bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growth hormone treatment and health‐related quality of life in children and adolescents: A national, prospective, one‐year controlled study
Authors: Butler Gary , Turlejski Tymoteusz , Wales Gillian , Bailey Linda , Wright Neil 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundHealth‐related quality of life (HRQOL) may improve as an additional benefit of the growth hormone treatment (GHT) in children with short stature, but this effect has not been conclusively proven.ObjectivesTo explore the direct effect of GHT on HRQOL in children starting GHT due to isolated or multiple GH deficiency (IGHD), acquired GH deficiency (AGHD) and Turner syndrome (TS), in comparison with untreated short stature controls in 18 UK centres.MethodsWe used recognized measures of HRQOL, the PedsQL, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Youth Life Optimism Test scales to investigate the effect of GHT at 0, 6 and 12 months in children and adolescents 6‐16 years with IGHD (n = 73) and AGHD (n = 45), and 22 girls with TS. 49 children with non‐GHD short stature served as the controls.ResultsChildren rated their HRQOL better than their parents. Those with IGHD and TS rated their overall HRQOL lower than the controls at baseline, psychosocial scores significantly lower in IGHD. After 12 months, the control and TS groups scored higher than UK norms. Those with AGHD had lowest HRQOL scores at all time points, due to poorer physical functioning. The controls showed the greatest improvement in the strength and difficulties scale. All measures evaluated, whether from child, parent or teacher showed an equal improvement over the year of GHT with no discernible direct treatment effect, despite reduced numbers in some patient groups.ConclusionsChildren with short stature resulting from GHD have lower functioning than controls but HRQOL appears to improve with GHT, most likely on account of greater attention and as a result of the retest phenomenon. We were not able to demonstrate an absolute and independent effect of GHT in itself. HRQOL should not be used as a primary measure, as in adults, to determine whether children should receive GHT.
Biofilm formation on dental implants with different surface micro‐topography: An in vitro study
Authors: Bermejo Patricia , Sánchez María Carmen , Llama‐Palacios Arancha , Figuero Elena , Herrera David , Sanz Alonso Mariano 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo compare biofilm formation on whole dental titanium implants with different surface micro‐topography.MethodsA multispecies in vitro biofilm model consisting of initial (Streptococcus oralis and Actinomyces naeslundii), early (Veillonella parvula), secondary (Fusobacterium nucleatum) and late colonizers (Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) was grown for 96 hr on sterile titanium dental implants with either minimal (Sa: 0.5–1.0 mm) or moderate‐roughness titanium surfaces (Sa: 1.1–2.0 mm). The resulting biofilms were studied with Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and Scanning Electron Microscope. Concentrations (colony‐forming units per mL [CFU/ml]) of each bacterium were measured by quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and compared by Student t tests.ResultsA biofilm, located mainly at the peak and lateral areas of the implant threads, was observed on both implant surfaces, with a greater biomass and a greater live/dead ratio in moderate‐ compared to minimal‐roughness surface implants. Statistically significant higher values of total bacteria (mean difference = 2.61 × 107 CFU/ml; 95% confidence interval — CI [1.91 × 106; 5.02 × 107]; p = 0.036), F. Nucleatum (mean difference = 4.43 × 106 CFU/ml; 95% CI [1.06 × 106; 7.80 × 106]; p = 0.013) and A. actinomycetemcomitans (mean difference = 2.55 × 107 CFU/ml; 95% CI [1.07 × 107; 4.04 × 107]; p = 0.002), were found in the moderate‐ compared to minimal‐roughness surface dental implants.ConclusionsImplants with moderate‐roughness surfaces accumulated more bacterial biomass and significant higher number of pathogenic bacteria (F. nucleatum and A. actinomycetemcomitans), when compared to implants with minimal‐roughness surfaces, within a similar biofilm structure.
