bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diastolic Reverse Dipping Pattern Is the Predictor for the Echocardiographic Changes in the Untreated Masked Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Li Jianhao , Cao Yalin , Liu Chen , Li Jiayong , Yao Fengjuan , Dong Yugang , Huang Huiling 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The prognostic value of the dipping categories of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between DBP dipping categories of diastolic blood pressure and echocardiographic changes in untreated masked hypertension (MH) patients.

METHODS
This retrospective study included 721 untreated MH patients between June 2006 and June 2016. Nocturnal dipping categories were defined according to the percentage decrease in nocturnal blood pressure (BP) compared to daytime BP as follows: non-dipping: decrease 0% to &lt;10%, dipping: decrease 10% to 20%, reverse dipping: decrease &lt;0%, and extreme dipping: decrease &gt;20%. The echocardiographic findings were analyzed.

RESULTS
The 4 echocardiographic parameters (left atrium [LA] dimension, interventricular septum [IVS] thickness, linear left ventricular end-diastolic dimension [LVEDD], and left ventricular [LV] mass) were significantly different among the 4 DBP dipping categories. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that DBP reverse dipping pattern was associated with higher IVS thickness (B: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.82; P &lt; 0.001) and LV mass (B: 12.36, 95% CI: 2.38 to 22.35; P = 0.015), whereas DBP extreme dipping was associated with lower LVEDD (B: −7.05, 95% CI: −11.30 to −2.80; P = 0.001).The nocturnal systolic hypertension was associated with higher IVS thickness (B: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.71; P = 0.003) and LV mass (B:14.21, 95% CI: 4.54 to 23.88; P = 0.004). The nocturnal systolic blood pressure was associated with LA dimension, IVS thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, and LV mass (all Ps &lt; 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that specific DBP dipping categories and nocturnal systolic hypertension were the predictive factors for the echocardiographic changes in untreated MH patients.
Gatekeeping Stories of Dissent and Mobility
Authors: Pérez-Torres Rafael 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThree new studies consider the significance of storytelling in a Latinx and hemispheric American context around the turn of the millennium. Where neoliberal policies seem to position ethnoracial subjectivities in realms of social abjection or racial containment, these studies contribute to interdisciplinary conversations about racial affiliation, economic aspiration, and political dissent in literature. Each considers writers either engaging complex negotiations between racial and class affiliations, challenging social expectations for cultural products in an ethnic marketplace, or speaking against repressive governmental regimes. Each weighs a hope for transformative social change against the efficient, impersonal, even brutal management of modern ethnoracial otherness. Elda Román analyzes stories about upward mobility for racially or ethnically identified characters who strive to maintain a critical sense of racial affiliation while seeking greater social and class mobility. Since forms like magical realism often mark the ethnic identification of an author, Christopher González considers how unexpected or challenging narrations break down restrictive perceptions of what Latinx literature can be. Theresa Longo, deliberating over a radical Latin American literature of dissent distributed to US audiences by small publishing houses, sketches an intellectual history of radical thought in the Americas that has informed a dominant strain of US Latinx criticism.
An Examination of Semantic Impairment in Amnestic MCI and AD: What Can We Learn From Verbal Fluency?
Authors: Chasles M -J , Tremblay A , Escudier F , Lajeunesse A , Benoit S , Langlois R , Joubert S , Rouleau I 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Introduction
The Verbal Fluency Test (VF) is commonly used in neuropsychology. Some studies have demonstrated a marked impairment of semantic VF compared to phonemic VF in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Since amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) is associated with increased risk of conversion to incident AD, it is relevant to examine whether a similar impairment is observed in this population. The objective of the present empirical study is to compare VF performance of aMCI patients to those of AD and elderly controls matched one-to-one for age and education.

Method
Ninety-six participants divided into three equal groups (N = 32: AD, aMCI and Controls) were included in this study. Participants in each group were, on average, 76 years of age and had 13 years of education. A repeated measures ANOVA with the Group (AD, aMCI, NC) as between-subject factor and the Fluency condition (“P” and “animals”) as within-subject factor was performed. T-tests and simple ANOVAs were also conducted to examine the interaction.

