bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of patient‐centred outcomes after hospital discharge: a state‐of‐the‐art review
Authors: Ladha K. S. , Wijeysundera D. N. 
Published: January 2020

SummaryThe traditional approach for measuring outcomes after surgery involves ascertaining whether a patient survived surgery while avoiding major complications. This approach does not capture the full spectrum of events that are meaningful to patients, especially because mortality risks after elective surgery are relatively low, and different complication types vary considerably with respect to their impact on postoperative recovery. This review discusses the application, advantages, disadvantages and select examples of patient‐centred outcomes in peri‐operative medicine. When applied appropriately, these outcomes complement traditional clinical outcomes, identify important changes in postoperative function that impact patients without discernible complications and ensure that the definition of success after surgery is more meaningful to all relevant stakeholders.
Peri‐operative cardiac biomarker screening: a narrative review
Authors: Ruzycki S. M. , Prystajecky M. , Driedger M. R. , Kachra R. 
Published: January 2020

SummaryPeri‐operative risk estimation has traditionally focused on assessing the likelihood of postoperative morbidity and mortality using pre‐operative functional assessment. Although this strategy is currently recommended by most major society guidelines, contemporary evidence suggests that cardiac biomarker measurement has important advantages over pre‐operative functional assessment. These advantages include superior predictive discrimination and inclusion of the postoperative course in risk estimation. In this review, we provide an overview of the evidence supporting the peri‐operative utilisation, compare risk estimation methods and discuss which patients may benefit most from cardiac biomarker screening. We also discuss protocols for biomarker screening and management of patients with abnormal results.
Initial response of understorey vegetation and tree regeneration to a mixed‐severity fire in old‐growth Araucaria–Nothofagus forests
Authors: Fuentes‐Ramirez Andres , Salas‐Eljatib Christian , González Mauro E , Urrutia‐Estrada Jonathan , Arroyo‐Vargas Paola , Santibañez Pablo 
Published: January 2020

AbstractQuestionsFire is a key factor influencing Araucaria araucana forests, but the impact of fire severity on the understorey vegetation is not well understood. In this study we seek to answer the following questions: (a) how do initial plant diversity, composition and spatial distribution of the understorey vegetation change in response to different levels of fire severity; and (b) does the abundance of dominant tree species exhibit different patterns across a fire severity gradient shortly after fire?LocationOld‐growth Araucaria araucana–Nothofagus pumilio forests in the Andes of south‐central Chile (38° S, 71° W) burned in 2015.MethodsWe evaluated the post‐fire plant regeneration across a fire severity gradient ranging from unburned forests to areas of high fire severity. One year after fire (in February 2016), we measured woody and herbaceous species richness, abundance, height, origin (native vs exotic species), life forms and the spatial pattern of plant recovery.ResultsPlant species richness and abundance were significantly higher within the unburned forest and low fire severity areas one year after fire, compared to areas of high and moderate fire severity. Overall, nearly 50% of the species present in the unburned forest were not found in areas of high severity, including the tree Nothofagus pumilio. Rapid vegetative resprouting of pioneer species such as Chusquea culeou resulted in an aggregated spatial distribution of plants after fire.ConclusionsPlant diversity and the abundance of Araucaria araucana and Nothofagus pumilio were reduced in areas of high fire severity one year after fire. Exotic species were more abundant within areas of low severity, being likely mediated by cattle browsing. Our research makes clear the potential changes in forest composition and structure if dominant tree species are not capable of recovering after fire. We recommend the exclusion of cattle within fire‐affected areas and planting Nothofagus pumilio in areas of high fire severity.
