bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin C alleviates hyperuricemia nephropathy by reducing inflammation and fibrosis
Authors: Li Hongling , Liu Xuejiao , Lee Mee‐Hyun , Li Haitao 
Published: June 2021

AbstractHyperuricemia contributes to chronic kidney disease development. However, it has been historically viewed with limited research interest. In this study, we mimicked the development of hyperuricemic nephropathy by using a potassium oxonate‐induced hyperuricemia rat model. We found that administering vitamin C at 10 mg/kg/day effectively ameliorated hyperuricemic nephropathy. Compared to the control group, rats with hyperuricemia had significantly increased serum uric acid level, xanthine oxidase activity, and urine microalbumin level, by 5‐fold, 1.5‐fold, and 4‐fold, respectively. At the same time, vitamin C supplementation reverted these values by 20% for serum uric acid level and xanthine oxidase activity and 50% for microalbumin level. Vitamin C also alleviated renal pathology and decreased the expression of pro‐inflammatory and pro‐fibrotic markers. A further mechanistic study suggested that vitamin C might attenuate hyperuricemic nephropathy in renal tubular epithelial cells induced by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal, at least in part, by directly inhibiting IL‐6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Meanwhile, in macrophages, vitamin C inhibited the expression of TGF‐β, and reduced ROS level induced by MSU by about 35%. In short, our results suggest that vitamin C supplementation delay the progression of hyperuricemic nephropathy.
Circulating miR‐19a‐3p and miR‐19b‐3p characterize the human aging process and their isomiRs associate with healthy status at extreme ages
Authors: Morsiani Cristina , Terlecki‐Zaniewicz Lucia , Skalicky Susanna , Bacalini Maria Giulia , Collura Salvatore , Conte Maria , Sevini Federica , Garagnani Paolo , Salvioli Stefano , Hackl Matthias , Grillari Johannes , Franceschi Claudio , Capri Miriam 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBlood circulating microRNAs (c‐miRs) are potential biomarkers to trace aging and longevity trajectories to identify molecular targets for anti‐aging therapies. Based on a cross‐sectional study, a discovery phase was performed on 12 donors divided into four groups: young, old, healthy, and unhealthy centenarians. The identification of healthy and unhealthy phenotype was based on cognitive performance and capabilities to perform daily activities. Small RNA sequencing identified 79 differentially expressed c‐miRs when comparing young, old, healthy centenarians, and unhealthy centenarians. Two miRs, that is, miR‐19a‐3p and miR‐19b‐3p, were found increased at old age but decreased at extreme age, as confirmed by RT‐qPCR in 49 donors of validation phase. The significant decrease of those miR levels in healthy compared to unhealthy centenarians appears to be due to the presence of isomiRs, not detectable with RT‐qPCR, but only with a high‐resolution technique such as deep sequencing. Bioinformatically, three main common targets of miR‐19a/b‐3p were identified, that is, SMAD4, PTEN, and BCL2L11, converging into the FoxO signaling pathway, known to have a significant role in aging mechanisms. For the first time, this study shows the age‐related increase of plasma miR‐19a/b‐3p in old subjects but a decrease in centenarians. This decrease is more pronounced in healthy centenarians and was confirmed by the modified pattern of isomiRs comparing healthy and unhealthy centenarians. Thus, our study paves the way for functional studies using c‐miRs and isomiRs as additional parameter to track the onset of aging and age‐related diseases using new potential biomarkers.
