bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Primary optic neuropathy in Behçet’s syndrome
Authors: Yang Qinglin , Sun Lin , Wang Qian , Wang Jiawei , Meng Chao , Chang Qinglin , Shi Xuehui , Cui Shilei , Liu Lei , Lai Chuntao 
Published: July 2018

Background: Primary optic neuropathy in Behçet’s syndrome (PONBS) is limited to a few case reports. Objective: To investigate the clinical features, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes, and visual prognosis of PONBS. Methods: Sixty-one patients who presented with first onset of optic neuritis and fulfilled the International Criteria for Behçet’s Disease (ICBD) were evaluated. Results: The female-to-male ratio was 1.7:1. No patient had other central nervous system (CNS) disease. In 67 eyes with optic nerve abnormalities on MRI scan, perineural enhancement around the orbital optic nerve (46 eyes, 68.7%) was significantly more frequent than was increased signal in the optic nerve itself (31 eyes, 46.3%; p = 0.000), typically with sunflower-like appearance on coronal view (33 eyes, 71.7%). Two patients (3.6%) relapsed during follow-up (median 12 months). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis estimated the cumulative risk of severe visual loss (⩽0.1) at 24 months was 14.7% in females versus 62.5% in males (hazard ratio (HR), 0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.05–0.54). Conclusion: PONBS frequently presents with isolated optic neuropathy in females. The sunflower-like sign might be a distinctive MRI feature. Short-term recurrence is very rare. Males have a higher cumulative risk of severe visual loss.
Microwave-Assisted Ablation Improves the Prognosis of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Liver Resection
Authors: Shen Haiyuan , Zhou Shu , Lou Yun , Gao Yangjuan , Cao Shouji , Wu Du , Li Guoqiang 
Published: July 2018

Objective: We evaluated microwave-assisted liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients and Methods: We enrolled 79 patients in this study, and microwave ablation was used for liver resection. Patients were randomized to group A (50.6%; n = 40), liver resection without microwave ablation, or group B (49.4%; n = 39), liver resection performed using microwave ablation. Data were analyzed for statistical significance. Results: Of the participants enrolled, 60 were male, and the participant’s average age was 59.32 ± 10.34 years. The mean overall tumor diameter was 4.39 (2.00) cm, and this did not differ between groups. Intraoperative blood loss in group B was significantly less than that in group A ( P < .001). No differences were reported between the 2 groups regarding surgical time ( P = .914), postoperative morbidity ( P = .718), and late postoperative complications ( P = .409). Postoperative drainage volume for group B was less than that of group A on the first ( P = .005) and third ( P = .019) day after surgery. The time of postoperative hospitalization in group B was significantly shorter than that in group A ( P < .001). Local recurrence was noted in 18.99% of cases (n = 15) in group B, which is less than that of group A ( P = 0.047), while in group B distant metastasis is less but not statistically significant ( P = 0.061). The 1-year and 3-year cumulative survival rates were 57% and 93.7%, respectively. Conclusions: The curative effects of liver resection combined with microwave ablation during operation are superior to only liver resection in the treatment of primary liver cancer.
Retrospective analysis of the Photo at Discharge scheme and readmission for surgical site infection following coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Authors: Rochon Melissa , Jenkinson Sian , Ramroop Reeshma , Deakin Alexia , Rai Padma , Healy Katie , Lukban Russel , Soppa Alison , Bhugun Kavita , Lavack Cheryl , Fuller Nikki , Morais Carlos , Raja Shahzad G 
Published: July 2018

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a costly and devastating complication of surgery. Many cardiac SSIs develop after the patient leaves hospital, but evidence demonstrating the benefit of patient/carer involvement in the process of monitoring and promptly identifying SSI post-discharge is limited. This study estimates the probability of readmission for SSI for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients receiving the Photo at Discharge (PaD). Methods: Trained personnel undertook continuous, prospective SSI surveillance using Public Health England protocol between January 2013 and December 2016. Baseline covariables were collected for 1747 CABG-only procedures. As a quasi-randomised design, we adjusted for non-random PaD assignment using retrospective propensity score (PS)-matching based on 12 variables of interest, assessed whether the model had been adequately specified and performed an outcomes analysis. Results: A total of 568 patients with PaD were PS-matched with 568 controls. The probabilities of SSI readmission were 0.352 (2/568) and 1.761 (10/568), respectively. The difference in risk of readmission for SSI was significant (relative risk = 0.2, 95% confidence interval = 0.04–0.91; P = 0.04). Conclusion: Findings from this single-centre observation study suggest the PaD is associated with a reduction in CABG readmission for SSI and a further study is warranted to verify the efficacy of this strategy.
Effects of Bone Fragility and Antiresorptive Drugs on Periodontal Disease and Tooth Loss: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Penoni D.C. , Leão A.T.T. , Torres S.R. , Farias M.L.F. , Fernandes T.M. , Crivelli M. , Vettore M.V. 
Published: July 2018

