bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Disruption of bovine sperm functions in the presence of aplastic midpiece defect
Authors: Díaz‐Miranda E. A. , Maitan P. P. , Machado T. P. , Camilo B. S. , Lima D. A. , Okano D. S. , Penitente‐Filho J. M. , Machado‐Neves M. , de Oliveira L. L. , Guimarães S. E. F. , da Costa E. P. , Guimarães J. D. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundBulls are of great importance in the productive chain and for this reason they should have a good semen quality. There is no doubt that sperm morphology is very important to bull fertility, although little is known about how exactly the abnormal morphologies may affect sperm functions.ObjectivesTo detail the morphological description of the aplastic midpiece defect (AMD), as well as to understand its consequences for male fertility based on membrane and acrosome status, mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA integrity parameters.Materials and methodsThe bulls were divided into two groups: control, consisting of satisfactory potential breeders (n = 3); and AMD, consisting of unsatisfactory potential breeders with a high percentage of AMD (n = 3). Bulls were evaluated by the breeding soundness evaluation; five ejaculates were collected from each animal and analyzed by flow cytometry.ResultsSpermatozoa from AMD group exhibited lower sperm motility and vigor (p < 0.05). In addition, it also exhibited lower mitochondrial membrane potential (p < 0.05), a higher percentage of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation (p < 0.05), lower acrosome and plasma membrane integrity (p < 0.05), and higher lipid bilayer sperm membrane disorganization (p < 0.05) in comparison with control bulls.DiscussionThese findings may be due to oxidative stress and a reduction of the energy production capacity in addition to an alteration in the structural composition of the sperm cell. Moreover, semen with a high percentage of AMD may also be undergoing apoptosis.ConclusionBulls with a high percentage of AMD in their semen are not suitable for reproduction. Furthermore, it suggests there is a putative genetic basis for this sperm defect.
CHANGES IN BODY PROTEIN COMPOSITION FOLLOWING AORTIC RECONSTRUCTION
Authors: FLETCHER J. P. , ALLEN B. J. , BLAGOJEVIC N. 
Published: March 2019

Major surgery initiates a stress response due to the body's neuroendocrine reaction which leads to a breakdown of muscle protein with an increased urinary nitrogen excretion and a negative nitrogen balance.In vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA) is a technique which measures total body nitrogen. A total of 23 IVNNA studies were performed in six patients having aortic reconstruction to assess the effect of this major operation on body nitrogen and to determine the time required for a return to the pre‐operative state.Aortic surgery caused a mean decrease of 2.9% in bodyweight (from a mean of 65.4 kg to 63.5 kg) but a much greater decrease of 9.9% in total body nitrogen (from a mean of 1778 g to 1602 g).Only two of six patients had recovered to pre‐operative values by the end of the study period which extended for a mean of 92 days.
Semi‐automated quantification of geographic atrophy with blue‐light autofluorescence and spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography: a comparison between the region finder and the advanced retinal pigment epithelium tool in the clinical setting
Authors: Reumueller Adrian , Sacu Stefan , Karantonis Maria Georgia , Steiner Irene , Weigert Guenther , Schmidt‐Erfurth Ursula 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPurposeTo compare inter‐ and intraobserver reliability and intermodality agreement on quantification of geographic atrophy, using two routinely available quantification tools, based on blue‐light fundus autofluorescence (BAF) and spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT).MethodsQuantifications of atrophic lesions within the central 5 mm of 30 eyes from 30 patients (mean age: 76.1 years) were independently performed by two clinicians on BAF images using the region finder (RF; Heidelberg Engineering) and on SD‐OCT using the advanced retinal pigment epithelium tool (ARPET; Carl Zeiss Meditec) at baseline and follow‐up (mean interval: 336 days). Inter‐ and intraobserver reliability was determined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland–Altmann plots. Additionally, graders rated the experienced difficulty of each measurement.ResultsIntraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) showed excellent inter‐ and intraobserver reliability with values between 0.994 and 0.998 for RF and slightly higher values for ARPET of 0.997 and 0.999. Bland–Altman plots showed smaller variability for ARPET. Mean interobserver differences (95% CI) for size measurements were −0.11 (−0.27; 0.05) (baseline) and −0.05 mm² (−0.18; 0.08) (follow‐up) for RF and −0.04 (−0.14; 0.06) and −0.06 mm² (−0.14; 0.02) for ARPET. Measurements of lesions were on average 0.57 mm² (0.35; 0.79) or 7.6% larger in ARPET. Lesion size between graders did not differ significantly. There was no statistically significant difference in relative enlargement rates between methods. There was poor to moderate agreement between graders when rating the experienced difficulty of each measurement.ConclusionSemi‐automated analysis of geographic atrophy with RF and ARPET is equally reliable and reproducible in clinical settings, despite both algorithms require frequent adjustment by users. The ARPET restricts size measurements to the central 5 mm, which limits its ability to fully track GA progression. Results of both tools are not interchangeable as measurements with ARPET result in larger lesion sizes.
