bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do certified cancer centers provide more cost‐effective care? A health economic analysis of colon cancer care in Germany using administrative data
Authors: Cheng Chih‐Yuan , Datzmann Thomas , Hernandez Diego , Schmitt Jochen , Schlander Michael 
Published: July 2021

AbstractHospital certification has become an important measure to improve cancer care quality, with the potential effect of prolonging patient survival and reducing medical spending. However, yet to be explored is the cost‐effectiveness of cancer care provided in certified hospitals, considering significant additional costs incurred from certification requirements. We performed a cost‐effectiveness analysis (CEA) using two colon cancer populations (N = 1909) treated in different levels of certified hospitals (CHs) vs noncertified hospitals (NCHs) from a healthcare system's perspective. We matched patient‐level data of incident colon cancer cases, diagnosed between 2008 and 2013 from a large statutory health insurance in Saxony, Germany, to calculate net treatment costs by phase (initial, continuing and terminal phase). The costs were supplemented with extra costs from 31 additional services required for certification. Effectiveness measure was total survival time in life‐years. Outcome of interest was incremental costs per additional life‐year. The annualized net colon cancer treatment costs by phase showed a U shape with high costs in the initial (mean €26 855; 95% CI €25 058‐€28 652) and the terminal phases (mean €30 096; 95% CI €26 199‐€33 993). The base‐case CEA results and all sensitivity analyses consistently demonstrated longer survival and lower costs for the colon cancer cohort treated in CHs vs NCHs. To conclude, we used administrative data to derive the first cost‐effectiveness evidence supporting that colon cancer care delivered in the certified cancer centers in Germany improves survival outcomes and saves costs from a healthcare system's perspective. Generalization of the study results should be exercised with caution.
Does parochial cooperation exist in childhood and adolescence? Ameta‐analysis
Authors: Lazić Aleksandra , Purić Danka , Krstić Ksenija 
Published: July 2021

Although previous meta‐analytic evidence supports the existence of parochialism in cooperation among adults, the extent to which children and adolescents are more willing to incur a personal cost to benefit ingroups, compared to outgroups, is not yet clear. We provide the first meta‐analysis on the existence and magnitude of parochialism in cooperation among pre‐adults. Based on 20 experimental economics studies (k = 69,N = 5268, age = 3–19, 12 countries, published 2008–2019), a multilevel meta‐analytic model revealed a small overall effect size indicating that children and adolescents were more cooperative towards ingroups (d = 0.22, 95% CI [0.07, 0.38]). A series of single‐moderator analyses tested for the following conditions: participant age and sex; game type ([mini‐]dictator game, prisoner's dilemma, public goods dilemma, trust game, ultimatum game); outcome interdependence; membership manipulation (between‐ vs. within‐subjects); group type (natural vs. experimental); reward type (monetary vs. non‐monetary); and country of the participant. Parochial cooperation did not vary with participants' age. Parochialism was larger in non‐interdependent (dictator‐type) compared to interdependent (bargaining and social dilemma) games. There were no moderating effects of group type, membership manipulation or reward type. To provide more data on how parochialism develops, primary studies should report age ranges more precisely and use more restricted age groups.
