bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of microneedling with topical vitamin C in the treatment of melasma
Authors: Ismail Esraa Salah Ali , Patsatsi Aikaterini , Abd el‐Maged Wafaa Mohammed , Nada Essam El‐Din Abd el‐Aziz 
Published: February 2019

SummaryBackgroundDespite the wide therapeutic options available for the treatment of melasma, including many active topical medications, technologies with lights and peelings, clinical control of this disorder is extremely challenging.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of microneedling with topical vitamin C in the treatment of melasma.MethodsThirty female patients with melasma received six sessions of microneedling with addition of topical vitamin C every two weeks. At each session, photos were taken and Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score was calculated to assess the clinical improvement.ResultsMean age of the eligible patients was 33.2 ± 5.77 years. About 50% of cases were of Fitzpatrick skin type III. All patients showed improvement at the end of the sessions. Mean MASI score in the first session was 8.61 ± 4.45 and there was a gradual decline in its value till it reached a mean of 5.75 ± 4.16 in the last session (P < 0.0001).ConclusionMicroneedling with topical vitamin C is an effective and safe treatment option for epidermal melasma especially in Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I‐III.
Efficacy of fractional CO2 laser with intralesional steroid compared with intralesional steroid alone in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars
Authors: Alexander Sajin , Girisha Banavasi S. , Sripathi Handattu , Noronha Tonita M. , Alva Akshata C. 
Published: February 2019

SummaryBackground and objectiveKeloids and hypertrophic scars (HTS) are abnormal fibrous reactions that persist for prolonged periods, rarely regress without treatment and recur after excision. Many modalities of treatment have been advocated but the success rates of these have been variable. The present study is an attempt to evaluate and compare the efficacy of combination of fractional CO2 laser (FCL) and intralesional steroid (ILS) against ILS alone in the treatment of keloids and HTS.MethodsPatients with keloids or HTS were divided into two groups of 25 each receiving four sessions of therapy. Group 1 (FCL + ILS) received combination of FCL and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) 10 mg/mL. Group 2 (ILS only) received intralesional TAC 10 mg/mL alone. Pretreatment measurements and photographs were taken. Two unbiased qualified dermatologists made independent evaluation of the photographs using modified Manchester quartile score (MQS). The patient's satisfaction to treatment was graded on a scale of 1‐4. Statistical analysis was done using a statistical software.ResultsStatistically significant improvement was seen in height and length of the lesions. Overall appearance criteria of modified MQS showed an improvement of more than 50% in 43.3% of the lesions by the end of four sessions. Degree of hypertrophy showed more than 50% improvement in 40% of the lesions treated. Dyschromia showed more than 50% improvement in 33.4%. Texture showed the least improvement, with only 30% of lesions showing an improvement of more than 50%. The improvement of these parameters in ILS only group was significantly lower than the improvement seen in the FCL + ILS group.ConclusionCombination therapy with FCL and ILS was superior in efficacy when compared to ILS alone, in the treatment of keloids and HTS.
Human scalp hair: Modulation by various factors and hormones do estrogens inhibit or stimulate—A perplexing perspective
Authors: Lephart Edwin D. 
Published: February 2019

SummarySeveral journal reports, reviews, and commentaries over the last 20‐25 years have pointed out the controversy attached to 17β‐estradiol's inhibitory or stimulatory influence on hair follicle growth/cycling citing rodent (murine) and human results. While 17β‐estradiol is the most potent sex steroid hormone in the body and has almost equal affinity for estrogen receptor (ER) alpha (α) and beta (β), there appears to be specific ER‐mediated effects on scalp hair follicles/growth, etc. Additionally, the newly discovered G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor (GPR30 or GPER) and the orphan receptor, estrogen‐related receptor (ERR) gamma (γ), in skin and other tissue sites have potential impacts of how estrogens via these receptors may alter scalp hair characteristics, but this remains to be elucidated. Conversely, the negative impact of the 5α‐reductase enzyme and its steroid product, 5α‐dihydrotestosterone, on scalp hair growth is clear. Less clear is how 17β‐estradiol is stimulatory in some scalp hair studies, but inhibitory in others. This brief summary examines the potential influences of steroidogenesis via aromatase (estrogen biosynthesis) and 5α‐reductase expression, their enzyme activities, and steroid products along with the concepts of how steroid acute regulatory protein (StAR) and estrone sulfate may be involved in the complex hormonal, cellular/molecular signaling cascade of the hair follicle in growth and cycling.