Prognostic value of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with anal cancer
Authors: De Nardi P. , Guarneri G. , Canevari C. , Tamburini A. , Slim N. , Passoni P. , Rosati R. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to assess the value of positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in staging inguinal lymph nodes in anal cancer patients and to determine if the results of the two methods could be of prognostic value.MethodSixty‐three patients with anal cancer and clinically negative inguinal lymph nodes underwent lymphoscintigraphy and inguinal SLN biopsy and/or fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT scan. All patients were treated with radiotherapy combined with 5‐fluorouracil and mitomycin‐C.ResultsOverall (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) were 43 months (range 5–211) and 43 months (range 4–142) respectively. PET/CT examination showed high FDG uptake in the inguinal lymph nodes in 25% of patients. Thirty‐five patients with inguinal uptake at lymphoscintigraphy underwent inguinal SLN biopsy and metastatic nodes were found in 31.4%. There was no statistical difference in OS (55 vs 41 months; P = 0.652) and DFS (48 vs 38 months; P = 0.992) between the group which showed inguinal uptake on PET/CT and the group which did not, while a positive inguinal SLN was associated with a worse OS (28 vs 59 months; P = 0.028) and DFS (56 vs 21 months; P = 0.046). When the two examinations were compared PET/CT showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 22%, 82%, 33% and 73% respectively.ConclusionThe technique of SLN biopsy had a better diagnostic accuracy than total body FDG‐PET/CT for the staging of inguinal lymph nodes in anal cancer patients; moreover it was a stronger predictor of OS and DFS than PET/CT.
Comparing statistical learning across perceptual modalities in infancy: An investigation of underlying learning mechanism(s)
Authors: Emberson Lauren L. , Misyak Jennifer B. , Schwade Jennifer A. , Christiansen Morten H. , Goldstein Michael H. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractStatistical learning (SL), sensitivity to probabilistic regularities in sensory input, has been widely implicated in cognitive and perceptual development. Little is known, however, about the underlying mechanisms of SL and whether they undergo developmental change. One way to approach these questions is to compare SL across perceptual modalities. While a decade of research has compared auditory and visual SL in adults, we present the first direct comparison of visual and auditory SL in infants (8–10 months). Learning was evidenced in both perceptual modalities but with opposite directions of preference: Infants in the auditory condition displayed a novelty preference, while infants in the visual condition showed a familiarity preference. Interpreting these results within the Hunter and Ames model (1988), where familiarity preferences reflect a weaker stage of encoding than novelty preferences, we conclude that there is weaker learning in the visual modality than the auditory modality for this age. In addition, we found evidence of different developmental trajectories across modalities: Auditory SL increased while visual SL did not change for this age range. The results suggest that SL is not an abstract, amodal ability; for the types of stimuli and statistics tested, we find that auditory SL precedes the development of visual SL and is consistent with recent work comparing SL across modalities in older children.
Impact of severe diabetic kidney disease on the clinical outcome of autologous cell therapy in people with diabetes and critical limb ischaemia
Authors: Dubský M. , Jirkovská A. , Bem R. , Němcová A. , Fejfarová V. , Hazdrová J. , Sutoris K. , Chlupáč J. , Skibová J. , Jude E. B. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAimTo assess the impact of autologous cell therapy on critical limb ischaemia in people with diabetes and diabetic kidney disease.MethodsA total of 59 people with diabetes (type 1 or type 2) and critical limb ischaemia, persisting after standard revascularization, were treated with cell therapy in our foot clinic over 7 years; this group comprised 17 people with and 42 without severe diabetic kidney disease. The control group had the same inclusion criteria, but was treated conservatively and comprised 21 people with and 23 without severe diabetic kidney disease. Severe diabetic kidney disease was defined as chronic kidney disease stages 4–5 (GFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m²). Death and amputation‐free survival were assessed during the 18‐month follow‐up; changes in transcutaneous oxygen pressure were evaluated at 6 and 12 months after cell therapy.ResultsTranscutaneous oxygen pressure increased significantly in both groups receiving cell therapy compared to baseline (both P<0.01); no significant change in either of the control groups was observed. The cell therapy severe diabetic kidney disease group had a significantly longer amputation‐free survival time compared to the severe diabetic kidney disease control group (hazard ratio 0.36, 95% CI 0.14–0.91; P=0.042); there was no difference in the non‐severe diabetic kidney disease groups. The severe diabetic kidney disease control group had a tendency to have higher mortality (hazard ratio 2.82, 95% CI 0.81–9.80; P=0.062) than the non‐severe diabetic kidney disease control group, but there was no difference between the severe diabetic kidney disease and non‐severe diabetic kidney disease cell therapy groups.ConclusionsThe present study shows that autologous cell therapy in people with severe diabetic kidney disease significantly improved critical limb ischaemia and lengthened amputation‐free survival in comparison with conservative treatment; however, the treatment did not influence overall survival.
