bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Different upper airway microbiome and their functional genes associated with asthma in young adults and elderly individuals
Authors: Lee Jin‐Jae , Kim Sae‐Hoon , Lee Min‐Jung , Kim Byung‐Keun , Song Woo‐Jung , Park Heung‐Woo , Cho Sang‐Heon , Hong Soo‐Jong , Chang Yoon‐Seok , Kim Bong‐Soo 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBackgroundMicrobes in the airway have been shown to be associated with the pathogenesis of asthma. The upper airway microbiome influences the dysbiosis of the lower airway microbiome. However, to date, the influence of upper airway microbiome for adult and elderly asthma has not been fully elucidated. Here, the metagenome of upper airway microbiome of young adults and elderly was analyzed to identify their association with adult asthma.MethodsNasopharyngeal swabs were collected from young adult and elderly asthma patients and non‐asthmatic subjects. The compositions and functional genes of airway microbiome were analyzed by high‐throughput sequencing.ResultsThe composition of microbiota differed between young adult and elderly, and it was different between asthmatics and non‐asthmatics in each age group. Different bacteria were related to FEV1% predicted in each age group. Genes related to lysine degradation, N‐glycan biosynthesis, caprolactam degradation, and PPAR signaling pathway, which could be related to the reduction in inflammation and degradation of air pollutants, were higher in non‐asthmatics. Genes related to pentose phosphate pathway, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, flagella assembly, and bacterial chemotaxis—which may all be related to increased inflammation and colonization of pathogenic bacteria—were higher in young adult asthmatic patients. However, the functional genes of airway microbiome in elderly patients were not significantly different according to asthma morbidity.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the composition and function of upper airway microbiome could influence asthma pathogenesis, and the microbiome could play various roles depending on the age group.
Initial intraocular pressure reduction by mono‐ versus multi‐therapy in patients with open‐angle glaucoma: results from the Glaucoma Intensive Treatment Study
Authors: Lindén Christina , Heijl Anders , Jóhannesson Gauti , Aspberg Johan , Andersson Geimer Sabina , Bengtsson Boel 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeTo study newly diagnosed glaucoma patients given mono‐ or multi‐therapy regarding differences in initial intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction, target IOP levels reached and influence of untreated baseline IOP on IOP reduction.MethodsPatients newly diagnosed with manifest primary open‐angle glaucoma and included in the Glaucoma Intensive Treatment Study (GITS) were randomized to immediate intensive treatment with any of three different IOP‐lowering substances supplied in two bottles plus 360° laser trabeculoplasty or to conventional stepwise treatment starting with a single‐drug. Intraocular pressure reduction was analysed 1 month after initiation of treatment.ResultsOne hundred eighteen patients (143 eyes) received mono‐therapy and 122 patients (152 eyes) multi‐therapy. Median baseline IOP was 24.0 (min: 9.7, max: 56.0) mmHg in mono‐therapy eyes and 24.0 (min: 12.3, max: 48.5) mmHg in multi‐therapy eyes (p = 0.56). After 1 month in the two groups, respectively, values for median IOP reduction were 6.3 (range: −5.3–31.0) and 11.0 (range: 0.7–34.5) mmHg, and for mean relative decline 26.8 (range: −32.0–55.4) and 46.0 (range: 4.6–81.6) % (p = 0.000). A larger proportion of the multi‐therapy patients reached each target IOP level (p = 0.000). The higher the baseline IOP, the larger the observed pressure reduction, considering both absolute and relative figures. The effect was more pronounced in eyes with multi‐therapy than in those with mono‐therapy (p = 0.000). For every mmHg higher IOP at baseline, the IOP was reduced by an additional 0.56 (mono‐therapy) or 0.84 (multi‐therapy) mmHg.ConclusionIntensive treatment led to considerably greater IOP reduction than mono‐therapy. Among patients with IOP ≥30 mmHg at diagnosis an IOP of <16 was reached in 2/3 of those with multi‐therapy but in none with mono‐therapy. The IOP reduction was highly dependent on the untreated IOP level.