Confucian Entrepreneurship: Towards a Genealogy of a Conceptual Tool
Authors: Smith Andrew , Kaminishi Miriam 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe concept of the ‘Confucian Entrepreneur’ is now used by many scholars to understand entrepreneurship in China and other East Asian countries. This paper traces the development of this concept from its roots in the writings of nineteenth‐century Western authors to its use in modern management journals. We show that while this conceptual tool has been adapted over time, the claims associated with it have remained largely similar. Use of the term Confucian entrepreneur implies belief that Confucian ideas induce Chinese entrepreneurs to behave differently than their Western counterparts, a claim for which the empirical foundations are weak. We do not go so far as to say that those who research Chinese entrepreneurship should discard the concept of the Confucian entrepreneur simply because of its historical origins in colonialism. However, we do call on researchers to reflect on the historical origins of their conceptual tools. By historicising our theories of entrepreneurship, this paper should encourage greater scholarly reflexivity and thus the development of entrepreneurship and management theory with greater predictive power.
Within‐couple configuration of gender‐related attitudes and its association with marital satisfaction in Chinese marriage: A dyadic, pattern‐analytic approach
Authors: Cao Hongjian , Li Xiaomin , Chi Peilian , Du Hongfei , Wu Qinglu , Liang Yue , Zhou Nan , Fine Mark A. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectiveThis study seeks to understand the ways in which spouses’ gender‐related attitudes are configured within couples and how such configurations are linked to marital satisfaction in Chinese marriage.MethodLatent profile analysis was conducted using dyadic data from a nationwide large sample of Chinese couples from the China Family Panel Studies (N = 7,257 couples; Myears of marriage = 28.36, SD = 12.84; Mage for wives = 52.38, SD = 12.63; Mage for husbands = 50.51, SD = 12.37).ResultsFour profile groups were identified: the “modern female and traditional male” group (MFTM); the “traditional female and modern male” group; the “child‐oriented” group; and the “traditional female and traditional male” group. Husbands’ and wives’ marital satisfaction varied across groups in different patterns (yet all relevant effect sizes were modest). In general, husbands in the congruent group reported higher satisfaction than did those in the incongruent groups, whereas wives in the “MFTM” group reported lower satisfaction than did those in the other groups.ConclusionsSuch findings shed light on the understudied heterogeneity that inherently exists in the within‐couple patterning of gender‐related attitudes and its implications for marital well‐being in a Chinese cultural context.
Child, Mother, Father, and Teacher Beliefs About Child Academic Competence: Predicting Math and Reading Performance in European American Adolescents
Authors: Putnick Diane L. , Hahn Chun‐Shin , Hendricks Charlene , Suwalsky Joan T. D. , Bornstein Marc H. 
Published: February 2019

Beliefs about child competence in math and reading have important implications for academic performance in adolescence. However, it is unclear whether children's own beliefs are the most important predictor of their academic performance or whether parents’ and teachers’ beliefs about child competence influence child academic performance. We assessed mothers’, fathers’, teachers’, and children's beliefs about European American children's (N = 189) competence in math and reading at age 10 and children's math and language performance at ages 10, 13, and 18 years. Confirmatory factor models demonstrated that children's and teachers’ beliefs had lower loadings on a latent variable of child competence in math and reading than mothers’ beliefs. Children's self‐competence beliefs in math and reading were not significantly correlated, suggesting children may use dimensional comparisons when assessing their own competence. Mothers’, fathers’, and teachers’ assessments of child competence in math were strongly correlated with their assessments of child competence in reading. Controlling for stability in academic performance, family socioeconomic status, and other reporters, mothers and fathers who rated their children's math competence higher had adolescents who performed better in math, and fathers who rated their children's reading competence higher had adolescents who performed better in language tasks. However, children who rated their own competence higher in math and reading had lower math and language (for girls only) performance in adolescence. European American children may use dimensional comparisons that render them poorer judges of their math and reading competence than parents.
