bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Real‐world efficacy and safety of interleukin‐17 inhibitors for psoriasis: A single‐center experience
Authors: Ohata Chika , Ohyama Bungo , Katayama Eri , Nakama Takekuni 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWe evaluated the efficacy and safety of interleukin (IL)‐17 inhibitors (IL‐17i) by analyzing 66 patients with psoriasis treated with secukinumab (n = 25), ixekizumab (n = 17) and brodalumab (n = 24) at Kurume University Hospital between December 2014 and June 2019. The mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores at baseline were 12.9, 13.4 and 9.9 in the secukinumab, ixekizumab and brodalumab groups (SECg, IXEg and BROg), respectively. At the 6‐month evaluation, the mean PASI scores were 1.7, 1.1 and 0.5 in SECg, IXEg and BROg, respectively. The proportion of patients achieving PASI of 3.0 or less was significantly lower in SECg. Drug survivals showed no significant difference among the groups. Although one patient in IXEg died due to an unknown cause, no serious IL‐17i‐associated adverse event was observed. This study showed high efficacy and relatively low risk of the treatment with IL‐17i.
Parasympathetic nervous activity is associated with oxytocin in multiparous, but not primiparous, women during the perinatal period
Authors: Washio Hiroe , Takeshita Daisuke , Sakata Susumu 
Published: January 2020

AbstractOxytocin (OXT) is thought to have antidepressant/anxiolytic effects in postpartum women. Primiparous women tend toward an attenuated lactation compared with multiparous women. However, so far, little is known about the relationship between OXT and autonomic nervous activity (ANA) in perinatal women and whether it may be different in primiparous and multiparous women. Therefore, the objective of this study was to answer this question by determining both ANA and salivary OXT levels in primiparous and multiparous perinatal women. In 18 primiparous and 18 multiparous women, who underwent a physical and physiological examination, ANA measurement by heart rate variability and saliva sampling were performed during the perinatal period. Saliva OXT concentration was determined by a highly sensitive ELISA. OXT release into saliva was obtained from multiplying saliva OXT concentration by saliva flow rate. In the postpartum period, multiparous women had higher parasympathetic nervous activity (PNA) and lower physical stress index (PSI) compared with primiparous women. Furthermore, multiparous postpartal women had higher OXT compared with primiparous or multiparous prepartal women. In addition, in multiparous perinatal women, OXT correlated positively with PNA, but negatively with PSI. These results suggest that after parturition, multiparous mothers may switch over to the "feed and breed" system more quickly due to increased OXT compared with primiparous mothers. Our findings support antidepressant/anxiolytic and anti‐stress effects of OXT. In postpartal women exposed to synthetic OXT, ANA measurement may provide a clue to clarify the effects of exogenous OXT on postpartum psychiatric disorders.
Wage premium of Communist Party membership: Evidence from China
Authors: Nikolov Plamen , Wang Hongjian , Acker Kevin 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSocial status and political connections may confer large economic benefits on an individual. Previous studies focused on China have examined the relationship between Communist Party membership and earnings and have revealed a positive correlation. However, the correlation could be partly or totally spurious. Using data from three surveys spanning three decades, we estimate the causal effect of Chinese Communist Party membership on monthly earnings in China. We find that, on average, membership in the Communist Party of China increases monthly earnings and the wage premium has grown in the last three decades. We explore potential causes and discover evidence that improvements in social networks and social rank, acquisition of job‐related qualifications and greater life satisfaction play important roles in increased earnings.
