bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sulfonylureas as initial treatment for type 2 diabetes and the risk of adverse cardiovascular events: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Filion Kristian B. , Douros Antonios , Azoulay Laurent , Yin Hui , Yu Oriana H. , Suissa Samy 
Published: July 2019

AimsSulfonylureas are recommended as second‐line treatment in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, they are still commonly used also as first‐line treatment instead of metformin. Given the controversial cardiovascular safety of sulfonylureas, we aimed to determine if their use as first‐line treatment is associated with adverse cardiovascular events among patients with newly treated type 2 diabetes compared with metformin.MethodsWe conducted a population‐based cohort study of patients with newly treated type 2 diabetes using the UK's Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Initiators of metformin and sulfonylurea monotherapy were matched on high‐dimensional propensity score, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the rate of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, cardiovascular death, and all‐cause mortality) with sulfonylureas vs metformin.ResultsOur cohort included 94 750 patients initiating treatment for type 2 diabetes, 17 612 on a sulfonylurea and 77 138 on metformin. After matching, sulfonylurea monotherapy, compared with metformin monotherapy, was not associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85–1.25) but was associated with increased risks of ischaemic stroke (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.002–1.56), cardiovascular death (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06–1.47), and all‐cause mortality (HR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.45–1.76). This represents an additional 2.0 ischaemic strokes, 3.5 cardiovascular deaths, and 21.4 all‐cause deaths per 1,000 patients per year with sulfonylureas.ConclusionsInitiating treatment of type 2 diabetes with a sulfonylurea rather than metformin is associated with higher rates of ischaemic stroke, cardiovascular death, and all‐cause mortality.
A risk‐stratification model based on the initial concentration of the serum monoclonal protein and MYD88 mutation status identifies a subset of patients with IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance at high risk of progression to Waldenström macroglobulinaemia or other lymphoproliferative disorders
Authors: Varettoni Marzia , Zibellini Silvia , Boveri Emanuela , Klersy Catherine , Candido Chiara , Rattotti Sara , Ferretti Virginia V. , Defrancesco Irene , Mangiacavalli Silvia , Nizzoli Maria E. , Flospergher Elena , Zerbi Caterina , Bergamini Fabio , Benvenuti Pietro , Brociner Marco , Merati Gabriele , Paulli Marco , Arcaini Luca 
Published: July 2019

SummaryIgM monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (IgM MGUS) are associated with a risk of progression to Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM) or other lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) of 1–2% per year. We analysed 176 consecutive patients with IgM MGUS to evaluate risk factors for progression. With a median follow‐up of 83 months (1214 person‐years), 15 patients (8·5%) progressed to WM (n = 14) or marginal zone lymphoma (n = 1). The rate of progression was 1·32% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 0·80–2·20). The serum monoclonal protein concentration and the MYD88 mutation were independent risk factors for progression (Hazard ratio [HR] 23·3, 95% CI 2·0–273·3, P = 0·012 and HR 24·4, 95% CI 2·2–275·3, P = 0·010, respectively). The cumulative incidence of progression, while considering death as a competing event, was 11·6% at 5 years and 38·0% at 10 years in MYD88‐mutated patients with a serum monoclonal protein of 10 g/l or higher, as compared with 0% at 5 years and 1·1% at 10 years for patients with none or one risk factor. This risk‐stratification model is able to identify a subset of patients with IgM MGUS at high risk of progression to WM or LPD who deserve a lifelong follow‐up.
Recovery of decomposition rates and decomposer invertebrates during rain forest restoration on disused pasture
Authors: Stone Marisa J. , Shoo Luke , Stork Nigel E. , Sheldon Fran , Catterall Carla P. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractConverting forest to pasture can alter the roles of biota in ecosystem functioning, while vegetation restoration should arguably assist functional recovery. Since tests of this are scarce, this study quantifies both litter decomposition rates and their association with decomposer invertebrates, across 25 sites representing different phases of deforestation and subsequent reforestation of rain forest. Open and closed (to exclude macro‐invertebrates) mesh bags containing forest leaves were exposed in the field for up to eight months, and invertebrates were extracted from separate collections of ground surface litter. Sites spanned five vegetation categories (five sites in each): reference states of both old‐growth forest and grazed pasture; unassisted woody regrowth aged 20–50 years on former pasture; and assisted regeneration aged 1–3 and 5–10 years after interventions were applied to similar regrowth. Decomposition rates in open bags were about 50% slower in pasture than old‐growth forest, and abundances of macro‐ and meso‐decomposer invertebrates were 95% and 77% lower, respectively. However, in all restoration site‐types, decomposition rates had recovered to 83% of old‐growth values, and abundances of invertebrate decomposers were similar in old‐growth forest. Decomposer community composition at a broad taxonomic level differed strongly between pasture and all other vegetation types. Exclusion of macro‐invertebrates decreased decomposition rates by only about 3.1%, but decomposition rates in open bags were significantly correlated (across sites) with abundances of both macro‐ and meso‐decomposers, most strongly so for meso‐decomposers. Drawing useful generalizations across studies is impeded by differing methodologies and because few include both agricultural and forest reference sites.