Development and validation of a novel clinical scoring system for short‐term prediction of death in dogs with acute pancreatitis
Authors: Fabrès Virginie , Dossin Olivier , Reif Clémence , Campos Miguel , Freiche Valerie , Maurey Christelle , Pilot‐Storck Fanny , Desquilbet Loïc , Benchekroun Ghita 
Published: February 2019

BackgroundAcute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with a high death rate in dogs, but accurate predictors of early death are still lacking.ObjectivesTo develop a scoring system for prediction of short‐term case fatality in dogs with AP.AnimalsOne hundred sixty‐nine dogs with AP including 138 dogs in the training cohort and 31 dogs in the validation cohort.MethodsMulticenter, retrospective cohort study. Survival analysis was used to assess the associations with short‐term death (within 30 days after admission). Independent predictors of death were identified by a stepwise selection method and used for the score calculation.ResultsDeath rate within 30 days after admission was 33% in the training cohort. Four independent risk factors for short‐term death were identified in the training cohort: presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, coagulation disorders, increased creatinine and ionized hypocalcemia. Canine Acute Pancreatitis Severity (CAPS) score was developed to predict short‐term death, integrating these 4 factors in a weighted way. A simplified version of CAPS score (sCAPS) including respiratory rate instead of SIRS was also assessed. The area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (AUC) of CAPS and sCAPS scores was 0.92 in the training cohort with an optimal cutoff of 11 (sensitivity, 89%; specificity, 90%) and 6 (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 77%), respectively. CAPS and sCAPS score were validated in the validation cohort with respective AUC of 0.91 and 0.96.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceWe propose 2 scoring systems that allow early and accurate prediction of short‐term death in dogs with AP.
Activation of upper respiratory tract mucosal innate immune responses in cats by liposomal toll‐like receptor ligand complexes delivered topically
Authors: Wheat William , Chow Lyndah , Coy Jonathan , Contreras Elena , Lappin Michael , Dow Steven 
Published: February 2019

BackgroundNonspecific induction of local innate immune responses by mucosally administered immunotherapy is a new approach to protection from upper respiratory tract infections. Therefore, a new liposome‐toll‐like receptor complex (LTC) immune stimulant was developed and investigated for its ability to activate innate immune responses in cats, both in vitro and in vivo, as part of an initial evaluation of LTC for use as an immunotherapeutic agent in cats.ObjectivesWe hypothesized that LTC could activate innate immune responses in cats after topical application to nasal and oropharyngeal mucosal surfaces.AnimalsMucosal immune responses to topical administration of LTC were assessed in 7 healthy, purpose‐bred cats, and in vitro responses were assessed using blood samples from healthy cats.MethodsCytokine and cellular immune responses to LTC were evaluated in blood samples, nasal lavage specimens, and pharyngeal swabs from cats, using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays, ELISA assays, and flow cytometry.ResultsLiposome‐TLR complexes rapidly activated leukocytes in vitro, including upregulation of costimulatory molecule expression and cytokine production. Topical administration of LTC in healthy cats triggered rapid recruitment of monocytes to the nasal and oropharyngeal mucosa.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceLiposome‐TLR complexes were found to effectively activate innate immune responses in cats after mucosal administration. These findings suggest that LTC have potential for use as a new mucosally administered immunotherapy for nonspecific protection from viral and bacterial respiratory tract infections.