MicroRNA‐based biomarkers for diagnosis of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Authors: Liao Jipei , Shen Jun , Leng Qixin , Qin Meng , Zhan Min , Jiang Feng 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe development of biomarkers for the early detection of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is clinically important. We have developed miRNA biomarkers in sputum and plasma, respectively, for NSCLC. Herein, we evaluate whether integrated analysis of the miRNAs across the different types of specimens could improve the early detection of NSCLC.MethodsUsing reverse transcription PCR, we determined expressions of two miRNAs (miRs‐31‐5p and 210‐3p) in sputum and three miRNAs (miRs‐21‐5p, 210‐3p, and 486‐5p) in plasma of a training cohort of 76 NSCLC patients and 72 cancer‐free smokers. The results were validated in a testing cohort of 56 NSCLC patients and 55 cancer‐free smokers.ResultsThe panels of two sputum miRNAs and three plasma miRNAs had 65.8–75.0% sensitivities and 83.3–87.5% specificities for diagnosis of NSCLC in the training cohort. The individual sputum or plasma miRNA panel had a higher sensitivity for squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the lung, respectively. From the miRNAs, we optimized an integrated panel of biomarkers consisting of two sputum miRNAs (miRs‐31‐5p and 210‐3p) and one plasma miRNA (miR‐21‐5p) that had higher sensitivity (85.5%) and specificity (91.7%) for diagnosis of NSCLC compared with the individual panels alone. Furthermore, the performance of the integrated panel of biomarkers was independent of histology and stage of NSCLC, and patients' age, sex, and ethnicity. The performance of the integrated panel of biomarkers was confirmed in the testing cohort.ConclusionsIntegrating biomarkers across different body fluids would synergistically improve the early detection of NSCLC.Key points
Lung cancer is a heterogeneous disease and develops from complex aberrations.
Integrating sputum and plasma miRNAs has higher accuracy than when they are used alone
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans elicits acute stress response in spotted salamanders but not infection or mortality
Authors: Barnhart K. , Bletz M. C. , LaBumbard B. , Tokash‐Peters A. , Gabor C. R. , Woodhams D. C. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe emerging fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a major threat to amphibian species worldwide with potential to infect many species if it invades salamander biodiversity hotspots in the Americas. Bsal can cause the disease chytridiomycosis, and it is important to assess the risk of Bsal‐induced chytridiomycosis to species in North America. We evaluated the susceptibility to Bsal of the common and widespread spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, across life‐history stages and monitored the effect of Bsal exposure on growth rate and response of the stress hormone, corticosterone. We conclude that spotted salamanders appear resistant to Bsal because they showed no indication of disease or infection, and experienced minor effects on growth upon exposure. While we focused on a single population for this study, results were consistent across conditions of exposure including high or repeated doses of Bsal, life‐stage at exposure, environmental conditions including two temperatures and two substrates, and promoting pathogen infectivity by conditioning Bsal cultures with thyroid hormone. Exposure to high levels of Bsal elicited an acute but not chronic increase in corticosterone in spotted salamanders, and reduced growth. We hypothesize that the early acute increase in corticosterone facilitated mounting an immune response to the pathogen, perhaps through immunoredistribution to the skin, but further study is needed to determine immune responses to Bsal. These results will contribute to development of appropriate Bsal management plans to conserve species at risk of emerging disease.
Birthweight determines intestinal microvasculature development and alters endothelial nitric oxide synthase density in young piglets
Authors: Ayuso Miriam , Van Cruchten Steven , Van Ginneken Chris 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBlood supply to enterocytes dictates intestinal health and nutrient absorption. These two aspects are impaired in low birthweight (LBW) piglets, but whether the perfusion to intestinal tissues is implicated as well is still unknown. Thus, structural changes in the microvasculature of LBW and normal birthweight (NBW) piglets were investigated during early postnatal development. Additionally, the presence of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the intestinal mucosa was assessed given its important role to assure perfusion. A total of 22 pigs (11 LBW and 11 NBW) were sacrificed at days 0, 3, 8 and 19 of life. Body weight and intestinal length were recorded and a piece of the small intestine was sampled for immunohistochemical analysis of von Willebrand Factor (vWF, an endothelial cell marker) and eNOS. LBW piglets had a relatively (to body weight) longer intestine than their NBW counterparts. Age did not affect microvasculature, which was more abundant (85% larger vWF‐positive area) in NBW than LBW pigs. However, an interaction age*BW was observed for eNOS‐IR, showing that eNOS presence peaked in NBW piglets on the first day of life and subsequently decreased. This pattern was not observed in LBW piglets. The less abundant intestinal endothelial mass and the different pattern of eNOS expression observed in LBW piglets suggests microcirculation as a contributing factor in the impaired digestive functioning and gut health of LBW pigs. However, revealing whether the origin of this alteration is prenatal or postnatal, for example due to a lower milk intake, needs further study.
