bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vascular Access in Patients Treated with Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: A Report from a Single Center in China
Authors: Ren Hongqi , Ge Yongchun , He Xu , Li Chuan , Xu Bin , Gong Dehua , Liu Zhihong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractOur aim was to analyze the practice pattern of vascular access use and complication rates in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy from a large Chinese urban medical center. Patients who had received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) from April to October 2014 in our center were included in this study. Demographic data, primary disease, department for hospitalization, blood pressure, heart rate, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score, presence of mechanical ventilation, CRRT modalities, choice of functioning vascular access, site and duration of catheter insertion, presence of recatheterization, cumulative catheter indwelling time, catheter malfunction and catheter‐related infections, as well as laboratory test results, were collected. A total of 292 patients were enrolled in our study, including 175 males (59.9%) and 117 females (40.1%), aged 50.8 ± 18.6 years (range, 12 to 94 years). Acute kidney injury, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were the main indications for treatment with CRRT. Initial vascular access was non‐cuffed temporary catheters in 280 patients and was preferentially obtained in the right internal jugular vein (54.3%). There were 32 (11.4%) patients requiring re‐catheterization. Catheter malfunction occurred in 7.14% of all patients, and the median time of catheter malfunction was found at the 5th day. By multivariate analysis, it was found that the main risk factors of catheter malfunction were cumulative treatment time of CRRT and the level of hemoglobin. The average time of catheter‐related infections was 10.7 days after insertion and the catheter‐related infections occurred at a rate of 7.19 per 1000 catheter days. The main risk factors for catheter‐related infections were cumulative time of catheterization and the level of serum albumin. In this cohort of critically ill patients, the main risk factors for catheter malfunction were cumulative CRRT time and the level of hemoglobin. In addition, the main risk factors for catheter‐related infections were cumulative time of catheterization and the level of serum albumin.
Elevated expression of interleukin‐37 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Yuan Zhi‐Chao , Wang Jia‐Min , Huang An‐Fang , Su Lin‐Chong , Li Shuang‐Jing , Xu Wang‐Dong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimThis study aims to discuss plasma and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of interleukin (IL)‐37 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and evaluate the potential of plasma IL‐37 as a biomarker for RA.MethodPlasma IL‐37 levels and IL‐37 mRNA relative concentrations were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). We discussed the association of IL‐37 levels and clinical, laboratory parameters in RA patients in a training cohort. Plasma IL‐37 levels were tested for discriminatory capacity by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. We then validated plasma IL‐37 expression in a cohort of 598 patients (230 RA, 107 systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], 100 osteoarthritis [OA], 62 gout, 51 primary Sjögren's syndrome [pSS], 48 ankylosing spondylitis [AS]).ResultsBoth plasma levels of IL‐37 and mRNA levels of IL‐37 were elevated in RA patients compared to those in healthy controls in the training cohort, and there was a good diagnostic ability to predict RA (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.97). Plasma IL‐37 levels were significantly related to Disease Activity Score of 28 joints ‐ erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28‐ESR) (rs = 0.459, P < 0.001). The levels of IL‐37 mRNA were related to plasma IL‐37 levels (rs = 0.642, P < 0.001), DAS28‐ESR (r = 0.641, P < 0.001) and C‐reactive protein (rs = 0.603, P < 0.001). In the validation cohort, when plasma IL‐37 in RA patients compared with that in SLE, OA, gout, pSS and AS patients, the AUC was 0.86, 0.87, 0.91, 0.87, 0.92, respectively.ConclusionIL‐37 expression was increased in RA patients, and correlated with disease activity. IL‐37 may be a biomarker for the diagnosis of RA.
Undiagnosed cardiovascular disease prior to cardiovascular death in individuals with severe mental illness
Authors: Heiberg I. H. , Jacobsen B. K. , Balteskard L. , Bramness J. G. , Næss Ø. , Ystrom E. , Reichborn‐Kjennerud T. , Hultman C. M. , Nesvåg R. , Høye A. 