Interventions for management of respiratory disease in young people with cerebral palsy: A systematic review
Authors: Blackmore Amanda Marie , Gibson Noula , Cooper Monica S. , Langdon Katherine , Moshovis Lisa , Wilson Andrew C. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackgroundRespiratory disease is a leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths in young people with cerebral palsy (CP). It is insidious and multifactorial. Clinical management can be complex. This systematic review describes effects of interventions for the prevention and management of respiratory disease in young people with CP.MethodsNine databases (Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, EMCare, MEDLINE, PEDro, OpenGrey, ScienceDirect, and SpeechBITE) were searched. Eligibility criteria were as follows: the population included at least 50% individuals with CP aged under 26 years, the intervention was for chronic respiratory illness, the outcomes were any measurable indicators of respiratory health or morbidity; the study design could be any original study reporting effects of an intervention on measurable outcomes, and the study was published January 1998 or later. The American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine methodology guided study appraisal and synthesis. The review was registered with PROSPERO (reference number CRD42018086314).ResultsThe search yielded 3,347 papers; 37 papers (reporting 34 studies) of these met the eligibility criteria. They included 582 participants with CP (ranging from 1 to 77 across studies) with ages from 5 months to 25 years. Interventions were diverse and included: airway clearance techniques, exercise, positioning, mealtime management, salivary management, upper airway interventions, antibiotics, gastro‐intestinal interventions, and spinal surgery. There were no interventions aimed at prevention of respiratory disease in this population. Research designs were classified as Levels 2 (n = 3), 3 (n = 2), 4 (n = 25), and 5 (n = 4).ConclusionsEvidence for most respiratory interventions for young people with CP is absent or weak. No controlled trials demonstrated significant effects on respiratory morbidity, owing to their scarcity, weak designs, and inadequate power. There is an urgent need for well‐designed prospective controlled studies investigating prevention and management of respiratory disease in young people with CP.
The prevalence and severity of root surface caries across Australian generations
Authors: Hariyani Ninuk , Spencer A. John , Luzzi Liana , Harford Jane , Tan Haiping , Mejia Gloria , Roberts‐Thomson Kaye , Do Loc G. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe “failure of success” theory predicts that as subsequent generations of older adults retain more teeth, those additional teeth will experience more oral disease like root surface caries. The theory in relation to root surface caries has never been tested in a cross‐generational study. This study aims to compare root surface caries across generations of South Australian older adults to test the theory and explore risk indicators for root surface caries.MethodsData were from the baseline of two South Australian studies separated by 22 years. In both studies, stratified random samples of people aged 60+ years from Adelaide and Mount Gambier were recruited. Dental examinations were performed by trained and calibrated dentists. One of the dental examiners from the earlier study was the gold standard examiner in the second study. Risk indicators included behavioural factors, clinical oral conditions, sociodemographic and socioeconomic status. Root surface caries was assessed as untreated root surface caries (root decayed surfaces [RDS]), treated root surface caries (root filled surfaces [RFS]) and treated or untreated root surface caries (root decayed and filled surfaces [RDFS]) and was presented as the prevalence and summed count. Multivariable models for Poisson and negative binomial distributions were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and mean ratios (MR), respectively, and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsThe current generation of South Australian older adults has significantly lower RDS (PR [95% CI] = 0.65 [0.47‐0.89]; MR [95% CI] = 0.51 [0.35‐0.73]) and RDFS (PR [95% CI] = 0.84 [0.71‐0.99]; MR [95% CI] = 0.76 [0.65‐0.90]) than the previous generation. The RFS in the previous and current generation was similar. Gingival recession, irregular brushing, dental visiting for a problem and smoking were the indicators for RDS, while age, gingival recession, tooth brushing frequency, time since last dental visit and reason of visiting were the indicators for RFS or RDFS.ConclusionsThese results do not support the “failure of success” theory in relation to root surface caries among South Australian older adults. Despite the higher number of teeth retained, the current generation of older adults has less root surface caries than the previous generation. Behavioural factors remain the indicators of root surface caries across the generations.