Results
There was a significant interaction between the groups and the verbal fluency condition. In AD, significantly fewer words were produced in both conditions. In contrast, participants with aMCI demonstrated a pattern similar to controls in the phonemic condition, but generated significantly fewer words in the semantic condition.

Conclusion
These results indicate a semantic memory impairment in aMCI revealed by a simple, commonly-used neuropsychological test. Future studies are needed to investigate if semantic fluency deficits can help predict future conversion to AD.
Microfluidic devices for embryonic and larval zebrafish studies
Authors: Khalili Arezoo , Rezai Pouya 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Zebrafish or Danio rerio is an established model organism for studying the genetic, neuronal and behavioral bases of diseases and for toxicology and drug screening. The embryonic and larval stages of zebrafish have been used extensively in fundamental and applied research due to advantages offered such as body transparency, small size, low cost of cultivation and high genetic homology with humans. However, the manual experimental methods used for handling and investigating this organism are limited due to their low throughput, labor intensiveness and inaccuracy in delivering external stimuli to the zebrafish while quantifying various neuronal and behavioral responses. Microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip devices have emerged as ideal technologies to overcome these challenges. In this review paper, the current microfluidic approaches for investigation of behavior and neurobiology of zebrafish at embryonic and larval stages will be reviewed. Our focus will be to provide an overview of the microfluidic methods used to manipulate (deliver and orient), immobilize and expose or inject zebrafish embryos or larvae, followed by quantification of their responses in terms of neuron activities and movement. We will also provide our opinion in terms of the direction that the field of zebrafish microfluidics is heading toward in the area of biomedical engineering.
Dissecting differential signals in high-throughput data from complex tissues
Authors: Li Ziyi , Wu Zhijin , Jin Peng , Wu Hao 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Motivation
Samples from clinical practices are often mixtures of different cell types. The high-throughput data obtained from these samples are thus mixed signals. The cell mixture brings complications to data analysis, and will lead to biased results if not properly accounted for.

Results
We develop a method to model the high-throughput data from mixed, heterogeneous samples, and to detect differential signals. Our method allows flexible statistical inference for detecting a variety of cell-type specific changes. Extensive simulation studies and analyses of two real datasets demonstrate the favorable performance of our proposed method compared with existing ones serving similar purpose.

Availability and implementation
The proposed method is implemented as an R package and is freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/ziyili20/TOAST).

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Modeling Regional Transmission and Containment of a Healthcare-associated Multidrug-resistant Organism
Authors: Paul Prabasaj , Slayton Rachel B , Kallen Alexander J , Walters Maroya S , Jernigan John A 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published interim guidance for a public health response to contain novel or targeted multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). We assessed the impact of implementing the strategy in a US state using a mathematical model.

Methods
We used a deterministic compartmental model, parametrized via a novel analysis of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae data reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network and patient transfer data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The simulations assumed that after the importation of the MDRO and its initial detection by clinical culture at an index hospital, fortnightly prevalence surveys for colonization and additional infection control interventions were implemented at the index facility; similar surveys were then also implemented at those facilities known to be connected most strongly to it as measured by patient transfer data; and prevalence surveys were discontinued after 2 consecutive negative surveys.

Results
If additional infection-control interventions are assumed to lead to a 20% reduction in transmissibility in intervention facilities, prevalent case count in the state 3 years after importation would be reduced by 76% (interquartile range: 73–77%). During the third year, these additional infection-control measures would be applied in facilities accounting for 42% (37–46%) of inpatient days.