Superior colliculus encodes visual saliency during smooth pursuit eye movements
Authors: White Brian J. , Itti Laurent , Munoz Douglas P. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe saliency map has played a long‐standing role in models and theories of visual attention, and it is now supported by neurobiological evidence from several cortical and subcortical brain areas. While visual saliency is computed during moments of active fixation, it is not known whether the same is true while engaged in smooth pursuit of a moving stimulus, which is very common in real‐world vision. Here, we examined extrafoveal saliency coding in the superior colliculus, a midbrain area associated with attention and gaze, during smooth pursuit eye movements. We found that SC neurons from the superficial visual layers showed a robust representation of peripheral saliency evoked by a conspicuous stimulus embedded in a wide‐field array of goal‐irrelevant stimuli. In contrast, visuomotor neurons from the intermediate saccade‐related layers showed a poor saliency representation, even though most of these neurons were visually responsive during smooth pursuit. These results confirm and extend previous findings that place the SCs in a unique role as a saliency map that monitors peripheral vision during foveation of stationary and now moving objects.
Parental mosaicism in epilepsies due to alleged de novo variants
Authors: Møller Rikke S. , Liebmann Nora , Larsen Line H. G. , Stiller Mathias , Hentschel Julia , Kako Nahrain , Abdin Dalia , Di Donato Nataliya , Pal Deb K. , Zacher Pia , Syrbe Steffen , Dahl Hans A. , Lemke Johannes R. 
Published: May 2019

SummarySevere early onset epilepsies are often caused by de novo pathogenic variants. Few studies have reported the frequency of somatic mosaicism in parents of children with severe epileptic encephalopathies. Here we aim to investigate the frequency of mosaicism in the parents of children with epilepsy caused by alleged de novo variants. We tested parental genomic DNA derived from different tissues for 75 cases using targeted next‐generation sequencing. Five parents (6.6%) showed mosaicism at minor allele frequencies of 0.8%‐29% for the pathogenic variant detected in their offspring. Parental mosaicism was observed in the following genes: SCN1A, SCN2A, SCN8A, and STXBP1. One of the identified parents had epilepsy himself. Our results show that de novo events can occur already in parental tissue and in some cases can be detected in peripheral blood. Consequently, parents affected by low‐grade mosaicism are faced with an increased recurrence risk for transmitting the pathogenic variant, compared to the overall recurrence risk for a second affected child estimated at approximately 1%. However, testing for parental somatic mosaicism will help identifying those parents who truly are at higher risk and will significantly improve genetic counseling in the respective families.