Treatment access is only the first step to hepatitis C elimination: experience of universal anti‐viral treatment access in Australia
Authors: Doyle Joseph S. , Scott Nick , Sacks‐Davis Rachel , Pedrana Alisa E. , Thompson Alexander J. , Hellard Margaret E. ,   the Eliminate Hepatitis C Partnership
Published: March 2019

SummaryBackgroundGlobal targets to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) might be met by sustained treatment uptake.AimTo describe factors facilitating HCV treatment uptake and potential challenges to sustaining treatment levels after universal access to direct‐acting anti‐virals (DAA) across Australia.MethodsWe analysed national Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data to determine the number of DAA prescriptions commenced before and after universal access from March 2016 to June 2017. We inferred facilitators and barriers to treatment uptake, and challenges that will prevent local and global jurisdictions reaching elimination targets.ResultsIn 2016, 32 877 individuals (14% of people living with HCV in Australia) commenced HCV DAA treatment, and 34 952 (15%) individuals commenced treatment in the first year of universal access. Treatment uptake peaked at 13 109 DAA commencements per quarter immediately after universal access, but more than halved (to 5320 in 2017 Q2) within 12 months. General practitioners have written 24% of all prescriptions but with a significantly increased proportion over time (9% in 2016 Q1 to 37% in 2017 Q2). In contrast, hepatology or infectious diseases specialists have written a declining share from 74% to 38% during the same period. General practitioners provided a greater proportion (47%) of care in regional/remote areas than major cities.ConclusionsBroad treatment access led to rapid initial increases in treatment uptake, but this uptake has not been sustained. Our results suggest achieving global elimination targets requires more than treatment availability: people with HCV need easy access to testing and linkage to care in community settings employing a diverse prescriber base.
Off‐label prescriptions of drugs used for the treatment of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
Authors: Simsek Melek , Lissenberg‐Witte Birgit I. , van Riswijk Milou L. M. , Verschuren Sander , Hoentjen Frank , Oldenburg Bas , Ponsioen Cyriel Y. , van der Woude C. Janneke , van der Meulen Andrea E. , Pierik Marieke , Dijkstra Gerard , de Boer Nanne K. H. ,   the Parelsnoer Institute (PSI), the Dutch Initiative on Crohn's and Colitis (ICC)
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundOff‐label prescribing is encountered across various fields of medicine and creates alternative treatment options, but is associated with unknown safety risks. The use of off‐label drugs for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has not been characterised before.AimTo assess the proportion and characteristics of off‐label prescribing for IBD in tertiary care centres in the Netherlands.MethodsA prospective database of IBD patients from all Dutch university hospitals was used to collect data on drug prescriptions for IBD and demographics. Drugs were classified as off‐label if they were unlicensed for Crohn's disease and/or ulcerative colitis by the Medicines Evaluation Board. Uni‐ and multivariable analyses were used to identify patient‐specific characteristics predictive of increased off‐label use.ResultsFor the induction and/or maintenance treatment of 4583 IBD patients, 12 651 historical and current drug records were available in the database. Of these, 2374 (19%) were considered off‐label prescriptions. Out of 4583 IBD patients, 1477 (32%) were exposed to off‐label drugs. Commonly prescribed off‐label IBD drugs were mercaptopurine (18%), beclomethasone (12%), thioguanine (4%) and allopurinol (3%). Non‐thiopurine/methotrexate off‐label drugs were prescribed in 243 patients (6%), including biological agents or tofacitinib in 47 IBD patients (1%). Off‐label prescriptions were more common in ulcerative colitis than Crohn's disease (37% vs 29%, P < 0.001). Smokers and patients that received ≥5 drug types during their disease course were more likely to be exposed to off‐label drugs (smoking 33% vs 27% and multiple drug use 66% vs 22%, both P < 0.001).ConclusionAbout one‐fifth of prescriptions for IBD were off‐label and one‐third of IBD patients, especially ulcerative colitis patients, were exposed to off‐label drugs.