Molecular epidemiology of acute HCV infection in HIV–positive patients from Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo
Authors: Sun Hsin‐Yun , Uemura Haruka , Wong Ngai‐Sze , Chan Denise P‐C , Wong Bonnie C‐K , Lin Pi‐Han , Su Li‐Hsin , Hung Chien‐Ching , Oka Shinichi , Chang Sui‐Yuan , Lee Shui‐Shan 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundAcute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections have been increasingly reported among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Asia‐Pacific region. It remains unknown whether international network of HCV transmission has occurred in this region.MethodsHIV‐positive patients with acute HCV infection, defined as HCV seroconversion within a year or documented acute hepatitis with seroconversion, diagnosed in Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo during 2010‐2016 were included in this molecular epidemiology study. The NS5B region of the HCV genome (365 bp) was amplified using nested polymerase chain reaction and sequenced.ResultsOf 234 HIV‐positive patients with acute HCV infection, all were male with 94% being MSM. At the diagnosis of acute HCV infection, 73.5% had concurrent sexually transmitted diseases and 88.0% were receiving combination antiretroviral therapy. The most prevalent HCV genotype was 3a, 2a and 1b in Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo respectively. Nine independent clusters belonging to five genotypes (1b, 2a, 2c, 3a and 6a) were identified, each of which occurred in one city without overlapping except for one 3a sequence from Taipei that was closely related genetically to the Hong Kong cluster.ConclusionsNo international network of HCV transmission was identified among HIV–positive patients in the three Asia‐Pacific cities. The transmission dynamics of sexually acquired HCV differed by city, but the risk of intercity clustering should not be ignored.
Divergent mitochondrial lineages arose within a large, panmictic population of the Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Authors: Benham Phred M. , Cheviron Zachary A. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractUnusual patterns of mtDNA diversity can reveal interesting aspects of a species’ biology. However, making such inferences requires discerning among the many alternative scenarios that could underlie any given mtDNA pattern. Next‐generation sequencing methods provide large, multilocus data sets with increased power to resolve unusual mtDNA patterns. A mtDNA‐based phylogeography of the Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) previously identified two sympatric, but divergent (~2%) clades within the nominate subspecies group and a third clade that consisted of birds sampled from northwest Mexico. We revisited the phylogeography of this species using a population genomic data set to resolve the processes leading to the evolution of sympatric and divergent mtDNA lineages. We identified two genetic clusters in the genomic data set corresponding to (a) the nominate subspecies group and (b) northwestern Mexico birds. Following divergence, the nominate clade maintained a large, stable population, indicating that divergent mitochondrial lineages arose within a panmictic population. Simulations based on parameter estimates from this model further confirmed that this demographic history could produce observed levels of mtDNA diversity. Patterns of divergent, sympatric mtDNA lineages are frequently interpreted as admixture of historically isolated lineages. Our analyses reject this interpretation for Savannah sparrows and underscore the need for genomic data sets to resolve the evolutionary mechanisms behind anomalous, locus‐specific patterns.
The genomic pool of standing structural variation outnumbers single nucleotide polymorphism by threefold in the marine teleost Chrysophrys auratus
Authors: Catanach Andrew , Crowhurst Ross , Deng Cecilia , David Charles , Bernatchez Louis , Wellenreuther Maren 
Published: February 2019

AbstractRecent studies have highlighted an important role of structural variation (SV) in ecological and evolutionary processes, but few have studied nonmodel species in the wild. As part of our long‐term research programme on the nonmodel teleost fish Australasian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), we aim to build one of the first catalogues of genomic variants (SNPs and indels, and deletions, duplications and inversions) in fishes and evaluate overlap of genomic variants with regions under putative selection (Tajima's D and π), and coding sequences (genes). For this, we analysed six males and six females from three locations in New Zealand and generated a high‐resolution genomic variation catalogue. We characterized 20,385 SVs and found they intersected with almost a third of all annotated genes. Together with small indels, SVs account for three times more variation in the genome in terms of bases affected compared to SNPs. We found that a sizeable portion of detected SVs was in the upper and lower genomic regions of Tajima's D and π, indicating that some of these have an effect on the phenotype. Together, these results shed light on the often neglected genomic variation that is produced by SVs and highlights the need to go beyond the mere measure of SNPs when investigating evolutionary processes, such as species diversification and adaptation.