Optic nerve head morphology in primary open‐angle glaucoma and nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy measured with spectral domain optical coherence tomography
Authors: Resch Hemma , Mitsch Christoph , Pereira Ivania , Schwarzhans Florian , Wasserman Lorenz , Hommer Anton , Reitner Andreas , Vass Clemens 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeOptic nerve head (ONH) parameters as well as circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness values measured with two different spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) machines (Spectralis® and Cirrus® OCT) have been compared between two patient groups, primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG), nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and healthy controls. A comparison of the performance of the two OCT machines was made.MethodsTwenty healthy controls, 20 POAG and 20 NAION patients with comparable visual field defects were included. Comparison between groups was made using anova and post hoc t‐tests. To evaluate the diagnostic power of OCT to differentiate POAG from NAION, a stepwise linear regression analysis of the rim‐RNFL correlation with adjusting covariates (optic disc area and age) was performed. Based on the regression formula, the area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC) was calculated.ResultsBoth glaucoma and NAION patients showed significantly smaller global RNFL thickness values compared to healthy subjects in t‐tests (p < 0.001), while only patients with glaucoma showed significantly smaller global ONH parameters for both devices compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Correlation between global ONH parameters was highly statistically significant (r = 0.93), whereas in t‐test a statistically significant difference between the two machines was detected (p < 0.001). Area under the receiver operator characteristic revealed a similarly good discrimination between glaucoma and NAION for Spectralis® (0.980) and Cirrus® OCT (0.945).ConclusionNAION patients have similar RNFL thickness values as do glaucomatous eyes, whereas ONH parameters in NAION eyes were similar to those seen in healthy controls. This difference might help discriminating between these two different disease conditions in a chronic disease stadium, and in this regard, none of the two OCT machines performed better.
Levels of oxidative DNA damage are low in ex vivo engineered human limbal epithelial tissue
Authors: Lorenzo Yolanda , Haug Berg Kristiane , Ringvold Amund , Petrovski Goran , Moe Morten C. , Collins Andrew , Nicolaissen Bjørn 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeTo examine levels of oxidative DNA base damage and expression of selected genes and proteins related to DNA damage repair in human limbal epithelium engineered ex vivo.MethodsCells were expanded from limbal tissue on cell culture‐treated inserts in medium containing fetal bovine serum, recombinant growth factors, hormones and cholera toxin (COM) and in medium with human serum as the single growth‐promoting additive (HS). Cells were analysed after two, three and four weeks in culture for DNA strand breaks and oxidized purine bases (Comet assay using the enzyme formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase, Fpg) and for expression of DNA repair enzymes APE1, OGG1 and Polβ by in situ hybridization (ISH) and by immunohistochemistry (IHC).ResultsLevels of strand breaks were substantial while levels of net Fpg‐sensitive sites (8‐oxoguanine and ring‐opened FaPy bases) were relatively low in cells engineered in COM and in HS. Both types of medium were found to support expression of base excision repair (BER) enzymes APE1, OGG1 and Polβ at the gene level. At the protein level, expression of APE1 and OGG1 was noticeable in both conditions while expression of Polβ was low.ConclusionOur findings indicate low levels of oxidative stress and/or efficient DNA purine base damage repair in human limbal epithelium engineered in a medium with human serum as the single growth‐promoting additive as well as in traditional medium with xenobiotics.
Pupilloplasty by radiofrequency diathermy
Authors: Xiang Wu , Zhong Xiaojian , Chen Hui , Chen Wan , Chen Weirong 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeSeveral methods have been reported to treat pupil deformities. However, there are some disadvantages to these methods. Here, we introduce the new technique of pupilloplasty.MethodsWe retrospectively collected five patients who underwent pupilloplasty by radiofrequency diathermy (RFD) in eyes with acorea or a severe pupillary fibrous membrane. The RFD tip was inserted into the anterior chamber after injection of an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD). It was then used to resect the iris and fibrous membrane around the pupillary centre to restore a centred and round pupil.ResultsNo obvious bleeding was observed during resection of the iris or fibrous membrane with the RFD technique. All cases were successfully treated, and pupil transparency was restored.ConclusionWe introduced a new technique of pupilloplasty by RFD that is easily manageable, reduces bleeding, and is suitable for most types of pupillary seclusion, especially for acorea and severe pupillary fibrous membrane.