Inhibition of TGF‐β Increases Bone Volume and Strength in a Mouse Model of Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Authors: Greene Benjamin , Russo Ryan J , Dwyer Shannon , Malley Katie , Roberts Errin , Serrielo Joseph , Piepenhagen Peter , Cummings Sheila , Ryan Susan , Zarazinski Christine , Uppuganti Sasidhar , Bukanov Nikolai , Nyman Jeffry S , Cox Megan K , Liu Shiguang , Ibraghimov‐Beskrovnaya Oxana , Sabbagh Yves 
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACTOsteogenesis imperfecta (OI), is a genetic disorder of bone fragility caused by mutations in collagen I or proteins involved in collagen processing. Previous studies in mice and human OI bones have shown that excessive activation of TGF‐β signaling plays an important role in dominant and recessive OI disease progression. Inhibition of TGF‐β signaling with a murine pan‐specific TGF‐β neutralizing antibody (1D11) was shown to significantly increase trabecular bone volume and long bone strength in mouse models of OI. To investigate the frequency of dosing and dose options of TGF‐β neutralizing antibody therapy, we assessed the effect of 1D11 on disease progression in a dominant OI mouse model (col1a2 gene mutation at G610C). In comparison with OI mice treated with a control antibody, we attempted to define mechanistic effects of 1D11 measured via μCT, biomechanical, dynamic histomorphometry, and serum biomarkers of bone turnover. In addition, osteoblast and osteoclast numbers in histological bone sections were assessed to better understand the mechanism of action of the 1D11 antibody in OI. Here we show that 1D11 treatment resulted in both dose and frequency dependency, increases in trabecular bone volume fraction and ultimate force in lumbar bone, and ultimate force, bending strength, yield force, and yield strength in the femur (p ≤ 0.05). Suppression of serum biomarkers of osteoblast differentiation, osteocalcin, resorption, CTx‐1, and bone formation were observed after 1D11 treatment of OI mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showed dose and frequency dependent decreases in runt‐related transcription factor, and increase in alkaline phosphatase in lumbar bone sections. In addition, a significant decrease in TRACP and the number of osteoclasts to bone surface area was observed with 1D11 treatment. Our results show that inhibition of the TGF‐β pathway corrects the high‐turnover aspects of bone disease and improves biomechanical properties of OI mice. These results highlight the potential for a novel treatment for osteogenesis imperfecta. © 2021 Sanofi‐Genzyme. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
The diverse origin of bone-forming osteoblasts
Authors: Mizoguchi Toshihide , Ono Noriaki 
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACT
Osteoblasts are the only cells that can give rise to bones in vertebrates. Thus, one of the most important functions of these metabolically active cells is mineralized matrix production. Because osteoblasts have a limited lifespan, they must be constantly replenished by preosteoblasts, their immediate precursors. Because disruption of the regulation of bone-forming osteoblasts results in a variety of bone diseases, a better understanding of the origin of these cells by defining the mechanisms of bone development, remodeling, and regeneration is central to the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In recent years, substantial new insights into the origin of osteoblasts—largely owing to rapid technological advances in murine lineage-tracing approaches and other single-cell technologies—have been obtained. Collectively, these findings indicate that osteoblasts involved in bone formation under various physiological, pathological, and therapeutic conditions can be obtained from numerous sources. The origins of osteoblasts include, but are not limited to, chondrocytes in the growth plate, stromal cells in the bone marrow, quiescent bone-lining cells on the bone surface, and specialized fibroblasts in the craniofacial structures, such as sutures and periodontal ligaments. Because osteoblasts can be generated from local cellular sources, bones can flexibly respond to regenerative and anabolic cues. However, whether osteoblasts derived from different cellular sources have distinct functions remains to be investigated. Currently, we are at the initial stage to aptly unravel the incredible diversity of the origins of bone-forming osteoblasts. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
CCT6A may act as a potential biomarker reflecting tumor size, lymphatic metastasis, FIGO stage, and prognosis in cervical cancer patients
Authors: Ma Jiancai , Yang Liping , Feng Haiqin , Zheng Lulu , Meng Huifang , Li Xuefei 
Published: July 2021

AbstractObjectiveChaperonin‐containing tailless complex polypeptide subunit 6A (CCT6A) is a critical regulator and newly identified clinical biomarker of several cancers, while its correlation with the clinical characteristics and prognosis of cervical cancer patients is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore this issue.MethodsChaperonin‐containing tailless complex polypeptide subunit 6A expression in tumor and tumor‐adjacent tissues from 198 cervical cancer patients who underwent resection were detected by immunohistochemistry assay and reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Besides, the clinicopathological features and survival data of cervical cancer patients were collected.ResultsChaperonin‐containing tailless complex polypeptide subunit 6A protein and mRNA levels were both increased in tumor tissues compared with tumor‐adjacent tissues (both p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that CCT6A protein (AUC: 0.774, 95% CI: 0.729–0.819) and mRNA levels (AUC: 0.904, 95% CI: 0.874–0.934) well discriminated tumor tissues from tumor‐adjacent tissues. Besides, correlation analyses found that CCT6A protein and mRNA levels were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and FIGO stage (all p < 0.05), apart from which CCT6A mRNA level was also positively associated with tumor size (p = 0.032). In addition, CCT6A protein and mRNA levels were negatively correlated with accumulating disease‐free survival (both p < 0.05); meanwhile CCT6A mRNA level was negatively associated with accumulating overall survival as well (p = 0.010).ConclusionChaperonin‐containing tailless complex polypeptide subunit 6A is elevated in tumor tissues, and its high expression associates with larger tumor size, lymph node metastasis, higher FIGO stage, and worse prognosis in cervical cancer patients.
