bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Birth weight for gestational age and the risk of asthma in childhood and adolescence: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Carter Jillian H , Woolcott Christy G , Liu Lihui , Kuhle Stefan 
Published: July 2018

ObjectiveTo examine the association between birth weight for gestational age and asthma in childhood and adolescence while controlling for potential confounders and considering smoking as an effect modifier.MethodsA retrospective cohort of all singleton term births in Nova Scotia, Canada, between 1989 and 1993 was identified in the provincial perinatal database and followed through 2014 by linking with administrative health data. The outcome, asthma, was defined as having one hospitalisation or two physician visits with an International Classification of Diseases code for asthma in a 2-year period. Birth weight was categorised as small (SGA), large (LGA) or appropriate (AGA) for gestational age. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between the birth weight for gestational age and asthma and to test for effect modification by maternal smoking in pregnancy.ResultsOf the 40 724 cohort children, 10.5% and 11.7% were born SGA and LGA, respectively, and the risk of developing asthma to age 18 years was 30.2%. The adjusted HRs for SGA and LGA (relative to AGA) and asthma were 1.07 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.14) and 0.96 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.02), respectively. Relative to AGA children born to non-smoking mothers, SGA children were not at increased risk of asthma (HR 1.02), whereas both AGA and SGA children born to smoking mothers were at significantly increased risk (HR 1.14 and 1.29, respectively).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that SGA in term infants is not associated with asthma in childhood in the absence of smoking in pregnancy.
Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy: a cross-sectional analysis of data from Demographic and Health Survey from 30 low-income and middle-income countries
Authors: Reece Sian , Morgan Camille , Parascandola Mark , Siddiqi Kamran 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundSecondhand smoke (SHS) exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of infant stillbirth, congenital malformations, low birth weight and respiratory illnesses. However, little is known about the extent of SHS exposure during pregnancy. We assessed the prevalence of SHS exposure in pregnant women in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsWe used Demographic and Health Survey data collected between 2008 and 2013 from 30 LMICs. We estimated weighted country-specific prevalence of SHS exposure among 37 427 pregnant women. We accounted for sampling weights, clustering and stratification in the sampling methods. We also explored associations between sociodemographic variables and SHS exposure in pregnant women using pairwise multinomial regression model.FindingsThe prevalence of daily SHS exposure during pregnancy ranged from 6% (95% CI 5% to 7%) (Nigeria) to 73% (95% CI 62% to 81%) (Armenia) and was greater than active tobacco use in pregnancy across all countries studied. Being wealthier, maternal employment, higher education and urban households were associated with lower SHS exposure in full regression models. SHS exposure in pregnant women closely mirrors WHO Global Adult Tobacco Survey male active smoking patterns. Daily SHS exposure accounted for a greater population attributable fraction of stillbirths than active smoking, ranging from 1% of stillbirths (Nigeria) to 14% (Indonesia).InterpretationWe have demonstrated that SHS exposure during pregnancy is far more common than active smoking in LMICs, accounting for more stillbirths than active smoking. Protecting pregnant women from SHS exposure should be a key strategy to improve maternal and child health.
Prove it! Inferring Formal Proof Scripts from CafeOBJ Proof Scores
Authors: Riesco Adrián , Ogata Kazuhiro 
Published: July 2018