The fibroblast of radicular cyst facilitate osteoclastogenesis via the autocrine of Fibronectin containing extra domain A
Authors: Liu Chun‐yan , Wang Hai‐Cheng 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the alternative spliced isoforms of Fibronectin (FN) in the stroma of radicular cysts and analyze the associations between these isoforms and the osteoclastogenic effects of fibroblasts.Methods and materialsThe specimens of radicular cysts were stained with immunohistochemistry, and the associations between each FN isoform and clinical parameters were assessed. The fibroblasts isolated from cysts or jaw bone were cultured to induce the Trap + MNCs. In the conditioned medium, the Fibronectin containing extra domain A (EDA + FN) was neutralized by antibody IST‐9, and the EDA exon of fibroblasts was knockout by CRISPR/Cas system, for assessing the osteoclastogenic effects. The mRNA level of FN isoforms and the osteoclastogenesis‐related genes were analyzed by quantitive PCR.ResultsEDA + FN staining was positively associated with the size of the lesions (p < 0.05). In contrast with the controls, the ratio of EDA + FN/total FN in the fibroblasts from radicular cysts was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and positively associate with Trap + MNCs counting, it was consistent with increased expression of COX‐2, IL‐6, IL‐17, and the RANKL/OPG (p < 0.05). The Trap + MNCs counting and osteoclastogenesis‐related genes were decreased by IST‐9 blocking and EDA exon knockout in fibroblasts, but the blockage of the interaction between EDA + FN and pre‐osteoclasts exhibited little effects on Trap + MNCs formation.ConclusionThe microenvironment of the fibrous capsule of radicular cysts facilitates the splicing of EDA exon, it endues EDA + FN with autocrine effects on fibroblast itself, and it increases the expression of osteoclastogenesis‐related genes, by which the osteoclastogenesis in radicular cysts could be initiated.
Disruption of gene SPL35, encoding a novel CUE domain‐containing protein, leads to cell death and enhanced disease response in rice
Authors: Ma Jian , Wang Yongfei , Ma Xiaoding , Meng Lingzhi , Jing Ruonan , Wang Fan , Wang Shuai , Cheng Zhijun , Zhang Xin , Jiang Ling , Wang Jiulin , Wang Jie , Zhao Zhichao , Guo Xiuping , Lin Qibing , Wu Fuqing , Zhu Shanshan , Wu Chuanyin , Ren Yulong , Lei Cailin , Zhai Huqu , Wan Jianmin 
Published: February 2019

SummaryLesion mimic mutants that exhibit spontaneous hypersensitive response (HR)‐like necrotic lesions are ideal experimental systems for elucidating molecular mechanisms involved in plant cell death and defence responses. Here we report identification of a rice lesion mimic mutant, spotted leaf 35 (spl35), and cloning of the causal gene by TAIL‐PCR strategy. spl35 exhibited decreased chlorophyll content, higher accumulation of H2O2, up‐regulated expression of defence‐related marker genes, and enhanced resistance to both fungal and bacterial pathogens of rice. The SPL35 gene encodes a novel CUE (coupling of ubiquitin conjugation to ER degradation) domain‐containing protein that is predominantly localized in cytosol, ER and unknown punctate compartment(s). SPL35 is constitutively expressed in all organs, and both overexpression and knockdown of SPL35 cause the lesion mimic phenotype. SPL35 directly interacts with the E2 protein OsUBC5a and the coatomer subunit delta proteins Delta‐COP1 and Delta‐COP2 through the CUE domain, and down‐regulation of these interacting proteins also cause development of HR‐like lesions resembling those in spl35 and activation of defence responses, indicating that SPL35 may be involved in the ubiquitination and vesicular trafficking pathways. Our findings provide insight into a role of SPL35 in regulating cell death and defence response in plants.