bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immature brain structures were associated with poorer eye movement performance at 8 years of age in preterm born children
Authors: Bucci Maria Pia , Caldani Simona , Boutillier Béatrice , Frérot Alice , Farnoux Caroline , Virlouvet Anne‐Laure , Rideau‐Batista‐Novais Aline , Trousson Clémence , Biran Valerie 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAimEye movements have rarely been explored in preterm born children. The aim of this study was to compare horizontal eye movements in children born preterm and full term when they reached 8 years of age.MethodsEye movements were recorded in 24 preterm born children (18 boys) and 26 matched controls (19 boys), recruited by a French hospital, using an eye tracker. This identified different types of visually guided saccades, namely step, gap, overlap and antisaccades and pursuit eye movements. The saccades task measured the latency and the percentage of anticipatory and express saccades and errors. The pursuit task measured the gain and percentage of intrusive saccades.ResultsThis study confirmed that children born at 24–28 weeks of gestation demonstrated a global deficit in inhibitory processes compared to children born full term. The saccades were less precise in the preterm group, anticipatory and express saccades were elevated and there was a high occurrence of intrusive saccades during pursuit movements.ConclusionThese findings suggest that preterm born children have immature brain structures, particularly the parietal and frontal cortexes that are responsible for both saccade and pursuit performance. These could have been the cause of the abnormal inhibitory control measured in this study.
Cortistatin regulates fibrosis and myofibroblast activation in experimental hepatotoxic‐ and cholestatic‐induced liver injury
Authors: Benitez Raquel , Caro Marta , Andres‐Leon Eduardo , O'Valle Francisco , Delgado Mario 
Published: November 2021

Background and PurposeLiver fibrosis induced by chronic hepatic injury remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Identification of susceptibility/prognosis factors and new therapeutic tools for treating hepatic fibrotic disorders are urgent medical needs. Cortistatin is a neuropeptide with potent anti‐inflammatory and anti‐fibrotic activities in lung that binds to receptors that are expressed in liver fibroblasts and hepatic stellate cells. We evaluated the capacity of cortistatin to regulate liver fibrosis.Experimental ApproachWe experimentally induced liver fibrosis in mice by chronic CCl4 exposure and bile duct ligation and evaluated the histopathological signs and fibrotic markers.Key ResultsHepatic expression of cortistatin inversely correlated with liver fibrosis grade in mice and humans with hepatic disorders. Cortistatin‐deficient mice showed exacerbated signs of liver damage and fibrosis and increased mortality rates when challenged by hepatotoxic and cholestatic injury. Compared with wild‐type mice, non‐parenchymal liver cells isolated from cortistatin‐deficient mice showed increased presence of cells with activated myofibroblast phenotypes and a differential genetic signature that is indicative of activated hepatic stellate cells and periportal fibroblasts and of myofibroblasts with active contractile apparatus. Cortistatin treatment reversed in vivo and in vitro these exaggerated fibrogenic phenotypes and protected from progression to severe liver fibrosis in response to hepatic injury.Conclusion and ImplicationsWe identify cortistatin as an endogenous molecular brake on liver fibrosis and its deficiency as a potential poor‐prognosis marker for chronic hepatic disorders that link with fibrosis. Cortistatin‐based therapies emerge as attractive strategies for ameliorating severe hepatic fibrosis of various aetiologies.