Published: March 2019

ObjectiveTo examine whether individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ) or bipolar disorder (BD) had equal likelihood of not being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) prior to cardiovascular death, compared to individuals without SCZ or BD.MethodsMultivariate logistic regression analysis including nationwide data of 72 451 cardiovascular deaths in the years 2011–2016. Of these, 814 had a SCZ diagnosis and 673 a BD diagnosis in primary or specialist health care.ResultsIndividuals with SCZ were 66% more likely (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.39–1.98), women with BD were 38% more likely (adjusted OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.04–1.82), and men with BD were equally likely (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.63–1.24) not to be diagnosed with CVD prior to cardiovascular death, compared to individuals without SMI. Almost all (98%) individuals with SMI and undiagnosed CVD had visited primary or specialized somatic health care prior to death, compared to 88% among the other individuals who died of CVD.ConclusionIndividuals with SCZ and women with BD are more likely to die due to undiagnosed CVD, despite increased risk of CVD and many contacts with primary and specialized somatic care. Strengthened efforts to prevent, recognize, and treat CVD in individuals with SMI from young age are needed.
Immune pathomechanism and classification of drug hypersensitivity
Authors: Pichler Werner J. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractDrug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR) are based on distinct mechanisms and are clinically heterogeneous. Taking into account that also off‐target activities of drugs may lead to stimulations of immune or inflammatory cells, three forms of DHR were discriminated: the allergic‐immune mechanism relies on the covalent binding of drugs/chemicals to proteins, which thereby form new antigens, to which a humoural and/or cellular immune response can develop. In IgE‐mediated drug allergies, a possible tolerance mechanism to the drug during sensitization and the need of a covalent hapten‐carrier link for initiation, but not for elicitation of IgE‐mediated reactions is discussed. The p‐i (“pharmacological interaction with immune receptor”) concept represents an off‐target activity of drugs with immune receptors (HLA or TCR), which can result in unorthodox, alloimmune‐like stimulations of T cells. Some of these p‐i stimulations occur only in carriers of certain HLA alleles and can result in clinically severe reactions. The third form of DHR (“pseudo‐allergy”) is represented by drug interactions with receptors or enzymes of inflammatory cells, which may lead to their direct activation or enhanced levels of inflammatory products. Specific IgE or T cells are not involved. This classification is based on the action of drugs and is clinically useful, as it can explain differences in sensitizations, unusual clinical symptoms, dependence on drug concentrations, predictability and immunological and pharmacological cross‐reactivities in DHR.
Randomised phase 3 trial: tegoprazan, a novel potassium‐competitive acid blocker, vs. esomeprazole in patients with erosive oesophagitis
Authors: Lee Kwang Jae , Son Byoung Kwan , Kim Gwang Ha , Jung Hye‐Kyung , Jung Hwoon‐Yong , Chung Il‐Kwun , Sung In‐Kyung , Kim Jin Il , Kim Jong Hyeok , Lee Joon Seong , Kwon Joong Goo , Park Jung Ho , Huh Kyu Chan , Park Kyung Sik , Park Moo‐In , Kim Nayoung , Lee Oh Young , Jee Sam Ryong , Lee Sang Kil , Youn Sei Jin , Kim Sung Kook , Lee Soo Teik , Hong Su Jin , Choi Suck Chei , Kim Tae Nyeun , Youn Young Hoon , Park Hyo Ju , Kang Min Ja , Park Chi Hye , Kim Bong Tae , Youn Sangjun , Song Geun Seog , Rhee Poong‐Lyul 
Published: March 2019

SummaryBackgroundTegoprazan is a novel potassium‐competitive acid blocker that has a fast onset of action and can control gastric pH for a prolonged period, which could offer clinical benefit in acid‐related disorders.AimTo confirm the non‐inferiority of tegoprazan to esomeprazole in patients with erosive oesophagitis (EE).MethodsIn this multicentre, randomised, double‐blind, parallel‐group comparison study, 302 Korean patients with endoscopically confirmed EE (Los Angeles Classification Grades A‐D) were randomly allocated to either tegoprazan (50 or 100 mg) or esomeprazole (40 mg) treatment groups for 4 or 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the cumulative proportion of patients with healed EE confirmed by endoscopy up to 8 weeks from treatment initiation. Symptoms, safety and tolerability were also assessed.ResultsThe cumulative healing rates at week 8 were 98.9% (91/92), 98.9% (90/91) and 98.9% (87/88) for tegoprazan 50 mg, tegoprazan 100 mg and esomeprazole 40 mg, respectively. Both doses of tegoprazan were non‐inferior to esomeprazole 40 mg. The incidence of adverse events was comparable among the groups, and tegoprazan was well‐tolerated.ConclusionOnce daily administration of tegoprazan 50 or 100 mg showed non‐inferior efficacy in healing EE and tolerability to that of esomeprazole 40 mg.