The CC chemokines CCL8, CCL13 and CCL20 are local inflammatory biomarkers of HLA‐B27‐associated uveitis
Authors: Abu El‐Asrar Ahmed M. , Berghmans Nele , Al‐Obeidan Saleh A. , Gikandi Priscilla W. , Opdenakker Ghislain , Van Damme Jo , Struyf Sofie 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeTo determine the concentrations of the CC chemokines CCL2, CCL7, CCL8, CCL11, CCL13, CCL20, CCL24 and CCL26 in aqueous humour (AH) samples from patients with specific uveitic entities.MethodsAqueous humour samples from patients with active uveitis associated with Behçet's disease (BD) (n = 13), sarcoidosis (n = 8), HLA‐B27‐related inflammation (n = 12), Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease (n = 12) and control patients (n = 9) were assayed with the use of a multiplex assay.ResultsWhen considering all uveitis patients as one group, all chemokine levels except CCL2 were significantly increased compared to controls. CCL8, CCL13 and CCL20 were the most strongly upregulated, 48‐fold, 118‐fold and 173‐fold, respectively, above control AH levels. CCL8 and CCL13 levels were significantly higher in HLA‐B27‐associated uveitis than in sarcoidosis and VKH disease. CCL20 levels were significantly higher in HLA‐B27‐associated uveitis than in BD, sarcoidosis and VKH disease. In addition, CCL20 levels were significantly higher in BD than in VKH disease. In HLA‐B27‐associated uveitis, CCL8, CCL13 and CCL20 were upregulated 111‐fold, 255‐fold and 465‐fold, respectively, compared with controls. CCL8, CCL13 and CCL20 levels were significantly higher in nongranulomatous uveitis (BD and HLA‐B27‐associated uveitis) than in granulomatous uveitis (sarcoidosis and VKH disease).ConclusionImmune responses mediated by CCL8, CCL13 and CCL20 appear to be more potent in nongranulomatous uveitis, particularly in HLA‐B27‐associated uveitis.
Uveitis causes according to immune status of patients
Authors: Rothova Aniki , Hajjaj Anass , de Hoog Joeri , Thiadens Alberta A.H.J. , Dalm Virgil A.S.H. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeThe advances in medicine have led to an increased number of people living with some form of immunodeficiency. Most ocular infections in immunocompromised patients may lead to irreversible blindness. We identify the causes of uveitis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of 1354 consecutive patients. All patients underwent a standard work‐up for uveitis.ResultsAn immunocompromised state was identified in 171/1354 patients (13%), of whom 40 had Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, 52 received immunosuppressive medications, 28 had concurrent malignant disorder and 20 had other causes for their immunosuppression. In addition, 93/1354 patients (7%) had diabetes mellitus (DM). The prevalence of intraocular infections was much higher in immunocompromised patients than in immunocompetent patients and DM (p < 0.001). Causes of uveitis differed between the diverse immunocompromised groups. The non‐HIV immunocompromised patients showed primarily intraocular herpes simplex and varicella zoster virus infections, whilst HIV‐positive patients exhibited frequently cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and syphilis. Patients with generalized malignancies were characterized by a lower prevalence of infections and higher prevalence of sarcoidosis. Patients with DM typically showed sarcoidosis and bacterial intraocular infections. The percentage of undetermined uveitis diagnoses was markedly lower in immunosuppressed patients (p < 0.001).ConclusionIn immunocompromised patients with uveitis, infections were diagnosed in 46% of cases in contrast to 12% in the immunocompetent patients. The causes of uveitis differed among the various types of immunosuppression. Immunocompromised patients with uveitis require a rapid assessment for the most expected infections.