Cost‐effectiveness of carbon‐ion radiotherapy versus stereotactic body radiotherapy for non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Okazaki Shohei , Shibuya Kei , Takura Tomoyuki , Miyasaka Yuhei , Kawamura Hidemasa , Ohno Tatsuya 
Published: November 2021

AbstractCarbon‐ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for clinical stage I non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is used as an advanced medical treatment regimen in Japan. Carbon‐ion radiotherapy reportedly aids in achieving excellent treatment outcomes, despite its high medical cost. We aimed to compare CIRT with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in terms of cost‐effectiveness for treating clinical stage I NSCLC. Data of patients with clinical stage I NSCLC treated with CIRT or SBRT at Gunma University between 2010 and 2015 were analyzed. The CIRT and SBRT groups included 62 and 27 patients, respectively. After propensity‐score matching, both groups comprised 15 patients. Life year (LY) was used as an indicator of outcome. The CIRT technical fee was 3 140 000 JPY. There was no technical fee for the second CIRT carried out on the same organ within 2 years. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated by dividing the incremental cost by the incremental LY for 5 years after treatment. Sensitivity analysis was applied to evaluate the impact of LY or costs of each group on ICER. The ICERs were 7 491 017 JPY/LY and 3 708 330 JPY/LY for all patients and matched patients, respectively. Hospitalization and examination costs were significantly higher in the CIRT group, and the impact of the CIRT technical costs was smaller than other costs and LY. Carbon‐ion radiotherapy is a cost‐effective treatment approach. However, our findings suggest that reducing excessive costs by considering the validity and necessity of examinations and hospitalizations would make CIRT a more cost‐effective approach.
The Asian wasp Vespa velutina nigrithorax: Entomological and allergological characteristics
Authors: Vidal Carmen 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe yellow‐legged or Asian wasp (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) has spread rapidly across Europe since its first introduction in France, in 2004. Originally from South‐East Asia, it is considered an invasive species outside its native region. Apart from the ecological and economic implications of its presence, it may cause health problems to humans due to the toxic and allergenic components of its venom. Vespa velutina nigrithorax has become the most prevalent cause of anaphylaxis due to Hymenoptera venom in some regions of Spain. Although sIgE against both antigen 5 (Vesp v 5) and A1‐phospholipase (Vesp v 1) has been detected in these patients, only Vesp v 5 may be considered a dominant allergen. Interestingly, Vesp v 1 appears to be a glycosylated allergen different from A1‐phospholipases from other species. Inhibition studies suggest that Vespula spp venom could behave as primary sensitizer. Besides, changes in sIgE and sIgG4 during Vespula venom immunotherapy in patients with anaphylaxis due to V. velutina support the use of Vespula venom extracts to treat these patients. The purpose of this review is to explore the biological behaviour of V. velutina and to summarize the current knowledge of the allergic reactions provoked by this wasp.
The Polysorbate containing AstraZeneca COVID‐19 vaccine is tolerated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) allergic patients
Authors: Sellaturay Priya , Gurugama Padmalal , Harper Verah , Dymond Tom , Ewan Pamela , Nasser Shuaib 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundPolyethylene glycol (PEG) is the excipient found in the mRNA COVID‐19 vaccines. We previously demonstrated PEG allergy was a cause of severe anaphylaxis to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID‐19 vaccine. PEG is widely used in many household products, cosmetics and medicines. However PEG allergy is rare, there have been few confirmed cases of PEG allergy. The excipient of potential concern in the AstraZeneca COVID‐19 vaccine is polysorbate 80 (PS80). Cross‐reactivity between PEG and polysorbate has been suggested, based on their composition and skin‐test data. The aim of this study was to determine whether PEG‐allergic patients could be vaccinated with the PS80 containing AstraZeneca COVID‐19 vaccine.MethodEight patients with PEG allergy were identified by the allergy clinic at Cambridge University Hospital. Patients underwent skin prick testing to PS80 (20%) and to the AstraZeneca COVID‐19 vaccine prior to vaccination.ResultsAll eight patients allergic to PEG tolerated the AstraZeneca COVID‐19 vaccine, even in 2 patients where the PS80 skin prick test was positive and 1 with a positive skin prick test to the AstraZeneca COVID‐19 vaccine.ConclusionPatients allergic to PEG, previously denied COVID vaccination, may now be safely vaccinated with the PS80 containing AstraZeneca vaccine and need only avoid the PEG‐containing mRNA COVID‐19 vaccines. This opens up the possibility that these patients will also tolerate other vaccines containing PS80 such as the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson COVID‐19 vaccine. Clinical cross‐reactivity between PEG and PS80 did not occur in this vaccine setting.