Children Change Their Answers in Response to Neutral Follow‐Up Questions by a Knowledgeable Asker
Authors: Bonawitz Elizabeth , Shafto Patrick , Yu Yue , Gonzalez Aaron , Bridgers Sophie 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBurgeoning evidence suggests that when children observe data, they use knowledge of the demonstrator's intent to augment learning. We propose that the effects of social learning may go beyond cases where children observe data, to cases where they receive no new information at all. We present a model of how simply asking a question a second time may lead to belief revision, when the questioner is expected to know the correct answer. We provide an analysis of the CHILDES corpus to show that these neutral follow‐up questions are used in parent–child conversations. We then present three experiments investigating 4‐ and 5‐year‐old children's reactions to neutral follow‐up questions posed by ignorant or knowledgeable questioners. Children were more likely to change their answers in response to a neutral follow‐up question from a knowledgeable questioner than an ignorant one. We discuss the implications of these results in the context of common practices in legal, educational, and experimental psychological settings.
Investigation into the effect of a plant‐derived stabiliser on the light and wash fastness of sulphur‐dyed cotton and nylon fabrics
Authors: Broadbent Peter J. , Mohtashim Quratulain , Rigout Muriel , Carr Chris M. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn this study, cotton fabric and nylon fabric were dyed with a range of commercial sulphur dyes and the light and wash fastness of the coloured fabrics was investigated. The effect of after‐treating the coloured cotton and nylon fabrics with a tannin‐based commercial product, Bayprotect Cl, in the presence or absence of sodium sulphate in the treatment bath, was found to significantly improve the light fastness of the sulphur‐dyed cotton, and the photoprotective effect was partially stable to ISO 105‐C06 washing. In addition, the tannin‐based after‐treatment also improved the colour stability of the dyed fabrics to the perborate‐based ISO 105‐C06 washing. The possible mechanisms for the improved fastness properties are also discussed. The application of sulphur dyes to nylon is potentially commercially useful but has been limited because of the reported poor light fastness of the dyeings. The photoprotective effect of the tannin‐based after‐treatment was investigated with a view to providing the necessary commercial performance. However, it was established that on this fibre, the light fastness improvement was marginal, and the associated wash fastness to oxidative bleach‐based ISO 105‐C06 washing was limited.
Emphysema is associated with the aggressiveness of COPD‐related adenocarcinomas
Authors: Lim Chun Geun , Shin Kyung Min , Lim Jae Kwang , Kim Hye Jung , Kim Won Hwa , Cho Seung Hyun , Kim Gab Chul , Lim Jiseun , Jeong Ji Yun , Cha Seung‐Ick 
Published: January 2020

AbstractObjectivesTo compare the differences in radiologic and pathologic features of surgically resected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)‐related adenocarcinomas according to the presence of emphysema.MethodsA total of 216 smokers with surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma were included in this retrospective study, and 102 patients were diagnosed with COPD. We classified COPD patients as emphysematous or non‐emphysematous group based on the emphysema severity on computed tomography (CT) and evaluated the differences in the CT and pathologic features between the two groups. The relationship between emphysema and disease‐free survival was assessed using a Kaplan–Meier curve.ResultsLung adenocarcinomas in emphysema group presented a more aggressive pathologic grade and higher prevalence of solid lesions (vs subsolid lesions) on CT than those in non‐emphysematous group (P = 0.006 and <0.001, respectively). After adjustment for age, sex, smoking pack‐years and tumor size, emphysema group had a greater risk for higher histologic grade and higher prevalence of solid lesions than non‐emphysema group (odds ratio, 3.445; 95% confidence interval, 1.124‐10.564; P = 0.030, odds ratio, 6.192; 95% confidence interval, 1.804‐21.254; P = 0.004, respectively). Kaplan‐Meier survival curves showed that patients with emphysema had significantly impaired disease‐free survival compared with those without emphysema (median disease‐free survival = 37.0 vs 57.5 months, P = 0.038).ConclusionAdenocarcinomas in emphysema‐present COPD had more aggressive features of pathology and CT findings, and worse disease‐free survival than those without emphysema. These findings might provide an insight into the different pathobiology and prognostic implications of lung adenocarcinomas according to the presence of emphysema in patients with COPD.