CafeOBJ is a language for writing formal specifications for a wide variety of software and hardware systems and for verifying their properties. CafeOBJ makes it possible to verify properties by using either proof scores, which consists of reducing goal-related terms in user-defined modules, or by using theorem proving. While the former is more flexible, it lacks the formal support to ensure that a property has been really proven. On the other hand, theorem proving might be too strict, since only a predefined set of commands can be applied to the current goal; hence, it hardens the verification of properties.
In order to take advantage of the benefits of both techniques, we have extended CafeInMaude, a CafeOBJ interpreter implemented in Maude, with the CafeInMaude Proof Assistant (CiMPA) and the CafeInMaude Proof Generator (CiMPG). CiMPA is a proof assistant for proving inductive properties on CafeOBJ specifications that uses Maude metalevel features to allow programmers to create and manipulate CiMPA proofs. On the other hand, CiMPG provides a minimal set of annotations for identifying proof scores and generating CiMPA scripts for these proof scores. In this article, we present the CiMPA and CiMPG, detailing the behavior of the CiMPA and the algorithm underlying the CiMPG and illustrating the power of the approach by using the QLOCK protocol. Finally, we present some benchmarks that give us confidence in the matureness and usefulness of these tools.
Remodeling of myelinated fibers and internal capillaries in distal peripheral nerves following aerobic exercise in aged rats
Authors: Sakita Masahiro , Murakami Shinichiro , Fujino Hidemi , Hayashi Satoshi , Kameyama Kazuyoshi , Saito Takafumi , Kumagai Shuzo 
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to determine whether aerobic exercise (AE) in old age contributes to improving the morphologies of myelinated fibers (MFs) in peripheral nerves as well as capillaries. Furthermore, we investigated whether such processes are associated with complementary activity of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the circulating blood and peripheral nerve tissue. Fourteen male Wistar rats (age: 95 wk) were randomly divided into moderate AE ( n = 8) and sedentary (SED; n = 6) groups. Rats in the AE group performed treadmill running for 1 h per day for 2 wk, following which the bilateral tibial nerves of the two groups were removed to examine MF and capillary structure. Levels of BDNF and VEGF in the serum and peripheral nerves were analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Myelin thickness, axon diameter, and capillary luminal diameter were significantly larger in the AE group than in the SED group ( P < 0.0001). Levels of serum BDNF and VEGF were significantly lower and higher, respectively, in the AE group than in the SED group ( P < 0.001). Conversely, BDNF and VEGF levels in tibial nerve tissue were significantly higher, respectively, and lower in the AE group than in the SED group ( P < 0.001). In conclusion, our study indicates that regular AE induces enlargement of the capillaries and thickens the myelin in aged peripheral nerves, likely via a complementary process involving BDNF and VEGF. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Accumulating evidence indicates that age-related sarcopenia is accompanied by the degeneration of myelinated fibers (MFs) in peripheral nerves. Our study indicates that regular aerobic exercise contributes to increased thickness of the myelin surrounding MFs and enlargement of the capillaries, likely via a complementary process involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. Our findings demonstrate that regular, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may help to prevent and reverse peripheral nerve regression in older adults.
Airway smooth muscle proliferation and inflammation in asthma
Authors: James Alan L. , Noble Peter B. , Drew Su-Ann , Mauad Thais , Bai Tony R. , Abramson Michael J. , McKay Karen O. , Green Francis H. Y. , Elliot John G. 
Published: July 2018

In asthma, it is unclear if the airway smooth muscle cells proliferate more or are increased at the onset of asthma and remain stable. This study aimed to compare smooth muscle cell proliferation in individuals with and without asthma and correlate proliferation rates with cell size and number and with granulocytic airway inflammation. Postmortem airway sections were labeled with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and percent positive muscle cells calculated. On the same sections, smooth muscle cell size and number and the number of eosinophils and neutrophils were estimated and compared in cases of nonfatal ( n = 15) and fatal ( n = 15) asthma and control subjects ( n = 15). The %PCNA+ muscle cells was not significantly different in fatal (29.4 ± 7.7%, mean ± SD), nonfatal asthma (28.6 ± 8.3%), or control subjects (24.6 ± 6.7%) and not related to mean muscle cell size ( r = 0.09), number ( r = 0.36), thickness of the muscle layer ( r = 0.05), or eosinophil numbers ( r = 0.04) in the asthma cases. These data support the hypothesis that in asthma the increased thickness of the smooth muscle layer may be present before or at the onset of asthma and independent of concurrent granulocytic inflammation or exacerbation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY There is debate regarding the origins of the increased airway smooth muscle in asthma. It may be independent of inflammation or arise as a proliferative response to inflammation. The present study found no increase in the proportion of proliferating smooth muscle cells in asthma and no relation of proliferation to numbers of airway smooth muscle cells or inflammation. These results support a stable increase in smooth muscle in asthma that is independent of airway inflammation.
Cutaneous adrenergic nerve blockade attenuates sweating during incremental exercise in habitually trained men
Authors: Amano Tatsuro , Fujii Naoto , Inoue Yoshimitsu , Kondo Narihiko 
Published: July 2018