Human prion disease
Authors: Satoh Katsuya , Nakamura Tatsufumi 
Published: November 2021

AbstractHuman prion diseases (HPDs) are progressive and fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by abnormal prion protein (PrPSc). They can be sporadic, genetic or acquired. Sporadic HPDs include sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) and sporadic fatal insomnia. Genetic HPDs include genetic CJD, Gerstman–Sträussler–Scheinker disease and fatal familial insomnia. Acquired HPDs include Kuru, variant CJD and iatrogenic CJD. The World Health Organization clinical diagnostic criteria for HPDs include clinical findings, cerebrospinal fluid protein markers and electroencephalography, and the UK and European clinical diagnostic criteria include a combination of clinical findings, 14‐3‐3 protein in the cerebrospinal fluid, magnetic resonance imaging diffusion‐weighted imaging and electroencephalography. Recently, the development and clinical application of real‐time quaking‐induced conversion has allowed pre‐mortem diagnosis of sporadic CJD. The real‐time quaking‐induced conversion assay allows detection of >1 fg of PrPSc in diluted CJD brain homogenate, as well as a variety of biological tissues and cerebrospinal fluid. However, the real‐time quaking‐induced conversion assay does not provide prognostic data and has lower diagnostic accuracy for some rarer, atypical prion diseases. Furthermore, recent advancements in laboratory testing and magnetic resonance imaging diffusion‐weighted imaging have shown improved diagnostic accuracy for prion diseases. Clinical trials of prion disease treatments have recently begun in many countries. The therapeutic window consists mainly of the early stage of disease, and few clinical studies have examined the role of biomarkers at this stage. Therefore, biomarkers, imaging and clinical symptoms might be extremely important for the diagnosis of prion diseases.Clinical trials of prion disease treatments have recently begun in many countries. The therapeutic window mainly consists of the early stage of disease, and few clinical studies have examined the role of biomarkers at this stage. Therefore, biomarkers, imaging and clinical symptoms might be extremely important for the diagnosis of prion diseases.
Are colorectal surgery patients willing to accept an increased risk of surgical site infection to avoid mechanical bowel preparation? Implications for future trial design
Authors: Gu Steven , Brar Mantaj , Schmocker Selina , Kennedy Erin 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAimRecent evidence has shown no difference in the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) with oral antibiotics alone (OA) and oral antibiotics in combination with mechanical bowel preparation (OA + MBP), suggesting that the use of MBP may be safely avoided. The aim of this work was to determine the absolute risk of SSI that patients would accept with OA relative to OA + MBP.MethodStandardized, in‐person interviews were conducted using the threshold task with patients attending colorectal surgery clinics who had previously had MBP. Participants were asked which option they preferred when the absolute risk of SSI was 7% for both options. Next, their switch point was determined by increasing the risk of SSI with OA by 1% intervals until their preference changed from OA to OA + MBP. Median switch point scores were reported and represented the absolute increased risk of SSI that patients would accept with OA relative to OA + MBP.ResultsFifty patients completed the interview. All participants chose OA over OA + MBP when the risk of SSI was 7% for both options. Switch points ranged from 8% to 25%, with a median of 10%, indicating that participants were willing to accept up to a 3% increase in absolute risk of developing a SSI with OA to avoid MBP.ConclusionsThe results showed that patients are willing to accept an increased risk of up to 3% for SSI with OA relative to OA + MBP. Incorporating patient preferences into the planning of future trials has the potential to improve the uptake of trial results into clinical practice.