Day Labor Agencies, “Backdoor” Hires, and the Spread of Unfree Labor
Authors: Purser Gretchen 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis article focuses upon a previously overlooked aspect of the “flesh‐peddling” day labor business, widely recognized as the epitome of the precarious regime of employment. By physically stockpiling surplus labor to meet their clients’ immediate and unpredictable demands, day labor agencies inadvertently give rise to informal day labor markets outside their doors. Drawing upon ethnographic research carried out in the day labor agencies of Baltimore and Oakland, I examine how day laborers and agency dispatchers negotiate and navigate the practice of what I call “backdoor” hiring, wherein employers hire workers from, but not through, the agency. The struggles surrounding backdoor hiring not only challenge and complicate the binary division in the literature between formal and informal day labor, but reveal the dogged efforts of dispatchers to cultivate workers’ dependency, restrict their mobility, and curtail their labor‐market freedom. This article thus contributes to the growing debate within anthropology and related disciplines about the conditions exacerbating unfreedom at the bottom of the labor market.
A task‐ and role‐based perspective on super‐recognizers: Commentary on ‘Super‐recognizers: From the lab to the world and back again’
Authors: Moreton Reuben , Pike Graham , Havard Catriona 
Published: March 2019

This article provides a commentary on recent work by Ramon et al. (2019, British Journal of Psychology) on super‐recognizers. The commentary advocates a task‐ and role‐based approach to SR research and greater collaboration between researchers and the applied community.
Antitumor activity of Raddeanin A is mediated by Jun amino‐terminal kinase activation and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 inhibition in human osteosarcoma
Authors: Wang Zhuoying , Shen Jiakang , Sun Wei , Zhang Tao , Zuo Dongqing , Wang Hongsheng , Wang Gangyang , Xu Jing , Yin Fei , Mao Min , Zhou Zifei , Hua Yingqi , Cai Zhengdong 
Published: March 2019

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor. Raddeanin A (RA) is an active oleanane‐type triterpenoid saponin extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Anemone raddeana Regel that exerts antitumor activity against several cancer types. However, the effect of RA on osteosarcoma remains unclear. In the present study, we showed that RA inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent way in vitro and in vivo. RA treatment resulted in excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and JNK and ERK1/2 activation. Apoptosis induction was evaluated by the activation of caspase‐3, caspase‐8, and caspase‐9 and poly‐ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. RA‐induced cell death was significantly restored by the ROS scavenger glutathione (GSH), the pharmacological inhibitor of JNK SP600125, or specific JNK knockdown by shRNA. Additionally, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation was suppressed by RA in human osteosarcoma, and this suppression was restored by GSH, SP600125, and JNK‐shRNA. Further investigation showed that STAT3 phosphorylation was increased after JNK knockdown. In a tibial xenograft tumor model, RA induced osteosarcoma apoptosis and notably inhibited tumor growth. Taken together, our results show that RA suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis by modulating the JNK/c‐Jun and STAT3 signaling pathways in human osteosarcoma. Therefore, RA may be a promising candidate antitumor drug for osteosarcoma intervention.