The Hologic Aptima SARS‐CoV‐2 assay enables high ratio pooling saving reagents and improving turnaround time
Authors: Newsom Kimberly , Zhang Yuan , Chamala Srikar , Martinez Katherine , Clare‐Salzler Michael , Starostik Petr 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe Hologic Aptima™ TMA SARS‐CoV‐2 assay was employed to test pooled nasopharyngeal (NP) samples to evaluate the performance of pooled sample testing and characterize variables influencing results.MethodsResults on 1033 previously tested NP samples were retrieved to characterize the relative light units (RLU) of SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive samples in the tested population. The pooling strategy of combining 10 SARS‐CoV‐2 samples into one pool (10/1) was used in this study. The results were compared with neat sample testing using the same Aptima™ TMA SARS‐CoV‐2 assay and also the CDC RT‐PCR and the Cepheid SARS‐CoV‐2 assays.ResultsThe Aptima assay compares favorably with both CDC RT‐PCR and the Cepheid SARS‐CoV‐2 assays. Once samples are pooled 10 to 1 as in our experiments, the resulting signal strength of the assay suffers. A divide opens between pools assembled from strong‐positive versus only weak‐positive samples. Pools of the former can be reliably detected with positive percent agreement (PPA) of 95.2%, while pools of the latter are frequently misclassified as negative with PPA of 40%. When the weak‐positive samples with kRLU value lower than 1012 constitute 3.4% of the total sample profile, the assay PPA approaches 93.4% suggesting that 10/1 pooled sample testing by the Aptima assay is an effective screening tool for SARS‐CoV‐2.ConclusionPerforming pooled testing, one should monitor the weak positives with kRLU lower than 1012 or quantification cycle (Cq) value higher than 35 on an ongoing basis and adjust pooling approaches to avoid reporting false negatives.
Understanding community violence: A critical realist framework for community psychology
Authors: Malherbe Nick , Seedat Mohamed , Suffla Shahnaaz 
Published: July 2021

AbstractCritical realism can unsettle a number of orthodoxies that surround the study of community violence within community psychology. This is to say, because critical realism is embraced so rarely by community psychologists, it can institute a parallax shift within the discipline, whereby we are granted alternative ways of perceiving violence within community contexts. Drawing on transdisciplinary thought, we offer in this article a retroductive framework for studying community violence. This framework, we argue, can facilitate an understanding of structurally violent causal mechanisms through interrogating how direct—or observable—violence intersects with epistemic violence (i.e., harmful and inaccurate representation). Demonstrating the efficacy of this framework, we provide an example from our work, where participants from a low‐income South African community produced and screened a documentary film on community violence and collective resistance. Reflecting on the ways by which this film engaged xenophobic violence in particular, we examine how community members used the film to trouble perceptions of community violence and advance a multifaceted antiviolence agenda. By way of conclusion, we consider how our framework can be used to inform a critical realist community psychology, wherein violent social structures are analyzed against the agentic community‐driven initiatives which oppose these structures.