Multimedia in improving informed consent for caesarean section: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Truong Alice , Ellett Lenore , Hicks Lauren , Pell Gabrielle , Walker Susan P. 
Published: January 2020

BackgroundMultimedia modules have been used as an adjunct to improve patient knowledge and recall for various elective surgical procedures, but have been incompletely evaluated in patients undergoing caesarean section.AimsTo compare the use of a supplementary multimedia module with written information in improving the informed consent process prior to elective caesarean section.Materials and methodsThis was a prospective randomised controlled trial (ACTRN12616000430437). Primary outcomes were knowledge and anxiety scores immediately following the intervention and on the day of surgery. Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction, length of stay, time to cessation of analgesia, and patient assessment of the consent types.ResultsSeventy‐five patients completed the study. Both multimedia module and written information groups demonstrated a significant increase in knowledge scores with no difference between the groups. In the multimedia‐assisted consent group, scores improved from baseline by +2.31 (P < 0.001) immediately after watching the multimedia module and by +2.41 (P < 0.001) on the day of surgery. In the written information group, scores improved by +1.76 (P < <0.001), and +2.31 (P < 0.001) respectively. There was no adverse impact on anxiety in either group. Patient‐reported understanding (92.4% vs 78.5%, P = 0.001), and helpfulness (90.1% vs 73.3%, P = 0.001) was significantly higher in the multimedia module group than in the written information group. The multimedia module was assessed as ‘slightly too long’ and provided ‘slightly too much information’.ConclusionsMultimedia modules are a valuable adjunct to traditional processes of obtaining informed consent for elective caesarean section and should be offered and made available to patients prior to surgery.
Need for pacing in patients who qualify for an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator: Clinical implications for the subcutaneous ICD
Authors: Kutyifa Valentina , Rosero Spencer Z. , McNitt Scott , Polonsky Bronislava , Brown Mary W. , Zareba Wojciech , Goldenberg Ilan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundImplantation of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (S‐ICD) is spreading and has been shown to be safe and effective; however, it does not provide brady‐pacing. Currently, data on the need for brady‐pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation in patients with ICD indication are limited.MethodsThe Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT)‐II enrolled post‐MI patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF ≤ 35%), randomized to either an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) or conventional medical therapy. Kaplan–Meier analyses and multivariate Cox models were performed to assess the incidence and predictors of pacemaker (PM), or CRT implantation in the conventional arm of MADIT‐II, after excluding 32 patients (6.5%) with a previously implanted PM.ResultsDuring the median follow‐up of 20 months, 24 of 458 patients (5.2%) were implanted with a PM or a CRT (19 PM, 5 CRT). Symptomatic sinus bradycardia was the primary indication for PM implantation (n = 9, 37%), followed by AV block (n = 5, 21%), tachy‐brady syndrome (n = 4, 17%), and carotid sinus hypersensitivity (n = 1, 4%). Baseline PR interval >200 ms (HR = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.24–7.57, p = .02), and CABG before enrollment (HR = 6.88, 95% CI: 1.58–29.84, p = .01) predicted subsequent PM/CRT implantation. Patients with PM/CRT implantation had a significantly higher risk for heart failure (HR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.38–5.14, p = .003), but no increased mortality risk (HR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.46–2.46, p = .89).ConclusionThe short‐term need for ventricular pacing or CRT implantation in patients with MADIT‐II ICD indication was low, especially in those with a normal baseline PR interval, and such patients are appropriate candidates for the subcutaneous ICD.