Area‐level social development and indicators of public dental services in Southern Brazil
Authors: Godoi Heloisa , Singh Ankur , de Mello Ana Lúcia S. Ferreira , Brennan David S. , Peres Marco A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to test associations between a municipal social development indicator and indicators of public dental services; examine differences in the achievement of public dental services goals between fluoridated and nonfluoridated municipalities; and, quantify contribution of a municipal social development indicator in estimated mean differences in the public dental services indicators between fluoridated and nonfluoridated municipalities.MethodsA secondary analysis of data from 293 municipal dental health services records from Southern Brazil between 2010 and 2015 was conducted. Multivariable log‐binomial regression models were fitted to test the associations between municipal Human Development Index (HDI) and multiple public dental services indicators (proportion of public dental health service coverage, the proportion of tooth extraction among all clinical procedures, and monthly participation in supervised tooth brushing). Cut‐off points for outcomes were based on state goals for public dental services. Blinder‐Oaxaca decomposition analyses were performed to quantify the relative contribution of HDI in the differences in outcomes according to the municipal water fluoridation status.ResultsMunicipalities within the lowest tertile of HDI had 66% lower prevalence of having insufficient public dental health service coverage (less than state goals)than those in the highest tertile of HDI (PR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.50). Municipalities with lowest HDI had nearly 30% higher prevalence of failing the state goals regarding the proportion of extraction and supervised tooth brushing (PR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.40 and PR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.23, 1.45, respectively). Mean public dental health service coverage was higher in nonfluoridated municipalities than fluoridated municipalities, and municipal HDI explained 36% of the total estimated mean difference.ConclusionsThis study found associations between municipal social development and public dental services indicators in Southern Brazil. However, higher HDI was associated with lower public dental health service coverage, lower proportion of extraction and higher coverage of supervised tooth brushing [Correction added on 2 April 2019, after first online publication: In the preceding sentence, the text “but with a higher proportion of extraction and supervised tooth brushing” was changed to “lower proportion of extraction and higher coverage of supervised tooth brushing”]. Municipal HDI contributed significantly towards the gap in public dental coverage between fluoridated and nonfluoridated municipalities, favoring nonfluoridated municipalities. These findings have important policy implications for reducing oral health inequalities as it highlights the interplay between key oral health policies and their distribution according to municipal social development.
Idiopathic short stature and growth hormone sensitivity in prepubertal children
Authors: Derraik José G. B. , Miles Harriet L. , Chiavaroli Valentina , Hofman Paul L. , Cutfield Wayne S. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryObjectiveWe compared growth hormone sensitivity to an insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) generation test in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and of normal stature (NS) across the birthweight range.MethodsForty‐six prepubertal children (~7.1 years) born at term were studied: ISS (n = 23; 74% boys) and NS (n = 23; 57% boys). Children underwent a modified IGF‐I generation test with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; 0.05 mg/kg/d) over four consecutive days. Hormonal concentrations were measured at baseline and day 5.ResultsChildren with idiopathic short stature were 1.90 SDS lighter (P < 0.0001) but had 4.5% more body fat (P = 0.0007) than NS children. Overall, decreasing birthweight SDS across the normal range (−1.9 to +1.5 SDS) was associated with lower percentage IGF‐I response to rhGH stimulation in univariable (r = 0.45; P = 0.002) and multivariable models (β = 24.6; P = 0.006). Plasma IGF‐I concentrations rose in both groups with rhGH stimulation (P < 0.0001). GHBP levels (P = 0.002) were suppressed in ISS children (−19%; P = 0.029) but increased among NS children (+18%; P = 0.028), with contrasting responses also observed for leptin and IGFBP‐1. Further, the increase in insulin concentrations in response to rhGH stimulation was ~3‐fold greater in NS children (142% vs 50%; P = 0.006).ConclusionsA progressive decrease in birthweight SDS was associated with a reduction in GH sensitivity in both NS and ISS children. Thus, the lower IGF‐I response to rhGH stimulation in association with decreasing birthweight indicates that the ISS children at the lower end of the birthweight spectrum may have partial GH resistance, which may contribute to their poorer growth.
Teleological Essentialism
Authors: Rose David , Nichols Shaun 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPlaceholder essentialism is the view that there is a causal essence that holds category members together, though we may not know what the essence is. Sometimes the placeholder can be filled in by scientific essences, such as when we acquire scientific knowledge that the atomic weight of gold is 79. We challenge the view that placeholders are elaborated by scientific essences. In our view, if placeholders are elaborated, they are elaborated by Aristotelian essences, a telos. Utilizing the same kind of experiments used by traditional essentialists—involving superficial change (study 1), transformation of insides (study 2), acquired traits (study 3), and inferences about offspring (study 4)—we find support for the view that essences are elaborated by a telos. And we find evidence (study 5) that teleological essences may generate category judgments.