Predictors of early and sustained cessation of heavy drinking over 5 years among adult primary care patients
Authors: Palzes Vanessa A. , Kline‐Simon Andrea H. , Satre Derek D. , Sterling Stacy , Weisner Constance , Chi Felicia W. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsTo identify factors asociated with early and sustained cessation of heavy drinking.DesignRetrospective cohort study over 5 years.SettingKaiser Permanente Northern California, United States.ParticipantsAdults reporting heavy drinking during primary care‐based alcohol screening between 1 June 2013 and 31 May 2014. The sample (n = 85 434) was 40.7% female and 33.8% non‐white; mean age was 50.3 years (standard deviation = 18.1).MeasurementsFollowing US guidelines, early and sustained cessation of heavy drinking was defined as reporting lower‐risk drinking or abstinence at 1 year and to 5 years after achieving early cessation, respectively. Associations between patient characteristics and service use and cessation outcomes were examined using logistic regression with inverse probability weights addressing attrition.FindingsNearly two‐thirds of participants achieved early cessation of heavy drinking. Women [odds ratio (OR) = 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.35, 1.44], middle‐age (35–64 years: ORs = 1.16–1.19), non‐white race/ethnicity (ORs = 1.03–1.57), medical conditions (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.06), psychiatric (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.15) and drug use disorders (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.17, 1.56) and addiction treatment (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.30) were associated with higher odds of early cessation, while older age (≥ 65 years: OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.86, 0.96), smoking (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.84), higher index drinking levels (exceeding both daily and weekly limits: OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.32) and psychiatric treatment (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.84, 0.99) were associated with lower odds. Among those who achieved early cessation (n = 19 200), 60.0% sustained cessation. Associations between patient factors and sustained cessation paralleled those observed in analyses of early cessation. Additionally, routine primary care (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.44, 1.71) and addiction treatment post‐1 year (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.19, 1.66) were associated with higher odds of sustained cessation. Lower‐risk drinking versus abstinence at 1 year was associated with lower odds of sustained cessation (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.57, 0.66).ConclusionsNearly two‐thirds of a large, diverse sample of patients who reported heavy drinking in a Californian health‐care system achieved early and sustained cessation of heavy drinking. Vulnerable subgroups (i.e. non‐white patients and those with psychiatric disorders), patients who received routine primary care and those who received addiction treatment were more likely to sustain cessation of heavy drinking than other participants.
Changes in drinking days among United States adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Nordeck Courtney D. , Riehm Kira E. , Smail Emily J. , Holingue Calliope , Kane Jeremy C. , Johnson Renee M. , Veldhuis Cindy B. , Kalb Luther G. , Stuart Elizabeth A. , Kreuter Frauke , Thrul Johannes 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsTo examine changes in drinking behavior among United States (US) adults between March 10 and July 21, 2020, a critical period during the COVID‐19 pandemic.DesignLongitudinal, internet‐based panel survey.SettingThe Understanding America Study (UAS), a nationally representative panel of US adults age 18 or older.ParticipantsA total of 4298 US adults who reported alcohol use.MeasurementsChanges in number of reported drinking days from March 11, 2020 through July 21, 2020 in the overall sample and stratified by sex, age, race/ethnicity, household structure, poverty status, and census region.FindingsCompared with March 11, the number of drinking days per week was significantly higher on April 1 by an average of 0.36 days (95% CI = 0.30, 0.43), on May 1 by an average of 0.55 days (95% CI = 0.47, 0.63), on June 1 by an average of 0.41 days (95% CI = 0.33, 0.49), and on July 1 by an average of 0.39 days (95% CI = 0.31, 0.48). Males, White participants, and older adults reported sustained increases in drinking days, whereas female participants and individuals living under the federal poverty line had attenuated drinking days in the latter part of the study period.ConclusionsBetween March and mid‐July 2020, adults in the United States reported increases in the number of drinking days, with sustained increases observed among males, White participants, and older adults.
Loss of CDX‐2 expression is an independent poor prognostic biomarker in patients with early‐stage deficient mismatch repair colorectal cancer
Authors: Korphaisarn Krittiya , Sukhokanjanachusak Kanjana , Pongpaibul Ananya , Chinswangwatanakul Vitoon , Akewanlop Charuwan 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimTo investigate the clinicopathological factors, molecular features, and prognostic implications associated with loss of Caudal‐related homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX‐2) expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.MethodsImmunohistochemistry for CDX‐2 expression was performed on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded primary CRC tissue samples from 449 patients. Correlation between CDX‐2 expression and clinicopathological and molecular characteristics was evaluated. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to determine the prognostic value of loss of CDX‐2 expression.ResultsOf 449 patients, 84% were stage I–III. CDX‐2‐negative expression was identified in 18 of 441 (4.1%) patients. Loss of CDX‐2 expression was more commonly found in patients with right‐sided tumors rather than left‐sided tumors (odds ratio [OR] = 3.57; p = 0.009), deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) compared to proficient MMR (pMMR) (OR = 3.7; p = 0.012), and BRAF mutation compared to BRAF wild type (OR = 8.06; p = 0.002). Univariate analysis revealed that stage I–III CRC patients with loss of CDX‐2 expression had significantly worse overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) than those with positive CDX‐2 expression (5‐year OS = 33.3% vs. 74.6%, respectively; p < 0.001, and 5‐year DFS: 42.9% vs. 69.5%, respectively; p = 0.004). Loss of CDX‐2 expression remained significantly associated with worse OS compared to positive CDX‐2 expression in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–5.11; p = 0.023).ConclusionsLoss of CDX‐2 expression was found to be associated with right‐sided tumor, dMMR status, and BRAF mutation. Moreover, loss of CDX‐2 expression is a poor prognostic factor for OS in stage I–III, even among patients with dMMR tumors.