Fibroblast growth factor and kidney disease: Updates for emerging novel therapeutics
Authors: Trivedi Neerja , Kumar Devendra 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe discovery of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) provided a profound new insight into physiological and metabolic functions. FGF has a large family by having divergent structural elements and enable functional divergence and specification. FGF and FGFRs are highly expressed during kidney development. Signals from the ureteric bud regulate morphogenesis, nephrogenesis, and nephron progenitor survival. Thus, FGF signaling plays an important role in kidney progenitor cell aggregation at the sites of new nephron formation. This review will summarize the current knowledge about functions of FGF signaling in kidney development and their ability to promote regeneration in injured kidneys and its use as a biomarker and therapeutic target in kidney diseases. Further studies are essential to determine the predictive significance of the various FGF/FGFR deviations and to integrate them into clinical algorithms.
Pathogen and heavy metal contamination in urban agroecosystems of northern Ghana: Influence of biochar application and wastewater irrigation
Authors: Asirifi Isaac , Kaetzl Korbinian , Werner Steffen , Saba Courage K. S. , Abagale Felix K. , Amoah Philip , Marschner Bernd 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe benefit of biochar as a soil fertility enhancer is well known and has been broadly investigated. Equally, many tropical and subtropical countries use wastewater for irrigation in urban agriculture. To assess the related health risks, we determined pathogen and heavy metal fate associated with biochar application and wastewater irrigation in the urban agriculture of northern Ghana. Rice (Oryza L.) husk biochar (20 t ha−1), N–P–K 15–15–15 fertilizer (212.5 kg ha−1), and their combinations were evaluated in a field‐based experiment. Untreated wastewater and tap water served as irrigation water. Red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) was used as a test crop and was grown in wet (WS) and dry (DS) cropping seasons. Irrigation water, soil, and vegetables were analyzed for heavy metals, Escherichia coli, fecal coliform, helminth eggs, and Salmonella spp. Unlike the pathogens, analyzed heavy metals from irrigation water and soil were below the FAO/WHO permissible standard for agricultural activities. Wastewater irrigation caused E. coli concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 0.6 (WS) and from 0.7 to 0.8 (DS) log10 colony forming units per gram fresh weight (CFU gFW−1) on vegetables and from 1.7 to 2.1 (WS) and from 0.6 to 1.0 (DS) log10CFU per gram dry weight (gDW−1) in soil. Average log10CFU gFW−1 rates of 6.19 and 3.44 fecal coliform were found on vegetables, whereas in soil, 4.26 and 4.58 log10CFU gDW−1 were observed in WS and DS, respectively. Helminth egg populations were high in wastewater and were transferred to the crops and soil. Biochar did not affect bacteria contamination. Pathogen contamination on vegetables and in soil were directly linked to the irrigation water, with minimal or no difference observed from biochar application.
Lack of correlation between the SARS‐CoV‐2 cycle threshold (Ct) value and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Camargo Jose F. , Lin Rick Y. , Komanduri Krishna V. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractProblemThe utility of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) values in the management of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) remains controversial.MethodsWe assessed the correlation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) Ct values in nasopharyngeal swab samples with the oxygen requirements at the time of sample collection. Specimens were tested with the Simplexa PCR platform, which targets the SARS‐CoV‐2 ORF1ab and S genes.ResultsWe identified 23 COVID‐19 patients with 49 Ct values available. While Ct values from ORF1ab and S genes were highly correlated for a given specimen, there was no correlation between Ct values for any of these target genes and the oxygen requirements of the patient at the time of sample collection. We found no differences in the initial nor the nadir Ct values between survivors and non‐survivors or mild/moderate versus severe/critical illness at the maximum point of illness.ConclusionSARS‐CoV‐2 Ct values have limited value in the management of COVID‐19.