Characteristics of testicular cell development of 5‐day‐old mice in culture in vitro
Authors: Prasetyaningtyas Wahono Esthi , Karja Ni Wayan Kurniani , Agungpriyono Srihadi , Fahrudin Mokhamad 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe crude testicular cells (CTCs) contain many cell types, such as Sertoli cells, leydig cells, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), spermatocytes, and other somatic testicular cells, that secrete various growth factors needed in spermatogenesis. The objective of this study was to characterize development of 5‐day‐old mice testicular cells cultured. Crude testicular cells prepared from the testes of 5‐day‐old male mice were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium and incubated at 37°C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere for 6 days. The results demonstrated that the testicular cells developed rapidly with a population doubling time (PDT) of 0.63 days and more than 90% of cells were viable after being cultured for 3 days. The number of Sertoli‐like cells increased significantly over days 1, 3, and 6 to 22.1%, 34.6%, and 50.1%, respectively. A significant increase was also observed in fibroblast‐like cells (15.5% on day 1 to 28.8% on day 3 and to 26.6% on day 6). In contrast, the number of spermatogonia‐like cells decreased significantly (54.3%, 30.4%, and 18.7%, on days 1, 3, and 6, respectively). These data indicated that the developmental pattern of the testicular cell in this study might be affected by the niche provided by the cultured testicular cells.
Challenges in the development and exploitation of new therapeutic options targeting the histaminergic system
Authors: Chazot Paul L. , Tiligada Ekaterini 
Published: January 2020

LINKED ARTICLESThis article is part of a themed section on New Uses for 21st Century Antihistamines. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.3/issuetoc
Short educational video to improve the accuracy of colorectal polyp size estimation: Multicenter prospective study
Authors: Utsumi Takahiro , Horimatsu Takahiro , Nishikawa Yoshitaka , Teramoto Akira , Hirata Daizen , Iwatate Mineo , Sano Yasushi , Seno Hiroshi 
Published: January 2020

Background and AimAccurate polyp size estimation is necessary for appropriate management of colorectal polyps. Polyp size is often determined by subjective visual estimation in clinical situations; however, it is inaccurate, especially for beginner endoscopists. We aimed to clarify the usefulness of our short training video, available on the Internet, for accurate polyp size estimation.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter prospective controlled study in Japan. After completing a pretest composed of near and far images of 30 polyps, participants received the educational video lecture (<10 min long). The educational content included the knowledge of strategies based on polyp size and criteria for size estimation including the endoscopic equipment size and videos of polyps in vivo. After one month, the participants undertook a posttest. The primary outcome was a change in the accuracy of polyp size visual estimation between the pretest and posttest in beginners.ResultsParticipants including 111 beginners, 52 intermediates, and 97 experts from 51 institutions completed both tests. Accuracy of polyp size estimation in the beginners showed a significant increase after the video lecture [54.1% (51.3–57.0%) to 59.0% (56.5–61.5%), P = 0.003]. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the category of beginners and a low score on pretest (P = 0.020 and <0.001, respectively) were the factors that contributed to an increase of ≥10% in the accuracy.ConclusionOur educational video led to an improvement in polyp size estimation in beginners. Furthermore, this video may be useful for non‐beginners with insufficient polyp size estimation accuracy.