Can Cognitive‐Behavioral Therapy Be Optimized With Parent Psychoeducation? A Randomized Effectiveness Trial of Adolescents With Major Depression in Puerto Rico
Authors: Bernal Guillermo , Rivera‐Medina Carmen L. , Cumba‐Avilés Eduardo , Reyes‐Rodríguez Mae Lynn , Sáez‐Santiago Emily , Duarté‐Vélez Yovanska , Nazario Lelis , Rodríguez‐Quintana Natalie , Rosselló Jeannette 
Published: May 2019

This is a longitudinal randomized control trial on the impact of adding a parent psychoeducation intervention (TEPSI) as part of cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) for adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a Puerto Rican sample. We tested the efficacy of adding 8 group sessions of TEPSI to 12 sessions of individual CBT on reducing depressive symptoms, MDD diagnosis, and improving family functioning. Participants (n = 121) were randomized to individual CBT with or without TEPSI. No main group effects were found for most patient domains including depression symptoms, as well as presence of adolescent's MDD diagnosis at posttreatment. Results did show a main effect of CBT over time for depression symptoms, suicide ideation, family criticism, and the presence of MDD diagnosis decreasing from pre‐ to postintervention. A year post treatment, almost 70% of adolescents in both conditions (CBT and CBT + TEPSI) remained in remission. A main effect was obtained for treatment in the adolescent's perception of familism and family emotional involvement. The primary hypothesis that family psychoeducation would optimize CBT for depression in adolescents was not supported. Both conditions yielded similar clinical end points. The culturally adapted CBT was found effective with Latino/a adolescents showing clinically significant improvements from pretreatment to posttreatment and remained stable at a 1‐year follow‐up. Regarding family outcomes, adolescents in CBT + TEPSI remained stable from pretreatment to posttreatment on family emotional involvement, while adolescents in CBT‐alone showed an increase. The implication of these findings is discussed.
The relationship between wealth and biodiversity: A test of the Luxury Effect on bird species richness in the developing world
Authors: Chamberlain Dan E. , Henry Dominic A. W. , Reynolds Chevonne , Caprio Enrico , Amar Arjun 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe Luxury Effect hypothesizes a positive relationship between wealth and biodiversity within urban areas. Understanding how urban development, both in terms of socio‐economic status and the built environment, affects biodiversity can contribute to the sustainable development of cities, and may be especially important in the developing world where current growth in urban populations is most rapid. We tested the Luxury Effect by analysing bird species richness in relation to income levels, as well as human population density and urban cover, in landscapes along an urbanization gradient in South Africa. The Luxury Effect was supported in landscapes with lower urbanization levels in that species richness was positively correlated with income level where urban cover was relatively low. However, the effect was reversed in highly urbanized landscapes, where species richness was negatively associated with income level. Tree cover was also positively correlated with species richness, although it could not explain the Luxury Effect. Species richness was negatively related to urban cover, but there was no association with human population density. Our model suggests that maintaining green space in at least an equal proportion to the built environment is likely to provide a development strategy that will enhance urban biodiversity, and with it, the positive benefits that are manifest for urban dwellers. Our findings can form a key contribution to a wider strategy to expand urban settlements in a sustainable way to provide for the growing urban population in South Africa, including addressing imbalances in environmental justice across income levels and racial groups.
Microbial assemblages reflect environmental heterogeneity in alpine streams
Authors: Hotaling Scott , Foley Mary E. , Zeglin Lydia H. , Finn Debra S. , Tronstad Lusha M. , Giersch J. Joseph , Muhlfeld Clint C. , Weisrock David W. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAlpine streams are dynamic habitats harboring substantial biodiversity across small spatial extents. The diversity of alpine stream biota is largely reflective of environmental heterogeneity stemming from varying hydrological sources. Globally, alpine stream diversity is under threat as meltwater sources recede and stream conditions become increasingly homogeneous. Much attention has been devoted to macroinvertebrate diversity in alpine headwaters, yet to fully understand the breadth of climate change threats, a more thorough accounting of microbial diversity is needed. We characterized microbial diversity (specifically Bacteria and Archaea) of 13 streams in two disjunct Rocky Mountain subranges through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our study encompassed the spectrum of alpine stream sources (glaciers, snowfields, subterranean ice, and groundwater) and three microhabitats (ice, biofilms, and streamwater). We observed no difference in regional (γ) diversity between subranges but substantial differences in diversity among (β) stream types and microhabitats. Within‐stream (α) diversity was highest in groundwater‐fed springs, lowest in glacier‐fed streams, and positively correlated with water temperature for both streamwater and biofilm assemblages. We identified an underappreciated alpine stream type—the icy seep—that are fed by subterranean ice, exhibit cold temperatures (summer mean <2°C), moderate bed stability, and relatively high conductivity. Icy seeps will likely be important for combatting biodiversity losses as they contain similar microbial assemblages to streams fed by surface ice yet may be buffered against climate change by insulating debris cover. Our results show that the patterns of microbial diversity support an ominous trend for alpine stream biodiversity; as meltwater sources decline, stream communities will become more diverse locally, but regional diversity will be lost. Icy seeps, however, represent a source of optimism for the future of biodiversity in these imperiled ecosystems.