Conclusions
CDC guidance for containing MDROs, when used in combination with information on transfer of patients among hospitals, is predicted to be effective, enabling targeted and efficient use of prevention resources during an outbreak response. Even modestly effective infection-control measures may lead to a substantial reduction in transmission events.
Clinical Correlates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus–1 (HIV-1) DNA and Inducible HIV-1 RNA Reservoirs in Peripheral Blood in Children With Perinatally Acquired HIV-1 Infection With Sustained Virologic Suppression for at Least 5 Years
Authors: Bitnun Ari , Ransy Doris G , Brophy Jason , Kakkar Fatima , Hawkes Michael , Samson Lindy , Annabi Bayader , Pagliuzza Amélie , Morand Jacob-Adams , Sauve Laura , Chomont Nicolas , Lavoie Stephanie , Kim John , Sandstrom Paul , Wender Paul A , Lee Terry , Singer Joel , Read Stanley E , Soudeyns Hugo ,   Early Pediatric Initiation Canada Child Cure Cohort (EPIC4) Research Group, Ariane Alimenti , Petronela Ancuta , Ari Bitnun , Jason Brophy , Jared Bullard , Tae-Wook Chun , Hélène C F Côté , Joanne Embree , Michael T Hawkes , Fatima Kakkar , Christos Karatzios , Rupert Kaul , John Kim , Valérie Lamarre , Normand Lapointe , Pascal Lavoie , Terry Lee , Deborah M Money , Dorothy Moore , Stanley Read , Robert Reinhard , Lindy Samson , Paul Sandstorm , Laura Sauve , Sandra Seigel , Joel Singer , Hugo Soudeyns , Ben Tan , Wendy Vaudry 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
The Early Pediatric Initiation Canada Child Cure Cohort (EPIC4) study is a prospective, multicenter, Canadian cohort study investigating human immunodeficiency virus–1 (HIV-1) reservoirs, chronic inflammation, and immune responses in children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection. The focus of this report is HIV-1 reservoirs and correlates in the peripheral blood of children who achieved sustained virologic suppression (SVS) for ≥5 years.

Methods
HIV-1 reservoirs were determined by measuring HIV-1 DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and inducible cell-free HIV-1 RNA in CD4+ T-cells by a prostratin analogue stimulation assay. HIV serology was quantified by signal-to-cutoff ratio (S/CO).

Results
Of 228 enrolled participants, 69 achieved SVS for ≥5 years. HIV-1 DNA, inducible cell-free HIV-1 RNA, and S/COs correlated directly with the age of effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation (P &lt; .001, P = .036, and P &lt; .001, respectively) and age when SVS was achieved (P = .002, P = .038, and P &lt; .001, respectively) and inversely with the proportion of life spent on effective cART (P &lt; .001, P = .01, and P &lt; .001, respectively) and proportion of life spent with SVS (P &lt; .001, P = .079, and P &lt; .001, respectively). Inducible cell-free HIV-1 RNA correlated with HIV-1 DNA, most particularly in children with SVS, without virologic blips, that was achieved with the first cART regimen initiated prior to 6 months of age (rho = 0.74; P = .037) or later (rho = 0.87; P &lt; .001). S/COs correlated with HIV-1 DNA (P = .003), but less so with inducible cell-free HIV-1 RNA (P = .09).

Conclusions
The prostratin analogue stimulation assay, with its lower blood volume requirement, could be a valuable method for evaluating inducible HIV-1 reservoirs in children. Standard commercial HIV serology may be a practical initial indirect measure of reservoir size in the peripheral blood of children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection.
The prevalence and role of coping strategies in the nutritional intake of children born with esophageal atresia: a condition-specific approach
Authors: Dellenmark-Blom M , Chaplin J E , Quitmann J H , Jönsson L , Gatzinsky V , Dingemann J , Abrahamsson K 
Published: March 2019