Media and the Meanings of Land: A South Korean Case Study
Authors: Shin Bokyong , Boonjubun Chaitawat 
Published: June 2021

AbstractHow land and property are treated has changed through history: from commons to commodities and financial assets. Nevertheless, studies on how the media contribute to this process are rare. Based on Anne Haila’s concept of “property mind” and the idea of “the culture of property,” this article analyzes how the media have framed the meanings of land and reflected on the treatment of land. We analyzed editorials on land, housing, and properties from seven South Korean newspapers over a 30‐year period using a structural topic model (STM). The results demonstrate that the media have played a vital role in contributing to the promotion of the private land tenure system and “the property mind” in South Korea, particularly since the late 1990s. Despite the recent trends that have intensified around market‐oriented topics, we also found that liberal and conservative newspapers can be quite different in how they shape “the culture of property.”
Government Infrastructure Investment Dividends and Urban Development
Authors: Pullen John 
Published: June 2021

AbstractUrban developments in expanding economies require increasing investments in infrastructure and services. If these are not provided by developers and landowners, the cost has to be met by the government and taxpayers. Financial benefits of economic development accrue to developers and landowners in the form of increased land values, but previous attempts to redirect a share of these benefits to the government have rarely been successful. A more logical and practical alternative would be the introduction of a system that returns dividends to the government in proportion to its investments in infrastructure and services.
Agricultural Land Issues in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Bertini Rafaelle , Zouache Abdallah 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe continuing economic stagnation of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has typically been explained in terms of the resource‐curse thesis. Yet, without analyzing the geographical constraints of MENA and the institutions of the region, particularly ones that pertain to land and property rights, this explanation is partial at best. Specifically addressing the structural constraints on using land for economic transformation, we offer a new explanation for the underdevelopment of MENA. We show that transformation in agriculture is inhibited by fuzzy property rights in land that were inherited from colonial and post‐colonial agricultural policies. Political‐economic transformation in MENA could unleash the power of land in the region.
Economic Insanity
Authors: Obeng‐Odoom Franklin 
Published: June 2021

AbstractRichard Giles, a leading Australian Georgist political economist, suggests that criticisms of mainstream economics can be reduced to three: neglect of the Physiocrats, rejection of Georgist political economy, and the attempted revival of Georgist land economics with faulty variants of those principles. Yet, in defending Georgism, Giles fails to show it can resolve the legacies of chattel slavery, colonialism, and neocolonialism. Despite that limitation, Giles shows that the renewal of land economics is essential to achieving economic justice. Along the way, Giles provides original insights about the limitations of modern monetary theory, the Malthusian economics of global migration, and the rise of global nationalism.
The Commons in an Age of Uncertainty: A Review Essay
Authors: Duchrow Ulrich 
Published: June 2021

AbstractFranklin Obeng‐Odoom's recent work offers an alternative to both conventional economics and to what he calls the "Western left consensus." Obeng‐Odoom's option involves placing justice at the center of policy regarding commons, not as a side note. Justice requires a focus on the land issue. This much is true, but Obeng‐Odoom ignores the plurality of views that are critical of the dominant political economy. A successful transition to a sustainable future will make use of many cultural and religious traditions working together.