Primary angle closure and primary angle closure glaucoma in retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Xu Ke , Wu Lingling , Ma Zhizhong , Liu Yuling , Qian Fang 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the frequency of primary angle closure (PAC) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) based on a hospital population.MethodsA total of 375 consecutive cases newly diagnosed with RVO by fluorescein fundus angiography at a single eye centre in Peking were reviewed. Gonioscopy was performed in all patients. Glaucoma was diagnosed according to the criteria of the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology. Retinal vein occlusion was classified as central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), hemicentral retinal vein occlusion (HRVO), or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), and as arteriovenous crossing RVO (AV‐RVO), optic cup RVO (OC‐RVO), optic nerve RVO without optical nerve head swelling (NONHS‐RVO), or RVO with optical nerve head swelling (ONHS‐RVO) based on the site of venous occlusion. Percentage of PAC or PACG for each type of RVO were calculated.ResultsPACG had a frequency of 4.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2–6.9%] in 317 RVO patients [5.3% (95% CI 2.0–11.2%) in CRVO, 8.8% (95% CI 1.9–23.7%) in HRVO, and 1.9% (95% CI 0.4–5.4%) in BRVO]. Primary angle closure (PAC) had a frequency of 2.9% (95% CI 1.4–5.5%) in RVO. PAC/PACG had a frequency of 11.5% (95% CI 6.3–18.9%) in CRVO, 8.8% (95% CI 1.9–23.7%) in HRVO and 3.1% (95% CI 1.0–7.1%) in BRVO. PAC/PACG was significantly more prevalent in NONHS‐RVO [18.9% (95% CI 9.4–32.0%)] than in ONHS‐RVO [6.5% (95% CI 2.1–14.5%)], AV‐RVO [3.1% (95% CI 0.9–7.8%)], and OC‐RVO [2.3% (95% CI 0.1–12.3%)].ConclusionThe overall frequency of PAC/PACG was much higher in patients with RVO (especially CRVO) than that in the general population. Eyes with PAC/PACG may undergo mechanical changes in the lamina cribrosa of the optic disc, resulting in RVO. Angle‐closure conditions should be borne in mind when investigating Chinese patients with RVO.
Validation of Catquest‐9SF in Danish: developing a revised form of the Catquest‐9SF – the Danish Catquest‐7SF
Authors: Nielsen Esben , Lundström Mats , Pesudovs Konrad , Hjortdal Jesper 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeThe primary goal was to validate a Danish translated version of the Catquest‐9SF by Rasch analysis. The secondary goal was to investigate whether preoperative Catquest‐9SF scores, best‐corrected visual acuity, comorbidity, gender, age or corneal astigmatism could predict improvements in subjective outcome.MethodsIn a prospective trial, 250 patients eligible for cataract surgery were included. Patients filled out the translated Catquest‐9SF questionnaire before surgery and again 3 months after surgery. Both preoperative and postoperative questionnaires were included in the Rasch analysis. A multiple reverse stepwise regression model was used to investigate the correlation between preoperative measurements and subjective improvement.ResultsThe preliminary Rasch analysis showed misfit of items 4 and 6. These items were removed, and the remaining seven items demonstrated a measurement precision of 2.78, a person reliability coefficient of 0.89, ordered response categories, infit of 0.69–1.22, outfit of 0.73–1.14, observed raw variance explained by measures of 70.4% and an eigenvalue of 1.7. Item 7 showed a mild DIF for gender (0.54 logits), and person mean Rasch score targeting was −1.69 logits. Preoperative Catquest score was the only parameter with a significant correlation to a gain in subjective outcome (p < 0.001). A preoperative Catquest‐9SF score of 0.5 carried a 95% likelihood of an increase in subjective outcome.ConclusionThe Danish version of the Catquest‐9SF fit the Rasch model. Only preoperative Catquest‐9SF score was correlated to subjective improvement, and a cut‐off value of 0.5 predicted an improvement in subjective outcome with 95% probability.
The prevalence and psychosocial risk factors for psychotic‐like experiences (PLE) among high school students in Jakarta
Authors: Nehemiah Nezza , Turnip Sherly Saragih 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIntroductionThe prevalence of psychotic‐like experiences (PLE) in general population is moderately high (5%‐8%), although the prevalence of psychotic disorder is considerably low (˂1%). Amid the urgency to understand the underlying factors of psychotic disorder and PLE, most research tend to focus on genetic factors. However, numerous recent works suggested increasing importance of non‐genetic factors. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of PLE and any psychosocial variables that contribute to any occurrence of PLE among adolescent in Jakarta.MethodsThis is a school based cross‐sectional study that was carried out in early 2017. A total sample of 623 high school students from five schools in Jakarta were selected by using multistage random sampling. Psychotic experience was measured using Psychotic‐Like Experiences Questionnaire. Multiple psychosocial variables proposed as predictor model for PLE were examined using multivariate regression.ResultsOur final result showed 20.6% prevalence of PLE among high school students in Jakarta. The proposed psychosocial risk model (consisting of violence exposure, parental communication pattern, peer and conduct problems, social comparison, parental attachment, loneliness, and bullying) contributed to explain 16.3% of the occurrence of PLE (R square: .163).DiscussionThe prevalence of PLE in this population was considerably high. Cultural factors such as paranormal beliefs are assumed to contribute to the high prevalence of PLE among high school students. The quite low contribution score of psychosocial model proposed in predicting the phenomenon of PLE shows that further research is needed to explore more variables that can be better predictors of PLE.