A multiple methods approach to determine adherence with prescribed mycophenolate in children with kidney transplant
Authors: Almardini Reham , Taybeh Esra' O. , Alsous Mervat M. , Hawwa Ahmed F. , McKeever Karl , Horne Rob , McElnay James C. 
Published: March 2019

AimsThe aim of this study was, to use a multiple methods approach, including, for the first time, dried blood spot (DBS) sampling with population pharmacokinetic interpretation, to assess adherence to mycophenolate in children with kidney transplant. A second aim was to identify patient/parental factors that influenced adherence and to link adherence behaviour to clinical outcomes.MethodsA convenience sample of 33 children with kidney transplant (age ≤ 18 years) who had been prescribed mycophenolate for at least 3 months were recruited from participating outpatient clinics in the UK and Jordan. Medication adherence was determined via self‐report questionnaires, medication refill data from dispensing records, and via mycophenolic acid concentrations in plasma and DBS samples obtained from children during a clinic visit.ResultsThrough triangulation of results from the different methodological approaches a total of 12 children (36.4%) were deemed to be nonadherent with their prescribed mycophenolate treatment. Logistic regression analysis indicated that nonadherence was significantly associated with the presence of mycophenolate side effects. Poor adherence was positively linked to measures of poor clinical outcomes (hospitalisation and the need for kidney biopsy).ConclusionsDespite the imperative regarding medication adherence to help prevent organ rejection, a significant proportion of children are not fully adherent with their therapy. Side‐effects appear to be an important factor leading to nonadherence. Measurement of mycophenolate in DBS samples, coupled with the use of population pharmacokinetics modelling, was a convenient direct approach to assessing adherence in children with kidney transplant and has the potential to be introduced into routine practice.
Student access of online feedback is modified by the availability of assessment marks, gender and academic performance
Authors: Mensink Paul J. , King Karen 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe used educational data mining to quantify student access of online feedback files and explore the underlying drivers of feedback file access in a learning management system (LMS). We collated LMS access logs for 32 individual pieces of assessment representing 1462 feedback files for 484 students (males = 45%, females = 55%) that originated across three undergraduate years, from 20 different degree pathways. Over a third of assessment feedback files (38%, 553 files) were never accessed by students. When students could obtain their assessment mark without opening the associated feedback file, 42% of feedback files were not accessed by students (513 of 1224 files). When assessment marks were integrated into the feedback file (and not reported within the LMS), the proportion of unopened feedback dropped significantly to only 17% of files (40 of 238 files). We uncovered strong gender‐specific differences in how students accessed feedback within the LMS that were dependent upon academic performance and the integration of marks within the feedback file. Poorly performing males were less likely to access feedback; however, integrating marks into the feedback files meant that males were over 27 times more likely to access the feedback file. In contrast, females exhibited a much weaker and more variable response to marks being reported within feedback files. Assessments with deadlines earlier in the semester were also viewed more often than those later in the semester.
How useful is periodic acid‐Schiff stain to detect fungi in biopsies from dermatoses of the palms and soles?