Positive emotion enhances conflict processing in preschoolers
Authors: Berger Philipp , Grosse Wiesmann Charlotte 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe rapid detection and resolution of conflict between opposing action tendencies is crucial for our ability to engage in goal‐directed behavior. Research in adults suggests that emotions can serve as a “relevance detector” that alarms attentional and sensory systems, thereby leading to more efficient conflict processing. In contrast, previous research in children has almost exclusively stressed the impeding influence of emotion on the attentional system, as suggested by the protracted development of performance in “hot” executive function tasks. Do preschool children show a facilitative effect of emotion on conflict processing? We addressed this question applying a modified version of a color flanker task that either involved or did not involve positive emotional stimuli in preschool children (N = 43, with preregistered Bayesian sequential design, aged 2.8–7.0 years). Our results show a robust conflict effect with higher error rates in incongruent compared to congruent trials. Crucially, conflict resolution was faster in emotional compared to neutral conditions. Furthermore, while efficient conflict processing increases with age, we find evidence against an age‐related change in the influence of positive emotion on conflict processing. Taken together, these findings provide indication that positive emotion can trigger efficient control processes already from early on in life. In contrast to the predominant view in developmental psychology, this indicates that, depending on the role that emotion has in conflict processing, emotion may show a facilitative or impeding effect already in the preschool period.
Application of the RNA interference technique to Xenopus embryos: Specific reduction of the β‐catenin gene products by short double‐stranded RNA produced by recombinant human Dicer
Authors: Tagami Yuta , Nishiyama Takeshi , Omote Michiko , Watanabe Minoru 
Published: November 2021

AbstractRNA interference (RNAi) is a technique for suppressing the function of specific genes and is widely used in many organisms, including yeast, nematodes, flies, plants, mice, and cultured mammalian cells. As of date, this technique has not been successfully applied to Xenopus laevis embryos. In this study, we applied RNAi to Xenopus embryos using β‐catenin as a model gene. Injection of long double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) corresponding to the 3′‐untranslated region of β‐catenin mRNA into embryos induced embryonic lethality without any specific phenotype. However, injection of short dsRNA, generated from long dsRNA by treatment with recombinant human Dicer, into embryos resulted in decreased expression of endogenous β‐catenin mRNA and protein, as well as decreased Wnt signaling activity in the embryos. The decrease in β‐catenin mRNA and protein levels was observed only after mid‐blastula transition. Embryos injected with short dsRNA showed a characteristic phenotype of enlarged anterior structures and loss of posterior structures. These phenotypes, as well as the increased expression of the anterior gene and decreased expression of the posterior gene, suggest that RNAi against the β‐catenin gene suppresses the “late Wnt signaling” involved in proper anterior–posterior patterning of Xenopus embryos. The effect of RNAi on Xenopus embryos was also found to be sensitive to temperature. These results strongly suggest that the RNAi technique can be applied to Xenopus embryos using short dsRNAs, appropriate temperature control, and proper selection of target genes.
Unusual localization of vegetations in a native aortic valve infective endocarditis
Authors: Bruls Samuel , Dulgheru Raluca , Lancellotti Patrizio , Defraigne Jean‐Olivier 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn case of valvular infective endocarditis, the infection is mainly localized on the flow side of the valves or at damaged valvular endothelium. We describe a rare case of an aortic valvular ineffective endocarditis with an aortic‐valve vegetation situated on the aortic side of the valve. We believe this is the first description of this unusual localization of vegetations in a native aortic valve.
Campylobacter concisus gastritis masquerading as Helicobacter pylori on gastric biopsy
Authors: Ferreira Elizabeth O , Lagacé‐Wiens Philippe , Klein Julianne 
Published: November 2021

AbstractObjectiveCampylobacter concisus is a Gram‐negative rod closely related to Helicobacter pylori. We sought to identify gastric biopsies positive for C. concisus that had been misdiagnosed as H. pylori gastritis in our routine surgical pathology practice.Materials and MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of gastric biopsies in our regional microbiology and pathology electronic records to identify cases that were submitted for H. pylori testing in which C. consicus was identified on culture and how many had concurrent biopsies sent to pathology for histologic assessment over a two‐year period (2017–2018). Pathologic findings in the gastric biopsies were reviewed and immunohistochemical staining for H. pylori was performed.Results50 of 2191 gastric biopsy specimens submitted to microbiology in 2017–18 grew C. concisus (2.3%), compared to 168 in which H. pylori was identified (7.7%). Twenty‐eight cases had concurrent histology. A total of four cases (three from 2017 and one from 2018) demonstrated organisms morphologically identical to H. pylori in the H&E sections, of which all were H. pylori immunoreactive.ConclusionsOur case series is the first to demonstrate that C. concisus can mimic H. pylori gastritis in routine biopsy pathology.