Multimodal deep learning with feature level fusion for identification of choroidal neovascularization activity in age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Jin Kai , Yan Yan , Chen Menglu , Wang Jun , Pan Xiangji , Liu Xindi , Liu Mushui , Lou Lixia , Wang Yao , Ye Juan 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to determine the efficacy of a multimodal deep learning (DL) model using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images for the assessment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (AMD).MethodsThis retrospective and cross‐sectional study was performed at a multicentre, and the inclusion criteria were age >50 years and a diagnosis of typical neovascular AMD. The OCT and OCTA data for an internal data set and two external data sets were collected. A DL model was developed with a novel feature‐level fusion (FLF) method utilized to combine the multimodal data. The results were compared with identification performed by an ophthalmologist. The best model was tested on two external data sets to show its potential for clinical use.ResultsOur best model achieved an accuracy of 95.5% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9796 on multimodal data inputs for the internal data set, which is comparable to the performance of retinal specialists. The proposed model reached an accuracy of 100.00% and an AUC of 1.0 for the Ningbo data set, and these performance indicators were 90.48% and an AUC of 0.9727 for the Jinhua data set.ConclusionThe FLF method is feasible and highly accurate, and could enhance the power of the existing computer‐aided diagnosis systems. The bi‐modal computer‐aided diagnosis (CADx) system for the automated identification of CNV activity is an accurate and promising tool in the realm of public health.
Comparative study of pregnancy outcomes in women with inflammatory bowel disease treated with thiopurines and/or anti‐TNF: a French nationwide study 2010–2018
Authors: Meyer Antoine , Drouin Jérôme , Weill Alain , Carbonnel Franck , Dray‐Spira Rosemary 
Published: June 2021

SummaryBackgroundData about thiopurines or anti‐TNF use during pregnancy in women with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are reassuring. However, many studies are based upon small sample sizes.AimsTo assess IBD medication safety during pregnancy.MethodsUsing the French national health database, which covers more than 99% of the French population, around 65 000 000 people, we identified pregnancies ending with a birth in IBD patients in France between 2010 and 2018. Pregnancy outcomes (vital status at birth, birth term, and weight for gestational age) were compared according to treatment exposure during pregnancy using propensity score‐weighted marginal logistic regression models.Results27 729 pregnancies were included: 3554 were exposed to thiopurines monotherapy, 3525 to anti‐TNF monotherapy, 839 to combination therapy, and 19 811 unexposed. Pregnancies exposed to thiopurines monotherapy compared to unexposed pregnancies more frequently resulted in stillbirths (1.0% vs 0.5%, aOR 2.04; 95%CI: 1.18‐3.55), preterm birth (12.3% vs 7.1%, aOR 1.76; 95%CI: 1.55‐2.00), large for gestational age (10.6% vs 8.4%, aOR 1.32; 95%CI: 1.13‐1.53) and less frequently in small for gestational age (9.6% vs 11.1%, aOR 0.79; 95%CI: 0.67‐0.92). By contrast, pregnancies exposed to anti‐TNF monotherapy were not different from unexposed pregnancies as regards to these outcomes. Compared to unexposed pregnancies, those exposed to combination therapy more frequently resulted in preterm births (aOR 1.55; 95%CI: 1.15‐2.11) and larger for gestational age (aOR 1.61; 95%CI: 1.13‐2.29) but did not differ as regards to stillbirths.ConclusionsPregnancies exposed to thiopurines more frequently resulted in stillbirths, preterm births and large for gestational age compared to pregnancies exposed to anti‐TNF or unexposed pregnancies. By contrast, pregnancies exposed to anti‐TNF monotherapy were not associated with these outcomes.