Cytological tumour cell characteristics and reactive small lymphocytes influence patient prognosis in acute and lymphoma type adult T‐cell leukaemia/lymphoma
Authors: Kobata Katsumi , Mihashi Yasuhito , Nonaka Shuichi , Matsumoto Shinji , Kawauchi Shigeto , Iwasaki Hiroki , Takamatsu Yasushi , Takeshita Morishige 
Published: March 2019

ObjectiveAcute and lymphoma type adult T‐cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) patients show an aggressive clinical course. While some clinical signs indicate good prognosis, definitive cytohistological prognostic factors have yet to be described.MethodsWe classified 65 ATLL patients into three groups by tumour cell size and nuclear pleomorphism on fine‐needle aspiration and tumour touch smear samples. Semi‐quantitative analysis of background small lymphocytes, reactive CD20‐positive B cells and CD8‐positive T cells was performed.ResultsThirty‐one patients had pleomorphic lymphoma with predominantly medium‐sized cells and coarse granular nuclei. Another 24 patients showed pleomorphic large cell lymphoma with stippled chromatin. The remaining 10 demonstrated monomorphic large lymphoma cells with fine granular chromatin. Patients with pleomorphic lymphoma with medium‐sized cells showed significantly higher serum lactate dehydrogenase and lower CD30 and C‐MYC expression in lymphoma cells than the other two groups (P = .0216, P < 0.01, respectively). Patients with pleomorphic medium‐sized ATLL had few usual small lymphocytes observed on routine morphological examination and showed less concurrent detection of CD20‐positive B cells and CD8‐positive T cells, both of which were lower than in the other two groups (P = .006, P = .019, respectively). Furthermore, ATLL patients with predominantly medium‐sized lymphocytes exhibited a worse prognosis than patients with pleomorphic large cells (P = .0197). Background small lymphocytes and concurrent detection of CD20‐positive B cells and CD8‐positive T cells may thus be good prognostic factors (P = .011, P = .021, respectively).ConclusionsMorphological features, size of neoplastic cells and background non‐neoplastic lymphocyte (B cells and CD8‐positive T cells) volume appear to influence the prognosis of patients with aggressive‐type ATLL.
Head tossing behaviour in six horses: Trigeminal‐mediated head‐shaking or musculoskeletal pain?
Authors: Thomson K. , Chan C. , Dyson S. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryThe objective of this study was to report the clinical findings of six horses referred for investigation of head‐shaking and to compare and contrast the findings to those of trigeminal‐mediated head‐shaking. The case records of six horses showing head tossing behaviour (vertical up and down movement of the head during ridden exercise) that were referred to the Animal Health Trust were reviewed and a summary of the clinical findings reported. The history was appraised, including video footage when available. A comprehensive clinical examination at rest and exercise, including ridden assessment, was performed on several occasions over at least 2 days; diagnostic analgesia and imaging were carried out. A thorough review of the literature on trigeminal‐mediated (idiopathic) head‐shaking was performed. All horses showed headtossing behaviour when ridden and two horses also tossed their heads on the lunge. All horses had various sources of musculoskeletal pain. Five horses had abolition of headtossing behaviour after diagnostic analgesia resolved musculoskeletal pain. The remaining horse had significant improvement in this behaviour. This horse also displayed clinical signs at rest and it is likely that there was a component of trigeminal‐mediated head‐shaking. Many horses with trigeminal‐mediated head‐shaking show clinical signs both at rest and when ridden, often with worsening of clinical signs when ridden. However, all horses in this series showed additional signs of musculoskeletal pain when ridden compared with in hand and on the lunge. None of these horses displayed excessive sneezing or snorting, acting like an insect was flying up the nostril and rubbing and/or striking at the nose with the forelimbs which can often be seen in horses with trigeminal‐mediated head‐shaking. No horse had a history of seasonality of clinical signs. It was concluded that it is important for veterinarians to recognise behavioural signs of pain, such as headtossing during ridden exercise and to be able to differentiate this behaviour from trigeminal‐mediated head‐shaking.