Effects of an individualized training course on technical quality and periapical status of teeth treated endodontically by dentists in the Public Dental Service in Norway: An observational intervention study
Authors: Jordal Kristin , Skudutyte‐Rysstad Rasa , Sen Abhijit , Torgersen Gerald , Ørstavik Dag , Sunde Pia Titterud 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAimTo investigate the effect of a continuing education course on technical quality and treatment outcome for root filled permanent teeth in Møre and Romsdal County, Norway.MethodologyFifty‐two dentists employed in the Public Dental Service in Møre and Romsdal county, Norway, completed a two‐day continuing education course in root canal treatment. Periapical radiographs of root filled teeth treated before and after the course, with at least one‐year follow‐up were identified and scored for technical quality and periapical status. Technical root filling quality was assessed by density and length and the treatment outcome by PAI scores. Treatment information was achieved from the county's electronic dental record system. Information regarding the dental practitioners' background and treatment procedure routines was collected by a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics analyses and mixed‐effect logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of the course.ResultsRadiographs were available for 224 teeth root filled before and for 221 teeth after the course. The proportion of teeth with adequate root filling quality was significantly lower after the course (p = .006), associated mainly with short root fillings (p < .001). No significant differences were observed in treatment outcome. There were, however, large differences in treatment outcome amongst subgroups of dentists. Further, there was evidence of effect modification by the continuing education course on periapical outcome by patient's age (pinteraction = .0023) suggesting that teeth in patients ≤18 years healed relatively better post‐course compared to patients >18 years.ConclusionsA two‐day continuing education course in root canal treatment attended by Public Dental Service dentists in Norway did not improve the technical quality of root fillings or periapical status associated with root filled teeth.
The clinical characteristics and prognosis of Chinese acute myeloid leukemia patients with CSF3R mutations
Authors: Chen Xiuhua , Xu Jing , Fang Fang , Xu Zhifang , Tan Yanhong , Chang JianMei , Muyey Daniel Muteb , Wang Hongwei 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe colony‐stimulating factor 3 receptor (CSF3R) controls the proliferation of myeloid progenitors and differentiation into neutrophils. However, the clinical features and prognostic significance of CSF3R mutations in primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients are still unclear.Methods158 newly diagnosed AML patients were retrospectively evaluated in our study. Amplicon‐based next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and multiplex‐nested reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) were used to investigate the 34 genes and 43 fusion genes associated with leukemia. In addition, clinical features, mutation incidence, and survival outcomes were compared between patients with CSF3R mutation and patients with wild‐type CSF3R.ResultsIn our study, CSF3R mutations were found in 7.6% (12/158) cases. The membrane‐proximal amino acid substitution T618I (58.3%) was the most frequent mutation. CSF3R mutations were associated with higher WBC counts (P = .035). CEBPA mutation, TET2 mutation, and RUNX1‐RUNX1T1 translocation were the most common co‐mutations of CSF3R. The CSF3R gene was mutually exclusive with signal transduction genes (P = .029), while positively associated with TET2 mutations (P = .014). CSF3R mutations had no effect on CR1 (P = .935), R (P = .625) and OS (P = .1172). Patients with CSF3R mutations had a worse DFS (P = .0352) than those with wild‐type CSF3R. Multivariate survival analysis showed that CSF3R mutation was an independent risk factor for DFS of primary AML patients (HR=2.048, 95%CI: 1.006‐4.170, P = .048).ConclusionAML patients with CSF3R mutations had unique clinical features and gene co‐mutation spectrum. CSF3R mutation was an independent risk factor for DFS and could be a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for Chinese primary AML patients.