Time‐dependent incidence and risk for myocardial infarction in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis
Authors: Deleuran Thomas , Schmidt Morten , Vilstrup Hendrik , Jepsen Peter 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundIt remains unsettled whether alcoholic cirrhosis is a risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI).MethodsWe used data from nationwide healthcare registries to study all Danes diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis in 1996‐2014, and five controls were matched to each of them on gender and age. We excluded everyone with ischaemic heart disease and used Cox regression to estimate the incidence rate ratio of MI adjusted for potential cardiovascular confounders. Further, we described the MI‐risk with non‐MI death as a competing risk.ResultsWe included 22 867 patients (67% men) with a median age of 57 years. During the first year of follow‐up, their incidence rate ratio of MI was increased to 1.24 (95% CI: 0.94‐1.62), driven by the effect among women (2.13, 95% CI: 1.17‐3.87) and those with most severe cirrhosis (1.32, 95% CI: 0.91‐1.90). After the first year, the overall incidence rate ratio fell to (0.89, 95% CI: 0.76‐1.05). Patients were more likely to die from non‐MI causes (33.7% vs 1.0%), which protected them against MI. The overall 1‐year MI‐risk was similar in patients and controls: 0.38% (95% CI: 0.30‐0.47%) vs 0.34% (95% CI: 0.31‐0.38%). After five years of follow‐up, male patients had lower MI‐risk than their controls, whereas women with cirrhosis had an increased MI‐risk throughout follow‐up.ConclusionsThe incidence rate of MI was increased the first year following a diagnosis of alcoholic cirrhosis, in particular in women and those with most severe liver disease. Due to the competing risk of non‐MI mortality, the MI‐risk was not increased.
Should Anger Be Encouraged in the Classroom? Political Education, Closed‐Mindedness, and Civic Epiphany
Authors: Yacek Douglas 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn light of recent political developments in Western democracies, several political commentators and theorists have argued that encouraging anger in citizens may contribute to social justice and should therefore constitute an aim of civic education. In this article, Douglas Yacek investigates these claims in depth. In doing so, he expands on previous work on the political and educational significance of anger — particularly by critical and “agonistic” theorists of civic education — in two distinct ways. First, Yacek explores the psychological costs and benefits of cultivating student anger. Second, he examines the potential cultural effects of anger in Western democratic societies. While sympathetic to the defenses of anger that have been recently offered in political and educational theory, Yacek concludes that we should be cautious about embracing anger in civic education. In particular, he argues that anger involves serious psychological risk, may exacerbate the social problems that it sets out to solve, and can lead to a disposition of adversarial and politically counterproductive closed‐mindedness. In the closing sections, Yacek suggests that experiences he calls “civic epiphanies” are central to cultivating a politically beneficial form of open‐mindedness, and argues that such experiences should therefore be encouraged in civic education.
Teaching for Open‐Mindedness: A Justice‐Oriented Approach
Authors: Dozono Tadashi , Taylor Rebecca M. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThis article explores the pedagogical virtue of open‐mindedness in practice and its relationship to epistemic justice through analysis of a fictional, narrative case. The case focuses on a young white woman who attempts to implement a pedagogy of open‐mindedness as she teaches a unit on the civil rights movement. After presenting the case scenario, Tadashi Dozono and Rebecca Taylor examine three tensions that arise for teachers as they seek to enact a pedagogy of open‐mindedness. First, what form of open‐mindedness should guide them? Second, how should they respond to limits in their own knowledge and understanding? And finally, how should teachers exercise authority within a pedagogy of open‐mindedness? Their analysis confronts the tension between the teacher's own open‐mindedness, on the one hand, and the teacher's subject position, on the other. Through this exploration of open‐mindedness, Dozono and Taylor argue that, in practice, teachers must counteract legacies of epistemic injustice as a necessary part of cultivating their own and their students' access to open‐mindedness.
The Arts and Open‐Mindedness
Authors: Verducci Susan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractOpen‐mindedness is typically considered an intellectual virtue that brings humans into (closer) contact with reality and its complexities. In this essay, Susan Verducci expands the ways we typically think of cultivating open‐mindedness in classrooms to include the practice of engagement with the visual and performing arts. Working with the arts allows students and teachers to perceive and embody realities they would not normally experience. Specifically, the arts enable the drawing forth and exploration of multiple and subjective interpretations; the arts can therefore be uniquely productive in opening minds by helping one negotiate human perceptual constraints, by providing opportunities to enter standpoints other than one's own, and by encouraging the practice of living with uncertainty and ambiguity.