Ureterostomy as an alternative to ileal conduits in pediatric kidney transplantation
Authors: Brubaker Aleah L. , Wu Hsi‐Yang , Lee Angela , Vuong Phoenix , Stoltz Daniel J. , Chaudhuri Abanti , James Gerri , Grimm Paul C. , Concepcion Waldo , Gallo Amy E. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIntroductionUrinary diversion in pediatric renal transplant candidates with bladders not amenable to primary reconstruction can be achieved by pre‐transplant ileal conduit creation. We performed cutaneous ureterostomies to limit pre‐transplant surgery, protect the peritoneum for dialysis, transplant patients sooner, and preserve ureter length for future surgical reconstruction.MethodsWe compared four pediatric transplant recipients with ureterostomies to four recipients with ileal conduits from 2009 to 2017.ResultsAll patients with ileal conduits developed at least one urinary tract infection (UTI) within 1 year of transplant and three of four patients had recurrent UTIs within the first year. Two patients required ileal conduit revisions for redundant conduits and recurrent UTIs. Of the four ureterostomy patients, two patients had UTIs within one year of transplant. Two patients developed ureterostomy strictures requiring revision at the fascial level; one was associated with a UTI.ConclusionIn our small case series, ureterostomy allowed for a single operative intervention with preservation of ureter length for later reconstruction. Ureterostomy is safe and recurrent UTI may be lower in the ureterostomy group. Long‐term evaluation of ureterostomy for urinary diversion in pediatric kidney transplant is warranted.
Going the distance for procurement of donation after circulatory death livers for transplantation—Does reimbursement reflect reality?
Authors: Montgomery John R. , Highet Alexandra , Hobeika Mark J. , Englesbe Michael J. , McElroy Lisa M. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractDonation after circulatory death (DCD) liver transplantation (LT) has increased slowly over the past decade. Given that transplant surgeons generally determine liver offer acceptance, understanding surgeon incentives and disincentives is paramount. The purpose of this study was to assess aggregate travel distance per successful DCD versus deceased after brain death (DBD) liver procurement as a surrogate for surgeon time expenditure and opportunity cost. All consecutive liver offers made to Michigan Medicine from 2006 to 2017 were analyzed. Primary outcome was the summative travel distance (spent on all attempted procurements) per successful liver procurement that resulted in LT. Donation after circulatory death liver offer acceptance was lower than DBD liver offers, as was proportion of successful procurements among accepted offers. Overall, 10 275 miles were travelled for accepted DCD liver offers, resulting in 23 successful procurements (mean 447 miles per successful DCD liver procurement). For accepted DBD liver offers, 197 299 miles were travelled, resulting in 863 successful procurements (mean 229 miles per successful DBD liver procurement). On average, each successful DCD liver procurement required 218 more miles of travel than each successful DBD liver procurement. Current reimbursement policies poorly reflect increased surgeon travel (and time) expenditures between DCD and DBD liver offers.
Aplasia cutis congenita of the scalp: Histopathologic features and clinicopathologic correlation in a case series
Authors: Gassenmaier Maximilian , Bösmüller Hans , Metzler Gisela 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundAplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a rare and heterogeneous disorder characterized by congenital absence of skin. The scalp is the most commonly affected site and lesions may overlie deeper ectodermal abnormalities. The exact etiology is still unknown, and histopathologic features are poorly defined.MethodsA series of 10 cases from nine patients was analyzed to characterize the clinicopathologic spectrum and age‐related changes of ACC of the scalp. Hematoxylin and eosin, S100, Elastica van Gieson, and Weigert elastic stains were performed, and clinical information was retrieved from archived medical files.ResultsPatient ages ranged from 1 day to 39 years (median 57 months). All cases resembled deep‐reaching scars with almost complete loss of all adnexal structures. Isolated residual hair follicles were present in 8/10 and sweat glands and ducts in 2/10 cases. The subcutis was thinned or absent. Elastic fibers were always more fragmented than in normal tissue, and the thickness and density increased over time. There was no gain of adnexal structures with increasing age.ConclusionsACC represents a congenital scarring alopecia with permanent loss of skin appendages. Histopathologic changes resemble a deep‐reaching scar with fragmented elastic fibers and differentiate ACC from all other forms of non‐traumatic congenital alopecias.