Postoperative analgesic effect of ultrasound‐guided rectus sheath block and local anesthetic infiltration after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Results of a prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kitamura Naomi , Iida Hiroya , Maehira Hiromitsu , Mori Haruki , Sada Yoko , Shimizu Tomoharu , Kitagawa Hirotoshi , Tani Masaji 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIntroductionEven if laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has lower invasiveness through small incisions compared with laparotomy, postoperative pain control is important.MethodsThis prospective, randomized, single‐blinded, interventional, single‐center study was conducted from December 2016 to March 2018 at the Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital in Japan. Enrolled patients were assigned to either a rectus sheath block (RSB) group or an infiltrative local anesthesia (LA) group. After LC, the RSB group received bilateral RSB with 10 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine and the LA group received subcutaneous and fascial injection with 10 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine at the umbilical wound. The primary endpoint was a visual analog scale (VAS) score on postoperative day (POD) 1.ResultsThis study enrolled 62 patients (RSB group = 31, LA group = 31). On POD1, the mean VAS scores were 36.4 ± 18.9 and 29.4 ± 15.4 in the RSB group and LA groups, respectively, showing that the LA group tended to describe lesser postoperative pain than the RSB group (P = 0.062).ConclusionsVAS scores on POD1 were not different between the groups. LC patients might obtain postoperative pain control via long‐acting local analgesia.
Physiological breech birth training: An evaluation of clinical practice changes after a one‐day training program
Authors: Mattiolo Stella , Spillane Emma , Walker Shawn 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe “physiological breech birth” one‐day training program is based on evidence about the physiology of breech births and how clinicians learn breech skills. Previous evaluations have demonstrated positive effects on confidence and knowledge, but the training's effect on clinical practice and outcomes is unknown.MethodsA mixed‐methods evaluation was conducted in eight National Health Service hospitals in England and Northern Ireland. Changes in confidence and knowledge were assessed using pretraining and post‐training surveys. Mode of birth and maternal birth positions were evaluated using audit data covering one year before the training and one year after, for all singleton vaginal breech births at term.FindingsA total of 263 participants completed the surveys. Confidence in managing breech births in both upright and supine positions significantly increased, as did participant knowledge. Audited data for 1402 women were collected. Overall vaginal birth rates remained similar in both periods. Among singleton vaginal breech births >37 weeks, the use of upright birthing positions increased significantly (P = .002). The study was not powered to detect differences in other outcomes, but pilot data were collected to inform the design of future studies.ConclusionsIncrease in use of upright birthing positions suggests that physiological breech birth training is likely to lead to clinical practice changes, which may help support maternal choice in line with current guidance. However, provision of a one‐day training program did not change overall vaginal breech birth rates. Adequately powered research is needed to determine effects of clinical practice changes on clinical outcomes.
Phase II study of tazemetostat for relapsed or refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma with EZH2 mutation in Japan
Authors: Izutsu Koji , Ando Kiyoshi , Nishikori Momoko , Shibayama Hirohiko , Teshima Takanori , Kuroda Junya , Kato Koji , Imaizumi Yoshitaka , Nosaka Kisato , Sakai Rika , Hojo Seiichiro , Nakanishi Tadashi , Rai Shinya 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTazemetostat is a selective, reversible, small‐molecule inhibitor of the histone methyltransferase enzyme, enhancer of zest homolog 2 (EZH2). In this multicenter, open‐label, phase II study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of tazemetostat in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma harboring the EZH2 mutation. Tazemetostat (800 mg twice daily) was given orally (28‐day cycle) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Among the 20 eligible patients, 17 were enrolled in cohort 1 (follicular lymphoma [FL]), and three were enrolled in cohort 2 (diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma). At data cut‐off, the objective response rate in cohort 1 was 76.5%, including six patients (35.3%) with complete response and seven patients (41.2%) with partial response (PR). All three patients in cohort 2 achieved PR. In cohort 1, median progression‐free survival (PFS) was not reached at the median follow‐up of 12.9 months. The estimated PFS rate at 12 and 15 months was 94.1% and 73.2%, respectively. The most common grade 3 treatment‐emergent adverse event (TEAE) was lymphopenia (n = 2). Grade 4 TEAEs included hypertriglyceridemia and pneumonia aspiration (n = 1 each), which were not related to tazemetostat. Treatment‐emergent adverse events leading to study drug discontinuation were reported in four of the 20 patients, indicating that the safety profile of tazemetostat was acceptable and manageable. Tazemetostat 800 mg twice daily showed encouraging efficacy in patients with R/R EZH2 mutation‐positive FL with a manageable safety profile in the overall population. Thus, tazemetostat could be a potential treatment for R/R EZH2 mutation‐positive FL.