Type 1 diabetes genetic risk score discriminates between monogenic and Type 1 diabetes in children diagnosed at the age of <5 years in the Iranian population
Authors: Yaghootkar H. , Abbasi F. , Ghaemi N. , Rabbani A. , Wakeling M. N. , Eshraghi P. , Enayati S. , Vakili S. , Heidari S. , Patel K. , Sayarifard F. , Borhan‐Dayani S. , McDonald T. J. , Ellard S. , Hattersley A. T. , Amoli M. M. , Vakili R. , Colclough K. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAimTo examine the extent to which discriminatory testing using antibodies and Type 1 diabetes genetic risk score, validated in European populations, is applicable in a non‐European population.MethodsWe recruited 127 unrelated children with diabetes diagnosed between 9 months and 5 years from two centres in Iran. All children underwent targeted next‐generation sequencing of 35 monogenic diabetes genes. We measured three islet autoantibodies (islet antigen 2, glutamic acid decarboxylase and zinc transporter 8) and generated a Type 1 diabetes genetic risk score in all children.ResultsWe identified six children with monogenic diabetes, including four novel mutations: homozygous mutations in WFS1 (n=3), SLC19A2 and SLC29A3, and a heterozygous mutation in GCK. All clinical features were similar in children with monogenic diabetes (n=6) and in the rest of the cohort (n=121). The Type 1 diabetes genetic risk score discriminated children with monogenic from Type 1 diabetes [area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve 0.90 (95% CI 0.83–0.97)]. All children with monogenic diabetes were autoantibody‐negative. In children with no mutation, 59 were positive to glutamic acid decarboxylase, 39 to islet antigen 2 and 31 to zinc transporter 8. Measuring zinc transporter 8 increased the number of autoantibody‐positive individuals by eight.ConclusionsThe present study provides the first evidence that Type 1 diabetes genetic risk score can be used to distinguish monogenic from Type 1 diabetes in an Iranian population with a large number of consanguineous unions. This test can be used to identify children with a higher probability of having monogenic diabetes who could then undergo genetic testing. Identification of these individuals would reduce the cost of treatment and improve the management of their clinical course.
Recovery Assessment Scale‐Domains and Stages: Measurement capacity, relevance, acceptability and feasibility of use with young people
Authors: Hancock Nicola , Scanlan Justin N. , Kightley Michelle , Harris Anthony 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAimThe Recovery Assessment Scale‐Domains and Stages (RAS‐DS) is a self‐rated measure of mental health recovery. While this instrument has demonstrated good measurement properties and acceptability to clinicians and consumers in adult mental health services, it has not been evaluated in the context of youth‐focused mental health services. This study was established to evaluate the measurement properties, feasibility and acceptability of the RAS‐DS in a youth mental health service context.MethodsYoung people accessing a youth mental health service were invited to complete the RAS‐DS and both young people and clinicians provided feedback about its usefulness. Analyses of the measurement properties of the RAS‐DS were completed using Rasch analysis. Usability feedback was analysed using descriptive statistics and constant comparative analysis.ResultsFifty‐eight consumer‐clinician dyads participated. Analyses revealed that items on the RAS‐DS generally demonstrated good fit with the expectations of the Rasch model and clinician and consumer feedback was generally positive. Ninety‐one percent of young people completed the RAS‐DS in less than 15 minutes. Thirty‐four percent of young people had measure scores above the level of the “hardest” item on the RAS‐DS, suggesting that measurement precision is lower for individuals at more advanced stages of recovery.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that the RAS‐DS has acceptable measurement properties and was acceptable to young people and clinicians. Future research should explore the use of the RAS‐DS by young people in other contexts as well as explore whether additional items could be added to capture the later stages of recovery for young people.
Emotional, physical and sexual violence against female students undergoing medical, dental and psychology courses in South Brazil
Authors: Magrin Juliana V. , Franco Ademir , Makeeva Irina , Paranhos Luiz Renato , Rigo Lilian 
Published: July 2019

AbstractViolence against women is a hot topic in the spotlight of contemporary science. In the academy, most of the courses are structured in a hierarchical system, in which students—especially female—become potentially vulnerable to emotional, physical and even sexual harm. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and the study‐associated factors of emotional, physical and sexual violence against female students in medical, dental and psychological courses in South Brazil. A questionnaire‐based survey was performed combining two previously validated tools for the investigation of workplace violence. The questionnaires were digitally provided to women undergoing medicine, dentistry and psychology courses in South Brazil. The study was conducted between April and July, 2018. The final sample consisted of 241 students (57 medical students; 91 dental students and 93 psychology students). Reports of general violence reached a prevalence rate of 45.2%. In particular, emotional violence reached 78.9% of the cases, whilst physical and sexual violence reached 4.6% and 8.3%, respectively. Amongst the identified offenders, professors figured as the most prevalent (18.4%). Alarming rates of violence against women were detected in this study. Institutional preventive strategies must be designed to protect female students in their study/workplace and enable a safe routine of academic activities.