SUMMARY
This study describes results of a condition-specific approach to the assessment of coping strategies in nutritional intake situations used by children with esophageal atresia. One hundred three families of children 2–17 years old with esophageal atresia participated (94% response rate). Following standardized focus groups with 30 families, nine coping items were developed, reflecting nine different coping strategies in nutritional intake situations. The coping items were pilot tested by 73 new families and evaluated for feasibility, validity, and reliability. The families also completed a validated condition-specific quality-of-life questionnaire for children with esophageal atresia, which included the scale Eating-Quality-of-life. Data were analyzed using descriptives, between-group analysis, and Spearman's rho (P < 0.05). Altogether, the coping items were feasible, valid, and reliable. Items reflecting problem-focused strategies revealed that 89% of 2–17 years old ‘recognized their responsibility’ and managed nutritional intake problems on their own, 79% ‘tried to solve their feeding problems’ testing different solutions, 79% took a ‘confronting approach’ to do what peers did in eating situations, and 54% ‘sought other people's support’. Items reflecting emotion-focused strategies showed that 86% of the children ‘accepted’ their feeding difficulties, 68% ‘reappraised feeding difficulties into positive outcomes’ such as to eat only when food tasted good. Moreover, 63% of the children ‘avoided’ nutritional intake situations, 29% ‘expressed worry or fear’ when faced with these situations, while 25% ‘distanced’ themselves from eating problems by hiding or throwing away food. The children's use of coping strategies were mostly related to the existence of digestive symptoms (P < 0.05). Positive and negative coping strategies were identified. Of particular note was a correlation cluster of the so-called disengagement strategies ‘avoidance’, ‘expression of emotional concerns’ and ‘distancing’. These strategies were negatively correlated with Eating-Quality-of-Life. Conversely, taking a ‘confronting approach’ correlated positively with Eating-Quality-of-life (P < 0.05). Hence, most children with esophageal atresia employ various coping strategies in nutritional intake situations. A good Eating-Quality-of-life may be positively affected by treating digestive morbidity and encouraging children to take an active approach to their eating problems rather than using disengagement coping.
A simple scoring system to predict early recurrence of Bismuth–Corlette type IV perihilar cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Peng Ding-Zhong , Lu Jiong , Li Bei , Hu Hai-Jie , Ye Xi-Wen , Xiong Xian-Ze , Cheng Nan-Sheng 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
Early recurrence has been reported to be predictive of a poor prognosis for patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) after resection. The objective of our study was to construct a useful scoring system to predict early recurrence for Bismuth–Corlette type IV pCCA patients in clinic and to investigate the value of early recurrence in directing post-operative surveillance and adjuvant therapy.

Methods
In total, 244 patients who underwent radical resection for type IV pCCA were included. Data on clinicopathological characteristics, perioperative details and survival outcomes were analyzed. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate logistic-regression models were used to identify factors associated with early recurrence.

Results
Twenty-one months was defined as the cutoff point to distinguish between early and late recurrence. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that CA19-9 level >200 U/mL, R1 resection margin, higher N category and positive lymphovascular invasion were independent predictors of early recurrence. The scoring system was constructed accordingly. The early-recurrence rates of patients with scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were 23.9%, 38.7%, 60.0%, 78.6%, 83.4%, and 100%, respectively. Adjuvant therapy was significantly associated with higher overall survival rate for patients with early recurrence, but not for those with late recurrence. Patients in the early-recurrence group with scores ≥2 had better prognoses after adjuvant therapy.

Conclusions
A simple scoring system using CA19-9 level, N category, resection margin and lymphovascular invasion status could predict early recurrence, and thus might direct post-operative surveillance and adjuvant therapy for patients with type IV pCCA.
Outer trench slope flexure and faulting at Pacific basin subduction zones
Authors: Garcia Emmanuel Soliman M , Sandwell David T , Bassett Dan 
Published: March 2019