SCN8A encephalopathy: Mechanisms and models
Authors: Meisler Miriam H. 
Published: January 2020

SummaryDe novo mutations of the neuronal sodium channel SCN8A have been identified in approximately 2% of individuals with epileptic encephalopathy. These missense mutations alter the biophysical properties of sodium channel Nav1.6 in ways that lead to neuronal hyperexcitability. We generated two mouse models carrying patient mutations N1768D and R1872W to examine the effects on neuronal function in vivo. The conditional R1872W mutation is activated by expression of CRE recombinase, permitting characterization of the effects of the mutation on different classes of neurons and at different points in postnatal development. Preclinical drug testing in these mouse models provides support for several new therapies for this devastating disorder. In contrast with the gain‐of‐function mutations in epilepsy, mutations of SCN8A that result in partial or complete loss of function are associated with intellectual disability and other disorders.
Predicting the impact of sodium channel mutations in human brain disease
Authors: Noebels Jeffrey L. 
Published: January 2020

SummaryGenetic alteration of the sodium channel provides a remarkable opportunity to understand how epilepsy and its comorbidities arise from a molecular disease of excitable membranes, and a chance to create a better future for children with epileptic encephalopathy. In a single cell, the channel reliably acts as a voltage‐sensitive switch, enabling axon impulse firing, whereas at a network level, it becomes a variable rheostat for regulating dynamic patterns of neuronal oscillations, including those underlying cognitive development, seizures, and even premature lethality. Despite steady progress linking genetic variation of the channels with distinctive clinical syndromes, our understanding of the intervening biologic complexity underlying each of them is only just beginning. More research on the functional contribution of individual channel subunits to specific brain networks and cellular plasticity in the developing brain is needed before we can reliably advance from precision diagnosis to precision treatment of inherited sodium channel disorders.
Phenotypic spectrum and genetics of SCN2A‐related disorders, treatment options, and outcomes in epilepsy and beyond
Authors: Wolff Markus , Brunklaus Andreas , Zuberi Sameer M. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPathogenic variants in the SCN2A gene are associated with a variety of neurodevelopmental phenotypes, defined in recent years through multicenter collaboration. Phenotypes include benign (self‐limited) neonatal and infantile epilepsy and more severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathies also presenting in early infancy. There is increasing evidence that an important phenotype linked to the gene is autism and intellectual disability without epilepsy or with rare seizures in later childhood. Other associations of SCN2A include the movement disorders chorea and episodic ataxia. It is likely that as genetic testing enters mainstream practice that new phenotypic associations will be identified. Some missense, gain of function variants tend to present in early infancy with epilepsy, whereas other missense or truncating, loss of function variants present with later‐onset epilepsies or intellectual disability only. Knowledge of both mutation type and functional consequences can guide precision therapy. Sodium channel blockers may be effective antiepileptic medications in gain of function, neonatal and infantile presentations.