Visuomotor control of ankle joint using position vs. force
Authors: Farjadian Amir Bahador , Nabian Mohsen , Hartman Amber , Yen Sheng‐Che , Nasseroleslami Bahman 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAnkle joint plays a critical role in daily activities involving interactions with environment using force and position control. Neuromechanical dysfunctions (e.g., due to stroke or brain injury), therefore, have a major impact on individuals’ quality of life. The effective design of neuro‐rehabilitation protocols for robotic rehabilitation platforms relies on understanding the control characteristics of the ankle joint in interaction with external environment using force and position, as the findings in upper limb may not be generalizable to the lower limb. This study aimed to characterize the skilled performance of ankle joint in visuomotor position and force control. A two‐degree‐of‐freedom (DOF) robotic footplate was used to measure individuals’ force and position. Healthy individuals (n = 27) used ankle force or position for point‐to‐point and tracking control tasks in 1‐DOF and 2‐DOF virtual game environments. Subjects’ performance was quantified as a function of accuracy and completion time. In contrast to comparable performance in 1‐DOF control tasks, the performance in 2‐DOF tasks was different and had characteristic patterns in the position and force conditions, with a significantly better performance for position. Subjective questionnaires on the perceived difficulty matched the objective experimental results, suggesting that the poor performance in force control was not due to experimental set‐up or fatigue but can be attributed to the different levels of challenge needed in neural control. It is inferred that in visuomotor coordination, the neuromuscular specialization of ankle provides better control over position rather than force. These findings can inform the design of neuro‐rehabilitation platforms, selection of effective tasks and therapeutic protocols.
New light on ancient enzymes – in vitro CO2 Fixation by Pyruvate Synthase of Desulfovibrio africanus and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
Authors: Witt Andreas , Pozzi Roberta , Diesch Stephan , Hädicke Oliver , Grammel Hartmut 
Published: July 2019

Two variants of the enzyme family pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR), derived from the anaerobic sulfate‐reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio africanus and the extremophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, respectively, were evaluated for their capacity to fixate CO2 in vitro. PFOR reversibly catalyzes the conversion of acetyl‐CoA and CO2 to pyruvate using ferredoxin as redox partner. The oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate is thermodynamically strongly favored, and most previous studies only considered the oxidative direction of the enzyme. To assay the pyruvate synthase function of PFOR during reductive carboxylation of acetyl‐CoA is more challenging and requires to maintain the reaction far from equilibrium. For this purpose, a biochemical assay was established where low‐potential electrons were introduced by photochemical reduction of EDTA/deazaflavin and the generated pyruvate was trapped by chemical derivatization with semicarbazide. The product of CO2 fixation could be detected as pyruvate semicarbazone by HPLC‐MS. In a combinatorial approach, both PFORs were tested with ferredoxins from different sources. The pyruvate semicarbazone product could be detected with low‐potential ferredoxins of the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum and of S. acidocaldarius whereas CO2 fixation was not supported by the native ferredoxin of D. africanus. Methylviologen as an artificial electron carrier also allowed CO2 fixation. For both enzymes, the results are the first demonstration of CO2 fixation in vitro. Both enzymes exhibited high stability in the presence of oxygen during purification and storage. In conclusion, the employed PFOR enzymes in combination with non‐native ferredoxin cofactors might be promising candidates for further incorporation in biocatalytic CO2 conversion.EnzymesEC1.2.7.1. Pyruvate:Ferredoxin Oxidoreductase
Future ocean climate homogenizes communities across habitats through diversity loss and rise of generalist species
Authors: Colossi Brustolin Marco , Nagelkerken Ivan , Moitinho Ferreira Camilo , Urs Goldenberg Silvan , Ullah Hadayet , Fonseca Gustavo 
Published: July 2019

AbstractPredictions of the effects of global change on ecological communities are largely based on single habitats. Yet in nature, habitats are interconnected through the exchange of energy and organisms, and the responses of local communities may not extend to emerging community networks (i.e., metacommunities). Using large mesocosms and meiofauna communities as a model system, we investigated the interactive effects of ocean warming and acidification on the structure of marine metacommunities from three shallow‐water habitats: sandy soft‐bottoms, marine vegetation, and rocky reef substrates. Primary producers and detritus—key food sources for meiofauna—increased in biomass under the combined effect of temperature and acidification. The enhanced bottom‐up forcing boosted nematode densities but impoverished the functional and trophic diversity of nematode metacommunities. The combined climate stressors further homogenized meiofauna communities across habitats. Under present‐day conditions metacommunities were structured by habitat type, but under future conditions they showed an unstructured random pattern with fast‐growing generalist species dominating the communities of all habitats. Homogenization was likely driven by local species extinctions, reducing interspecific competition that otherwise could have prevented single species from dominating multiple niches. Our findings reveal that climate change may simplify metacommunity structure and prompt biodiversity loss, which may affect the biological organization and resilience of marine communities.