies with lower risk of bias, in randomized and blinded studies. Sensitivity analyses support the validity of the finding. 50% of the QoL subdomains (e.g. pain, nausea) show a significant improvement after mistletoe treatment. Most studies have a high risk of bias or at least raise some concern.ConclusionMistletoe extracts produce a significant, medium-sized effect on QoL in cancer. Risk of bias in the analyzed studies is likely due to the specific type of treatment, which is difficult to blind; yet this risk is unlikely to affect the outcome.PROSPERO registrationCRD42019137704.
Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein might determine the severity and the presences of major/minor criteria for severe community-acquired pneumonia and best predicted mortality
Authors: Guo Qi , Song Wei-dong , Li Hai-yan , Li Ming , Chen Xiao-ke , Liu Hui , Peng Hong-lin , Yu Hai-qiong , Liu Nian , Lü Zhong-dong , Liang Li-hua , Zhao Qing-zhou , Jiang Mei 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) depends on microbial pathogenicity, load and virulence, and immune responses. The Infectious Disease Society of America and the American Thoracic Society (IDSA/ATS) minor criteria responsible for clinical triage of patients with CAP are of unequal weight in predicting mortality. It is unclear whether the IDSA/ATS major/minor criteria might be strongly and positively associated with the immune responses. It is warranted to explore this intriguing hypothesis.

Methods
A prospective cohort study of 404 CAP patients was performed. Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) levels were measured using a sandwich-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The receiver operating characteristic curves were created and the areas under the curves were calculated to illustrate and compare the accuracy of the indices.

Results
Severe CAP patients meeting the major criteria had the highest plasma concentrations of CIRP. The more the number of most predictive minor criteria strongly associated to mortality, i.e. arterial oxygen pressure/fraction inspired oxygen ≤ 250 mmHg, confusion, and uremia, present, the higher the CIRP level. Interestingly, the patients with non-severe CAP meeting the most predictive minor criteria demonstrated unexpectedly higher CIRP level compared with the patients with severe CAP not fulfilling the criteria. Procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and pneumonia severity index (PSI) scores, and mortality confirmed similar intriguing patterns. CIRP was strongly linked to PCT, IL-6, CRP, minor criteria, SOFA and PSI scores, and mortality (increased odds ratio 3.433). The pattern of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and Youden’s index of CIRP ≥ 3.50 ng/mL for predicting mortality was the optimal. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of CIRP was the highest among the indices.

Conclusions
CIRP levels were strongly correlated with the IDSA/ATS major/minor criteria. CIRP might determine the severity and the presences of major/minor criteria and best predicted mortality, and a CIRP of ≥ 3.50 ng/mL might be more valuable cut-off value for severe CAP, suggesting that CIRP might be a novel and intriguing biomarker for pneumonia to monitor host response and predict mortality, which might have implications for more accurate clinical triage decisions.
Macrophages inhibit adipogenic differentiation of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines
Authors: Ma Hui , Li Ya-nan , Song Lin , Liu Rui , Li Xiaolei , Shang Qianwen , Wang Ying , Shao Changshun , Shi Yufang 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and macrophages are critical components in many tissue microenvironments, including that in adipose tissue. The close interaction between MSCs and macrophages modulates various adipose-related disease development. However, the effects of macrophages on the fate of MSCs remain largely elusive. We here studied the effect of macrophages on the adipogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Methods
Macrophages were obtained from THP-1 cells treated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). The induced matured macrophages were then induced to undergo classically activated macrophage (M1) or alternatively activated macrophage (M2) polarization with Iipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13, respectively. The supernatants derived from macrophages under different conditions were applied to cultured human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hADSCs) undergoing adipogenic differentiation. Adipogenic differentiation was evaluated by examining Oil Red O staining of lipid droplets and the expression of adipogenesis-related genes with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and western blot analysis.

Results
The adipogenic differentiation of hADSCs was impaired when treated with macrophage-derived supernatants, especially that from the M1-polarized macrophage (M1-sup). The inhibitory effect was found to be mediated by the inflammatory cytokines, mainly tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β. Blocking TNF-α and IL-1β with neutralizing antibodies partially alleviated the inhibitory effect of M1-sup.

Conclusion
Macrophage-derived supernatants inhibited the adipogenic differentiation of hADSCs in vitro, irrespective of the polarization status (M0, M1 or M2 macrophages). M1-sup was more potent because of the higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our findings shed new light on the interaction between hADSCs and macrophages and have implications in our understanding of disrupted adipose tissue homeostasis under inflammation.