Phenotypic and genetic spectrum of SCN8A‐related disorders, treatment options, and outcomes
Authors: Gardella Elena , Møller Rikke S. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPathogenic variants in SCN8A have originally been described in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). However, recent studies have shown that SCN8A variants can be associated with a broader phenotypic spectrum, including the following: (1) Patients with early onset, severe DEE, developing severe cognitive and motor regression, pyramidal/extrapyramidal signs, and cortical blindness. Severe SCN8A‐DEE is characterized by intractable seizures beginning in the first months of life. The seizures are often prolonged focal hypomotor and occur in clusters, with prominent vegetative symptoms (apnea, cyanosis, mydriasis), evolving to clonic or bilateral tonic‐clonic manifestations. Spasm‐like episodes, cortical myoclonus, and recurrent episodes of status epilepticus are also common. Electroencephalograms (EEGs) show progressive background deterioration and multifocal abnormalities, predominant in the posterior regions. (2) Sporadic and familial patients with mild‐to‐moderate intellectual disability, discrete neurological signs, and treatable epilepsy. EEG is abnormal in half of the cases, showing multifocal or diffuse epileptiform abnormalities. (3) Familial cases with benign infantile seizures, sometimes associated with paroxysmal dyskinesia later in life, with no other neurological deficits, normal cognition, and usually normal interictal EEG. (4) Patients without epilepsy but with cognitive and/or behavioral disturbances, or with movement disorders. Extrapyramidal features, such as dyskinesia, ataxia, and choreoathetosis are common in all groups. Early death has been reported in about 5% of the patients, most often in the subgroup of severe DEE. Premature death occurs during early childhood and often for causes other than sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. All epilepsy subgroups exhibit better seizure control with sodium channel blockers, usually at supratherapeutic doses in the severe cases. In severe SCN8A‐DEE, ketogenic diet often has a good effect, whereas levetiracetam has a negative effect, if any. The familial SCN8A‐related epilepsies show an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, whereas the vast majority of SCN8A‐DEEs occur de novo.
Conditional loss of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase alleviates acute obstructive cholestatic liver injury by regulating hepatic bile acid metabolism
Authors: Jia Wen‐Jun , Tang Qiao‐Li , Jiang Shan , Sun Shi‐Quan , Xue Bin , Qiu Yu‐Dong , Li Chao‐Jun , Mao Liang 
Published: January 2020

Previous studies have suggested that metabolites in the mevalonate pathway are involved in hepatic bile acid metabolism, yet the details of this relationship remain unknown. In this study, we found that the hepatic farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) level and the ratio of FPP to geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) were increased in mice with acute obstructive cholestasis compared with mice that underwent a sham operation. In addition, the livers of the mice with acute obstructive cholestasis showed lower expression of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS), which synthesizes GGPP from FPP. When Ggps1 was conditionally deleted in the liver, amelioration of liver injury, as shown by downregulation of the hepatic inflammatory response and decreased hepatocellular apoptosis, was found after ligation of the common bile duct and cholecystectomy (BDLC). Subsequently, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis showed that knocking out Ggps1 decreased the levels of hepatic bile acids, including hydrophobic bile acids. Mechanistically, the disruption of Ggps1 increased the levels of hepatic FPP and its metabolite farnesol, thereby resulting in farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activation, which modulated hepatic bile acid metabolism and reduced hepatic bile acids. It was consistently indicated that digeranyl bisphosphonate, a specific inhibitor of GGPPS, and GW4064, an agonist of FXR, could also alleviate acute obstructive cholestatic liver injury in vivo. In general, GGPPS is critical for modulating acute obstructive cholestatic liver injury, and the inhibition of GGPPS ameliorates acute obstructive cholestatic liver injury by decreasing hepatic bile acids, which is possibly achieved through the activation of FXR‐induced bile acid metabolism.
Climatic suitability mapping and driving factors detection for whole crop maize and sorghum–sudangrass hybrid production in the south area of the Korean Peninsula and Jeju Island
Authors: Peng Jinglun , Kim Moonju , Kim Kyungdae , Sung Kyungil 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe climatic suitability and driving climatic factors of forage crops are considered fluctuant, and their measurements are important for the production of high‐quality forage under the context of global climate change. Meanwhile, need for improving the domestic supply of high‐quality forage sources is increasing in the related parties of forage and livestock production in Korea. Therefore, this study analyzed the climatic suitability conditions of whole crop maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum–sudangrass hybrid (Sorghum bicolor × Sorghum sudanense) in the south area of the Korean Peninsula and Jeju Island. Furtherly, the driving climatic factors on the two summer forage crops were detected through stepwise regression analysis based on historical field experiments and climatic data. The results showed that the climatic conditions in almost all the areas of the south area of the Korean Peninsula and Jeju Island are suitable or moderately suitable for the cultivation of the two forage crops except some mountainous areas. However, since the precipitation in this region is concentrated in the growth period of the two forage crops, the accumulated precipitation was detected stressful on their yields.