It remains unknown whether cutaneous adrenergic nerves functionally contribute to sweat production during exercise. This study examined whether cutaneous adrenergic nerve blockade attenuates sweating during incremental exercise, specifically in habitually trained individuals. Accordingly, 10 habitually trained and 10 untrained males (V̇o2max: 56.7 ± 5.4 and 38.9 ± 6.7 ml·kg−1·min−1, respectively; P < 0.001) performed incremental semirecumbent cycling (20 W/min) until exhaustion. Sweat rates (ventilated capsule) were measured at two bilateral forearm skin sites on which either 10 mM bretylium tosylate (BT) (an inhibitor of neurotransmitter release from sympathetic adrenergic nerve terminals) or saline (Control) was transdermally administered via iontophoresis. BT treatment delayed sweating onset in both groups (∼0.66 min; P = 0.001) and suppressed the sweat rate relative to the Control treatment at ≥70% relative total exercise time in trained individuals (each 10% increment; all P ≤ 0.009) but not in untrained counterparts ( P = 0.122, interaction between relative time × treatment). Changes in total sweat production at the BT site relative to the Control site were greater in trained individuals than in untrained counterparts (area under the curve, −0.86 ± 0.67 and −0.22 ± 0.39 mg/cm2, respectively; P = 0.023). In conclusion, we demonstrated that cutaneous adrenergic nerves do modulate sweating during incremental exercise, which appeared to be more apparent in habitually trained men (e.g., ≥70% maximum workload). Although our results indicated that habitual exercise training may augment neural adrenergic sweat production during incremental exercise, additional studies are required to confirm this possibility. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrated for the first time that cutaneous adrenergic nerves do modulate sweating during high-intensity exercise in humans (≥70% maximum workload). In addition, neural adrenergic sweating appeared to be greater in habitually trained individuals than in untrained counterparts, although further studies are necessary to confirm such a possibility. Nonetheless, the observations presented herein advance our understanding on human thermoregulation while providing new evidence for the neutral mediation of adrenergic sweating during exercise.
Optimal electrode position for abdominal functional electrical stimulation
Authors: McCaughey Euan J. , Boswell-Ruys Claire L. , Hudson Anna L. , Gandevia Simon C. , Butler Jane E. 
Published: July 2018