Authors: Zaaroura Hiba , Bergman Reuven 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundPeriodic acid‐Shiff (PAS) stain may help to diagnose fungal infection in biopsies from dermatoses of the palms and soles. It is questionable whether PAS stain should be used routinely or only when tinea is suspected clinically.MethodsA total of 195 consecutive punch biopsies of dermatoses from the palms (90) or soles (105) were stained with PAS, regardless of the clinical differential diagnosis.ResultsPAS stain showed fungi in the corneal layer of 6 (3%) of the 195 biopsies. Tinea was included in the differential diagnosis in 48 cases, of which 3 (6%) were PAS positive. PAS stain was also positive in 3 (2%) of 147 cases in which tinea was not suspected clinically. All 6 PAS‐positive cases were detected in reaction patterns not readily classified as particular diagnostic entities: non‐inflammatory keratoderma (2, 11%), chronic lichenified dermatitis (2, 6%), spongiotic psoriasiform dermatitis (1, 2%), and spongiotic dermatitis (1, 4%).ConclusionsThere is a low concordance rate between the clinical suspicion and the actual demonstration of fungi by PAS stain in dermatoses of the palms and soles. Routine PAS stains in non‐suspected cases have a relatively low yield, which may be improved by limiting the PAS stain to reaction patterns not readily classified as particular diagnostic entities.
Incidence and severity of hypoglycaemia in type 2 diabetes by treatment regimen: A UK multisite 12‐month prospective observational study
Authors: Dunkley Alison J. , Fitzpatrick Claire , Gray Laura J. , Waheed Ghazala , Heller Simon R. , Frier Brian M. , Davies Melanie J. , Khunti Kamlesh ,   on behalf of the Primary Care Diabetes Society
Published: March 2019

AimsTo determine the incidence and severity of self‐reported hypoglycaemia in a primary care population with type 2 diabetes. The study also aimed to compare incidence by treatment regimen.Materials and methodsA prospective observational study in 17 centres throughout the UK was conducted. Recruitment was based on treatment regimen (metformin alone, sulphonylurea‐, insulin‐ or incretin‐based therapy). Participants were asked to keep a blood glucose diary and self‐report hypoglycaemia episodes [non‐severe (self‐treated) and severe (requiring external help)] over a 12‐month period.ResultsThree hundred and twenty‐five participants were enrolled, of whom 274 (84%) returned ≥1 monthly diaries. Overall, 39% reported experiencing hypoglycaemia; 32% recorded ≥1 symptomatic, 36% ≥1 non‐severe, and 7% ≥1 severe episodes. By treatment, incidence (events per person/year) for any hypoglycaemia type was 4.39 for insulin, 2.34 for sulphonylurea, 0.76 for metformin, and 0.56 for incretin‐based therapy. Compared with metformin, risk of non‐severe hypoglycaemia was ~3 times higher for participants on sulphonylureas and > 5 times higher for those on insulin [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 3.02 (1.76‐5.18), P < 0.001, and IRR 5.96 (3.48‐10.2), P < 0.001, respectively]. For severe episodes, the incidence for sulphonylurea (0.09) was similar to metformin (0.07) and incretin‐based therapy (0.07); for insulin the risk remained almost 5 times higher than metformin [incidence 0.32; IRR 4.55 (1.28‐16.20), P = 0.019].ConclusionsHypoglycaemia represents a substantial burden for people with type 2 diabetes. Sulphonylureas and insulin are both associated with a risk of reported non‐severe hypoglycaemia, but only insulin with severe episodes. This suggests the importance of the continued use of sulphonylureas in appropriate patients with type 2 diabetes.
Heritability of head size in a hunted large carnivore, the brown bear (Ursus arctos)
Authors: Rivrud Inger Maren , Frank Shane C. , Bischof Richard , Mysterud Atle , Steyaert Sam M. J. G. , Hertel Anne G. , Hagen Snorre B. , Eiken Hans Geir , Swenson Jon E. , Zedrosser Andreas 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWild animal populations experience selection pressures from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The availability of extensive pedigrees is increasing along with our ability to quantify the heritability and evolvability of phenotypic traits and thus the speed and potential for evolutionary change in wild populations. The environment may also affect gene expressions in individuals, which may in turn affect the potential of phenotypic traits to respond to selection. Knowledge about the relationship between the genetic and environmental components of phenotypic variation is particularly relevant, given ongoing anthropogenically driven global change. Using a quantitative genetic mixed model, we disentangled the genetic and environmental components of phenotypic variance in a large carnivore, the brown bear (Ursus arctos). We combined a pedigree covering ~1,500 individual bears over seven generations with location data from 413 bears, as well as data on bear density, habitat characteristics, and climatic conditions. We found a narrow‐sense heritability of 0.24 (95% CrI: 0.06–0.38) for brown bear head size, showing that the trait can respond to selection at a moderate speed. The environment contributed substantially to phenotypic variation, and we partitioned this into birth year (5.9%), nonadditive among‐individual genetic (15.0%), and residual (50.4%) environmental effects. Brown bear head circumference showed an evolvability of 0.2%, which can generate large changes in the trait mean over some hundreds of generations. Our study is among the first to quantify heritability of a trait in a hunted large carnivore population. Such knowledge about the degree to which species experiencing hunting can respond to selection is crucial for conservation and to make informed management decisions. We show that including important environmental variables when analyzing heritability is key to understanding the dynamics of the evolutionary potential of phenotypic traits.