Managing relational conflict in Korean social enterprises: The role of participatory HRM practices, diversity climate, and perceived social impact
Authors: Lee Jeong Won , Zhang Long , Dallas Matt , Chin Hyun 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSocial enterprises are hybrid organizations that primarily pursue social missions while also seeking economic gains. Drawing on workplace diversity and conflict theories, this article addresses recent calls for further research to explore how employees within social enterprises experience internal conflicts arising from the organizational pursuit of dual, competing missions (i.e., social and economic), and how social enterprises manage, and potentially overcome, these challenges. In the context of Korean social enterprise, we conducted a quantitative study that built on an initial explorative qualitative study. Our research examined whether perceived participatory human resource management practices and diversity climate increase employees’ affective commitment by reducing their relational conflict. We further explored a boundary condition, perceived social impact, which strengthened this mediation relationship. Our results offer significant insights into social enterprise, business ethics, and broader management literature. Implications for future research and practice are also discussed.
Exploring teachers’ needs and the existing barriers to the adoption of Learning Design methods and tools: A literature survey
Authors: Dagnino Francesca Maria , Dimitriadis Yannis A. , Pozzi Francesca , Asensio‐Pérez Juan I. , Rubia‐Avi Bartolomé 
Published: September 2018

AbstractLearning Design (LD) research is oriented to support teachers in designing their teaching with the aim to provide a sound pedagogical background and to make effective use of resources and technologies. In spite of the significant number of LD approaches and tools proposed so far, their adoption is still very limited and this represents an unsolved challenge in the field of LD. This paper presents a systematic review of the literature about learning design tools, tackling the issue of adoption from two points of view: teachers’ needs in relation to LD tools and methods and possible barriers to their adoption. The review includes only research papers where teachers’ behaviours and opinions are directly explored and not purely theoretical papers. The search included five main academic databases in Technology‐Enhanced Learning (TEL) plus a search on Google about project reports; the resulting corpus included 423 papers: 26 of these, plus 3 reports were included in the final list for the analysis. The review provides a systematic overview of the knowledge developed in the LD field, focusing on a set of research gaps that need further exploration in the future.
The physiological roles of autophagy in the mammalian life cycle
Authors: Wang Liang , Ye Xiongjun , Zhao Tongbiao 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTAutophagy is primarily an efficient intracellular catabolic pathway used for degradation of abnormal cellular protein aggregates and damaged organelles. Although autophagy was initially proposed to be a cellular stress responder, increasing evidence suggests that it carries out normal physiological roles in multiple biological processes. To date, autophagy has been identified in most organs and at many different developmental stages, indicating that it is not only essential for cellular homeostasis and renovation, but is also important for organ development. Herein, we summarize our current understanding of the functions of autophagy (which here refers to macroautophagy) in the mammalian life cycle.
Dynamic Transition Patterns in Acculturation Among Hispanic Adolescents
Authors: Lee Tae Kyoung , Meca Alan , Unger Jennifer B. , Zamboanga Byron L. , Baezconde‐Garbanati Lourdes , Gonzales‐Backen Melinda , Lorenzo‐Blanco Elma I. , Cano Miguel Á. , Des Rosiers Sabrina E. , Soto Daniel W. , Villamar Juan A. , Pattarroyo Monica , Lizzi Karina M. , Szapocznik José , Schwartz Seth J. 
Published: September 2018

Acculturation consists of multiple domains (i.e., cultural practices, identifications, and values). However, less is known about how acculturation processes influence each other across multiple domains of acculturation. This study was designed to investigate transition patterns of acculturative processes within and across domains in a sample of 302 recent‐immigrant Hispanic adolescents, Mage (SD) = 14.51 years (0.88) at baseline; male = 53%). Adolescents were assessed six times over a 3‐year period. Latent profile analyses identified two profiles (high [or increasing] vs. low) for each domain at each timepoint. We found largely stable transition patterns in each domain over six timepoints. Importantly, sequential associations among profiles in acculturation domains were also detected. Implication for acculturation theory and research are discussed.