Abdominal functional electrical stimulation (abdominal FES) improves respiratory function. Despite this, clinical use remains low, possibly due to lack of agreement on the optimal electrode position. This study aimed to ascertain the optimal electrode position for abdominal FES, assessed by expiratory twitch pressure. Ten able-bodied participants received abdominal FES using electrodes placed: 1) on the posterolateral abdominal wall and at the motor points of 2) the external oblique muscles plus rectus abdominis muscles, and 3) the external obliques alone. Gastric (Pga) and esophageal (Pes) twitch pressures were measured using a gastroesophageal catheter. Single-stimulation pulses were applied at functional residual capacity during step increments in stimulation current to maximal tolerance or until Pgaplateaued. Stimulation applied on the posterolateral abdominal wall led to a 71% and 53% increase in Pgaand Pes, respectively, compared with stimulation of the external oblique and rectus abdominis muscles ( P < 0.001) and a 95% and 56% increase in Pgaand Pes, respectively, compared with stimulation of the external oblique muscles alone ( P < 0.001). Stimulation of both the external oblique and rectus abdominis muscles led to an 18.3% decrease in Pgacompared with stimulation of only the external oblique muscles ( P = 0.040), with inclusion of the rectus abdominis having no effect on Pes( P = 0.809). Abdominal FES applied on the posterolateral abdominal wall generated the highest expiratory twitch pressures. As expiratory pressure is a good indicator of expiratory muscle strength and, thus, cough efficacy, we recommend this electrode position for all therapeutic applications of abdominal FES.NEW & NOTEWORTHY While abdominal functional electrical stimulation (abdominal FES) can improve respiratory function, clinical use remains low. This is at least partly due to lack of agreement on the optimal electrode position. Therefore, this study aimed to ascertain the optimal electrode position for abdominal FES. We show that electrodes placed on the posterolateral abdominal wall generated the highest expiratory twitch pressures. As such, we recommend this electrode position for all therapeutic applications of abdominal FES.
Identification of Metastatic Lymph Nodes in MR Imaging with Faster Region-Based Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Lu Yun , Yu Qiyue , Gao Yuanxiang , Zhou Yunpeng , Liu Guangwei , Dong Qian , Ma Jinlong , Ding Lei , Yao Hongwei , Zhang Zhongtao , Xiao Gang , An Qi , Wang Guiying , Xi Jinchuan , Yuan Weitang , Lian Yugui , Zhang Dianliang , Zhao Chunbo , Yao Qin , Liu Wei , Zhou Xiaoming , Liu Shuhao , Wu Qingyao , Xu Wenjian , Zhang Jianli , Wang Dongshen , Sun Zhenqing , Gao Yuan , Zhang Xianxiang , Hu Jilin , Zhang Maoshen , Wang Guanrong , Zheng Xuefeng , Wang Lei , Zhao Jie , Yang Shujian 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
MRI is the gold standard for confirming a pelvic lymph node metastasis diagnosis. Traditionally, medical radiologists have analyzed MRI image features of regional lymph nodes to make diagnostic decisions based on their subjective experience; this diagnosis lacks objectivity and accuracy. This study trained a faster region-based convolutional neural network (Faster R-CNN) with 28,080 MRI images of lymph node metastasis, allowing the Faster R-CNN to read those images and to make diagnoses. For clinical verification, 414 cases of rectal cancer at various medical centers were collected, and Faster R-CNN–based diagnoses were compared with radiologist diagnoses using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). The area under the Faster R-CNN ROC was 0.912, indicating a more effective and objective diagnosis. The Faster R-CNN diagnosis time was 20 s/case, which was much shorter than the average time (600 s/case) of the radiologist diagnoses.
Significance: Faster R-CNN enables accurate and efficient diagnosis of lymph node metastases. Cancer Res; 78(17); 5135–43. ©2018 AACR.
Direct Reprogramming of Fibroblasts Into Smooth Muscle-Like Cells With Defined Transcription Factors—Brief Report
Authors: Hirai Hiroyuki , Yang Bo , Garcia-Barrio Minerva T. , Rom Oren , Ma Peter X. , Zhang Jifeng , Chen Y. Eugene 
Published: July 2018

Objective—
To identify the transcription factors that could contribute to direct reprogramming of fibroblasts toward smooth muscle cell fate.

Approach and Results—
We screened various combinations of transcription factors, including Myocd (myocardin), Mef2C (myocyte enhancer factor 2C), Mef2B (myocyte enhancer factor 2B), Mkl1 (MKL [megakaryoblastic leukemia]/Myocd-like 1), Gata4 (GATA-binding protein 4), Gata5 (GATA-binding protein 5), Gata6 (GATA-binding protein 6), Ets1 (E26 avian leukemia oncogene 1, 5’ domain), and their corresponding carboxyterminal fusions to the transactivation domain of MyoD (myogenic differentiation 1)—indicated by *—for their effects on reprogramming mouse embryonic fibroblasts and human adult dermal fibroblasts to the smooth muscle cell fate as determined by the expression of specific markers. The combination of 3 transcription factors, Myocd (or Myocd*) with Mef2C (or Mef2C*) and Gata6, was the most efficient in enhancing the expression of smooth muscle marker genes and decreasing fibroblast gene expression. Additionally, the derived induced smooth muscle-like cells showed a contractile phenotype in response to carbachol.

Conclusions—
Combination of Myocd and Gata6 with Mef2C* (MG2*) could sufficiently and efficiently direct differentiation of mouse embryonic and human dermal fibroblasts into induced smooth muscle-like cells, thus opening new opportunities for disease modeling, tissue engineering, and personalized medicine.
A new species of Andinia (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) from Huánuco, Peru, and the first Peruvian locality for Andinia schizopogon
Authors: HERNÁNDEZ ALEX GUSTAVO DIAZ , HORNA LUIS ANTONIO OCUPA , GODO LUIS ENRIQUE YUPANQUI , WILSON MARK 
Published: July 2018