Efficacy and safety of ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis E after kidney transplantation
Authors: Yoshida Tomoaki , Takamura Masaaki , Goto Ryo , Takeuchi Suguru , Tsuchiya Atsunori , Kamimura Kenya , Tasaki Masayuki , Nakagawa Yuki , Saito Kazuhide , Tomita Yoshihiko , Terai Shuji 
Published: May 2019

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been recognized as an acute condition. However, recent reports have shown that immunocompromised patients, such as those receiving solid‐organ transplantation, can develop chronic hepatitis with HEV infection. We report two cases of chronic hepatitis E after kidney transplantation (KT) who were successfully treated with ribavirin monotherapy.Several years after KT, both patients had sustained elevations in the levels of liver enzymes for a period of more than 6 months. Both patients had HEV infection, genotype 3a. Histological studies showed infiltration of inflammatory cells without fibrosis. Treatment included ribavirin monotherapy at a dosage of 600 mg daily for 3 months. One month after therapy initiation, HEV‐RNA turned to negative, and remained negative at 24 weeks after ribavirin therapy without severe complications. Although the treatment of chronic hepatitis E is not fully established, ribavirin therapy can be a safe and effective treatment for chronic hepatitis E.
Malic enzyme 1 is a potential marker of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma, subtype with stem‐cell features, intermediate‐cell type
Authors: Mihara Yutaro , Akiba Jun , Ogasawara Sachiko , Kondo Reiichiro , Fukushima Hiroto , Itadani Hiraku , Obara Hitoshi , Kakuma Tatsuyuki , Kusano Hironori , Naito Yoshiki , Okuda Koji , Nakashima Osamu , Yano Hirohisa 
Published: May 2019

AimCombined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma, subtype with stem‐cell features, intermediate‐cell subtype (INT) shows various histological appearances and could be misdiagnosed as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). In the present study, we aimed to identify specific histological diagnostic markers of INT.MethodsWe extracted RNA from FFPE sections of six INT, five iCCA, and five hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases and compared gene expression between INT, iCCA, and HCC by microarray analysis. We then undertook immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of potential key molecules identified by microarray analysis, the conventional hepatocytic marker, hepatocyte paraffin (HepPar)‐1, and the cholangiocytic markers, keratin (K) 7 and K19, on 35 INT, 25 iCCA, and 60 HCC cases.ResultsMicroarray analysis suggested that malic enzyme 1 (ME1) was significantly upregulated in INT. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the positive rates of ME1 in INT, iCCA, and HCC were 77.1% (27/35), 28.0% (7/25), and 61.7% (37/60), respectively. Analysis of classification and regression trees based on IHC scores indicated that HepPar‐1 could be a good candidate for discriminating HCC from the others with high sensitivity (93.3%) and high specificity (96.7%). A multiple logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis based on the IHC scores of ME1, K7, and K19 generated a composite score that can discriminate between INT and iCCA. Using this composite score, INT could be discriminated from iCCA with high sensitivity (88.6%) and high specificity (88.0%).ConclusionsWe propose that ME1 is a useful diagnostic marker of INT when used in combination with other hepatocytic and cholangiocytic markers.