SEMAFLEX: A novel approach for implementing workflow flexibility by deviation based on constraint satisfaction problem solving
Authors: Grumbach Lisa , Bergmann Ralph 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe concept developed during the SEMAFLEX project combines knowledge‐based document management with flexible workflow management to achieve ideal support for small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises. This paper focusses on the workflow approach that implements flexibility by deviation on the basis of constraint satisfaction problem solving. Workflow deviations due to unpredictable circumstances or upcoming events are tolerated at runtime, but still, support is maintained and possible succeeding work items are proposed. Procedurally modelled workflows are transformed to declarative constraints, which serve as database for the workflow engine. The described approach is fully implemented, and our experiments demonstrate sufficient runtime performance as well as improvements for practical use.
Fatigue behaviour of additive manufactured materials: An overview of some recent experimental studies on Ti‐6Al‐4V considering various processing and loading direction effects
Authors: Fatemi Ali , Molaei Reza , Simsiriwong Jutima , Sanaei Niloofar , Pegues Jonathan , Torries Brian , Phan Nam , Shamsaei Nima 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAlthough additive manufacturing (AM) has gained significant attention due to the advantages it offers and is currently a focus of much research, design of critical load carrying components utilizing such processes is still at its infancy. This is due to the fact that most of the load carrying components made by AM processes are subjected to cyclic loads, and fatigue behaviour of AM metals is far less understood as compared with those made by conventional methods, such as wrought and cast metals. To better understand the fatigue behaviour of AM metals, a wide range of issues that affect the behaviour in a synergistic manner must be considered. These include the effects of defects, residual stresses, surface finish, geometry and size, layer orientation, and heat treatment. Additionally, due to the multiaxial nature of the loading and/or complex geometries typically manufactured by AM processes, the stress state is often multiaxial including both normal and shear stresses. In this paper, the aforementioned effects influencing the fatigue resistance of AM parts, including torsion and multiaxial fatigue behaviour, are briefly discussed using some recently generated experimental data on Ti‐6Al‐4V by the authors.
Reproductive characteristics of the fishery important temperate demersal berycid Centroberyx gerrardi indicate greater reproductive output in regions of upwelling
Authors: Coulson Peter Graham , Norriss Jeffery Vincent , Jackson Gary , Fairclough David Victor 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe reproductive biology of Centroberyx gerrardi (Günther) was investigated across ~2,000 km of its southern Australian distribution, encompassing different jurisdictions and varying environmental features. Greater gonad mass and prevalence of spawning fish, along with lower ratios of lengths at maturity:maximum lengths and ages at maturity:maximum ages, were identified at the western‐most (Capes) and eastern‐most (Great Australian Bight; GAB) regions. Across the study region, spawning peaks in summer/autumn, when water temperatures are warmest. Regional differences in potential “reproductive output,” while not consistent with the eastward decline in mean monthly water temperature, may instead be related to summer upwelling in the Capes and GAB, driving greater oceanic productivity prior to peak spawning, supporting larval survival. In autumn, the prevailing southward and eastward flowing, downwelling Leeuwin Current (LC) strengthens, providing a dispersal mechanism along the west and south Australian coasts, but limiting upwelling effects. Predicted changes in environmental conditions and their potential impacts on C. gerrardi are discussed, in particular how these factors may affect recruitment to stocks and fisheries, requiring a better understanding of source‐sink relationships for this species. As environmental changes occur, management strategies to sustain fish resources must adapt to spatially variable and changing reproductive output and be collaborative across jurisdictions.