A new species of Andinia in subgenus Andinia from Tingo María National Park is described, illustrated and compared to the most similar species pair. Andinia tingomariana is distinguished by unguiculate, reniform, ciliate petals, a longer column without the terminal dilation and a trilobed, ciliate lip in which the narrow, semi-auriculate lateral lobes project upward around the column, adnate in the middle, creating a furrowed surface. The floral morphology of the new species is compared to that of the phylogenetically unrelated Salpistele group of Stelis and possible convergent evolution of pollination syndromes is discussed. Finally, the first confirmed locality of A. schizopogon is reported and a preliminary list of Andinia species in Peru is provided.
A Simple Scoring System Using the Red Blood Cell Distribution Width, Delta Neutrophil Index, and Platelet Count to Predict Mortality in Patients With Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock
Authors: Kim Yong Chan , Song Je Eun , Kim Eun Jin , Choi Heun , Jeong Woo Yong , Jung In Young , Jeong Su Jin , Ku Nam Su , Choi Jun Yong , Song Young Goo , Kim June Myung 
Published: July 2018

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to investigate whether a simple scoring system based on the red blood cell distribution width (RDW), delta neutrophil index (DNI), and platelet count was associated with the prognosis of patients with sepsis, and whether this scoring system was more useful than each individual parameter. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving adult patients who received intensive therapy due to severe sepsis and septic shock from January 2010 to December 2015 at a tertiary teaching hospital in South Korea. Results: A total of 730 patients were included in this study. Each patient was rated on a scale of 0 to 3 according to the new scoring system using the platelet count, RDW, and DNI. Point values were assigned based on the following definitions: RDW > 14.5%, DNI > 5.0%, and platelet count < 150 000/mm3. The 28-day mortality rate was 12.6% (92/730). The nonsurvivors had higher scores than the survivors (2.05 ± 0.80 vs 1.06 ± 0.87, P < .001). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, the scoring system was an independent predictor of the 28-day mortality. The scoring system was well calibrated ( P = .81 for the goodness-of-fit test) and discriminated (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.785). Conclusion: Our new scoring system using the RDW, DNI, and platelet count was useful for predicting the mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.
The Ability of Prostate Health Index (PHI) to Predict Gleason Score in Patients With Prostate Cancer and Discriminate Patients Between Gleason Score 6 and Gleason Score Higher Than 6—A Study on 320 Patients After Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Dolejsova Olga , Kucera Radek , Fuchsova Radka , Topolcan Ondrej , Svobodova Hana , Hes Ondrej , Eret Viktor , Pecen Ladislav , Hora Milan 
Published: July 2018

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the Prostate Health Index as a marker for tumor aggressiveness in prostate biopsy and the optimization of indication for treatment options. Methods: Our cohort consisted of 320 patients indicated for radical prostatectomy with preoperative measurements of total prostate-specific antigen, free prostate-specific antigen, [-2]proPSA, calculated %freePSA, and Prostate Health Index. The Gleason score was determined during biopsy and after radical prostatectomy. Using the Gleason score, we divided the group of patients into the 2 subgroups: Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6. This division was performed according to the biopsy Gleason score and according to the postoperative Gleason score. We compared total prostate-specific antigen, [-2]proPSA, %freePSA, and Prostate Health Index in the subgroups Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6 after biopsy and the definitive score. Results: On evaluation of the subgroups created by Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6, we observed agreement between biopsy Gleason score and definitive Gleason score in only 45.3% of cases. Of the calculated biopsy, Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6 subgroups, [-2]proPSA, and Prostate Health Index ( P = .0003 and P = .0005) were statistically significant. Of the definitive Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6 subgroups, Prostate Health Index, [-2]proPSA, %freePSA, and PSA ( P < .0001, P < .0001, P = .0003, and P = .0043) were statistically significant. The best area under the curve value (0.7496) was achieved by Prostate Health Index when the subgroups were established according to the postoperative Gleason score. Conclusion: Prostate Health Index is the best of the tested markers for the categorization of Gleason score 6 tumors and for facilitating the management of patients with prostate cancer. Prostate Health Index can be a helpful marker for indication of active surveillance or radical prostatectomy. Prostate health index can also simplify the decision of whether to perform nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.