Evaluation of lumbar spinal fusion utilizing recombinant human platelet derived growth factor‐B chain homodimer (rhPDGF‐BB) combined with a bovine collagen/β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) matrix in an ovine model
Authors: Gadomski Benjamin C. , Labus Kevin M. , Puttlitz Christian M. , McGilvray Kirk C. , Regan Daniel P. , Nelson Brad , Seim Howard B. , Easley Jeremiah T. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackground contextWhile the clinical effectiveness of recombinant human Platelet Derived Growth Factor‐B chain homodimer combined with collagen and β‐tricalcium phosphate (rhPDGF‐BB + collagen/β‐TCP) treatment for indications involving hindfoot and ankle is well‐established, it is not approved for use in spinal interbody fusion, and the use of autograft remains the gold standard.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the effects of rhPDGF‐BB + collagen/β‐TCP treatment on lumbar spine interbody fusion in an ovine model to those of autograft bone and collagen/β‐TCP treatments using biomechanical, radiographic, and histological assessment techniques.Study designThirty‐two skeletally mature Columbian Rambouillet sheep were used to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of rhPDGF‐BB + collagen/β‐TCP matrix in a lumbar spinal fusion model. Interbody polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages contained either autograft, rhPDGF‐BB + collagen/β‐TCP, collagen/β‐TCP matrix, or left empty.MethodsAnimals were sacrificed 8‐ or 16‐weeks post‐surgery. Spinal fusion was evaluated via post‐sacrifice biomechanical, micro‐computed tomography (μCT), and histological analysis. Outcomes were statistically compared using a two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with an alpha value of 0.05 and a Tukey post‐hoc test.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between groups within treatment timepoints for flexion‐extension, lateral bending, or axial rotation range of motion, neutral zone, neutral zone stiffness, or elastic zone stiffness. μCT bone volume fraction was significantly greater between treatment groups independent of timepoint where Autograft and rhPDGF‐BB + collagen/β‐TCP treatments demonstrated significantly greater bone volume fraction as compared to collagen/β‐TCP (P = .026 and P = .038, respectively) and Empty cage treatments (P = .002 and P = .003, respectively). μCT mean bone density fraction was most improved in rhPDGF‐BB + collagen/β‐TCP specimens at the 8 week and 16‐week timepoints as compared to all other treatment groups. There were no statistically significant differences in histomorphometric measurements of bone, soft tissue, or empty space between rhPDGF‐BB + collagen/β‐TCP and autograft treatments.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that the use of rhPDGF‐BB combined with collagen/β‐TCP promotes spinal fusion comparable to that of autograft bone.Clinical significanceThe data indicate that rhPDGF‐BB combined with collagen/β‐TCP promotes spinal fusion comparably to autograft bone treatment and may offer a viable alternative in large animal spinal fusion. Future prospective clinical studies are necessary to fully understand the role of rhPDGF‐BB combined with collagen/β‐TCP in human spinal fusion healing.
Quantitative analysis of nine isoflavones in traditional Chinese medicines using mixed micellar liquid chromatography containing sodium dodecylsulfate/β‐cyclodextrin supramolecular amphiphiles
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhang Yufei , Ma Haixia , Yang Fatang , Duan Tianjiao , Zhang Yuhui , Dong Yuming 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIsoflavone is one of the phytoestrogens that have estrogenic effects, so it is usually served as an active ingredient for quality control of traditional Chinese medicines rich in isoflavones. Nine isoflavones commonly found in traditional Chinese medicines were separated in 30 min using mixed micellar liquid chromatography. The mobile phase consisted of 0.08 M sodium dodecylsulfate and 6.05 mM β‐cyclodextrin:methanol (87:13, v/v) at pH 3 and eluted isocratically at 1 mL/min through a C18 column. In this study, we systematically optimized the chromatographic conditions including the pH, the composition and concentration of surfactants, the type and ratio of organic solvents, and column temperature. The method was validated according to the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use guidelines. There is no report using micellar liquid chromatography to detect isoflavones, and the optimized method has been successfully applied to quantify isoflavones in red clover and Radix Puerariae. This method is efficient, cheap, and convenient. Finally, we verified the existence of supramolecular amphiphilic vesicles in the mobile phase by transmission electron microscopy to explain the increased chromatographic efficiency.