SUMMARY
Flexure and fracturing of the seafloor on the outer trench wall of subduction zones reflect bending of the lithosphere beyond its elastic limit. To investigate these inelastic processes, we have developed a full nonlinear inversion approach for estimating the bending moment, curvature and outer trench wall fracturing using shipboard bathymetry and satellite altimetry-derived gravity data as constraints. Bending moments and downward forces are imposed along curved trench axes and an iterative method is used to calculate the nonlinear response for 26 sites in the circum-Pacific region having seafloor age ranging from 15 to 148 Ma. We use standard thermal and yield strength envelope models to develop the nonlinear moment versus curvature relationship. Two coefficients of friction of 0.6 and 0.3 are considered and we find that the lower value provides a better overall fit to the data. The main result is that the lithosphere is nearly moment saturated at the trench axis. The effective elastic thickness of the plate on the outer trench slope is at least three times smaller than the elastic thickness of the plate before bending at the outer rise in agreement with previous studies. The average seafloor depth of the unbent plate in these 26 sites matches the Parsons & Sclater depth versus age model beyond 120 Ma. We also use the model to predict the offsets of normal faults on the outer trench walls and compare this with the horst and graben structures observed by multibeam surveys. The model with the lower coefficient of friction fits the fault offset data close to the trench axis. However, the model predicts significant fracturing of the lithosphere between 75 and 150 km away from the trench axis where no fracturing is observed. To reconcile these observations, we impose a thermoelastic pre-stress in the lithosphere prior to subduction. This pre-stress delays the onset of fracturing in better agreement with the data.
The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Drug Azathioprine Induces Autophagy via mTORC1 and the Unfolded Protein Response Sensor PERK
Authors: Hooper Kirsty M , Casanova Victor , Kemp Sadie , Staines Katherine A , Satsangi Jack , Barlow Peter G , Henderson Paul , Stevens Craig 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundGenetic studies have strongly linked autophagy to Crohn’s disease (CD), and stimulating autophagy in CD patients may be therapeutically beneficial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of current inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) drugs on autophagy and investigate molecular mechanisms of action and functional outcomes in relation to this cellular process.MethodsAutophagy marker LC3 was evaluated by confocal fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Drug mechanism of action was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array with changes in signaling pathways examined by immunoblot and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Clearance of adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) were evaluated by gentamicin protection assays and RT-qPCR, respectively. The marker LC3 was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from pediatric patients by flow cytometry.ResultsAzathioprine induces autophagy via mechanisms involving modulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTORC1) signaling and stimulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) sensor PERK. Induction of autophagy with azathioprine correlated with the enhanced clearance of AIEC and dampened AIEC-induced increases in TNFα. Azathioprine induced significant increase in autophagosome bound LC3-II in PBMC populations ex vivo, supporting in vitro findings. In patients, the CD-associated ATG16L1 T300A single-nucleotide polymorphism did not attenuate azathioprine induction of autophagy.ConclusionsModulation of autophagy via mTORC1 and the UPR may contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of azathioprine in IBD.
Antibacterial prescription in Italian preschool children: analysis of 7 years of data from the Emilia-Romagna region reimbursement database
Authors: D’Annibali Ottavio , Bonaldo Giulia , Donati Monia , Småbrekke Lars , Motola Domenico , Vaccheri Alberto 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Objectives
To describe antibacterial prescribing patterns in outpatients aged 0–5 years from 2007 to 2013 in the Emilia-Romagna region, assessing sex- and age-specific consumption over time.

Methods
All children aged 0–5 years resident in the Emilia-Romagna region who received at least one prescription of a systemic antibacterial in the period 2007–13 were enrolled. The prescriptions of systemic antibacterials to children were collected from the regional prescription database. Data were stratified by year, sex and age, and analysed in terms of periodic prevalence and of annual prescription rate per 1000 person-years.

Results
The prevalence of children receiving at least one prescription per year varied from 68.0% in 2007 to 59.0% in 2013, while the average prevalence of children receiving five or more prescriptions per year was 6.96%. The annual prescription rate varied from 1621.26 in 2007 to 1372.27 in 2013. Penicillins + β-lactamase inhibitors accounted for 35.3% of total prescriptions, followed by extended-spectrum penicillins (28.6%), macrolides (17.0%) and third-generation cephalosporins (13.9%).

Conclusions
Despite recommendations, a significant overprescription of antibacterials to children still exists, showing no satisfactory improvements over the years. In contrast to Northern European countries, adherence to evidence-based guidelines was poor, with frequent prescribing of broad-spectrum agents for the treatment of mostly viral childhood infectious disease.