This longitudinal study aimed to elucidate whether systemic bone fragility predicts severe periodontal clinical attachment loss (CAL) and tooth loss over the years and to test the influence of bone medication and periodontal maintenance in these relationships. Elderly women were evaluated for bone mineral density (BMD) and for fracture risk assessment (FRAX) in a cross-sectional analysis and retrospective follow-up (6- and 10-y periods). Data on BMD and FRAX were used as indicators of bone fragility in structural equation modeling. Periodontal examination and data on postmenopausal tooth loss were recorded. Multivariate Poisson regression models with robust covariance were used to estimate relative risk (RR) and 95% CI of BMD and FRAX for sites with CAL ≥6 mm and for tooth loss. The cross-sectional analysis included 134 women aged 65 to 80 y, and from them 71 and 49 women had available data for analysis in the 6- and 10-y follow-up periods, respectively. Bone fragility predicted severe CAL over 10 y (e.g., femoral neck: 10-y analysis, β = −0.389, P = 0.005; cross-sectional, β = −0.190, P = 0.004); however, this association did not remain significant when the use of bone medication was evaluated. Poisson regression showed that a better skeletal condition was associated with a lower risk of severe periodontal disease and tooth loss (cross-sectional femoral neck: RR = 0.08, P < 0.001; RR = 0.03, P < 0.001, respectively) when not adjusted for bone medication and periodontal maintenance. The receiver operating characteristic curve suggested that women with osteoporosis should be referred for periodontal assessment (sensitivity = 71.0%, specificity = 70.0%). Bone fragility is a relevant longitudinal predictor of severe periodontal disease and tooth loss among elderly women. The use of bisphosphonates improved the bone condition as well as the periodontal status. Periodontal maintenance also minimized the negative impact of low BMD on teeth-supportive tissues in the studied population. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results of this study present evidence that the management of bone fragility and osteoporosis may be important in the prevention of periodontal attachment loss and future tooth loss. Besides the antiresorptive effects of the antiosteoporosis drugs on systemic bone conditions, these medications may protect periodontal tissues. The interaction of health care professionals such as dentists and physicians represents a key role for the approach to women’s health, especially in an aging world.
Alcohol-based surgical hand preparation: translating scientific evidence into clinical practice
Authors: Gaspar Gilberto G. , Menegueti Mayra G. , Lopes Ana Elisa R. , Santos Roberto O. C. , de Araújo Thamiris R. , Nassiff Aline , Ferreira Lécio R. , Dallora Maria Eulalia L. V. , Canini Silvia R. M. S. , Bellissimo-Rodrigues Fernando 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Background
Although alcohol-based surgical hand preparation offers potential advantages over the traditional surgical scrubbing technique, implementing it may be challenging due to resistance of surgeons in changing their practice. We aimed to implement alcohol-based surgical hand preparation in the hospital setting evaluating the impact of that on the quality and duration of the procedure, as well as on the prevention of surgical site infections.

Methods
A quasi-experimental study conducted at a tertiary-care university hospital from April 01 to November 01, 2017. Participants were cardiac and orthopedic surgical teams (n = 56) and patients operated by them (n = 231). Intervention consisted of making alcohol-based handrub available in the operating room, convincing and training surgical teams for using it, promoting direct observation of surgical hand preparation, and providing aggregated feedback on the quality of the preparation. The primary study outcome was the quality of the surgical hand preparation, inferred by the compliance with each one of the steps predicted in the World Health Organization (WHO) technique, evaluated through direct observation. Secondary study outcome was the patient’s individual probability of developing surgical site infection in both study periods. We used the Wilcoxon for paired samples and McNemar’s test to assess the primary study outcome and we build a logistic regression model to assess the secondary outcome.

Results
We observed 534 surgical hand preparation events. Among 33 participants with full data available for both study periods, we observed full compliance with all the steps predicted in the WHO technique in 0.03% (1/33) of them in the pre-intervention period and in 36.36% (12/33) of them in the intervention period (OR:12.0, 95% CI: 2. 4-59.2, p = 0.002). Compared to the pre-intervention period, the intervention reduced the duration of the preparation (4.8 min vs 2.7 min, respectively; p < 0.001). The individual risk of developing a surgical site infection did not significantly change between the pre-intervention and the intervention phase (Adjusted RR = 0.66; 95% CI 0. 16-2.70, p = 0.563).

Conclusion
Our results demonstrate that, when compared to the traditional surgical scrub, alcohol-based surgical hand preparation improves the quality and reduces the duration of the preparation, being at least equally effective for the prevention of surgical site infections.
Efficacy of praziquantel treatment regimens in pre-school and school aged children infected with schistosomes in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Authors: Kabuyaya Muhubiri , Chimbari Moses John , Mukaratirwa Samson 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Background
Schistosomiasis is a serious public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Praziquantel is the only drug recommended by the World Health Organization to treat both urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis. The reliance on a single drug to treat a disease with such a huge burden has raised concerns of possible drug resistance mainly in endemic areas. This systematic review was conducted to identify gaps and recent progress on the efficacy of different regimens of praziquantel in treating schistosomiasis among children in sub-Saharan Africa where Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium are endemic.

Main text
A literature search of peer-reviewed journals was done on Google Scholar, MEDLINE (under EBSCOhost) and PubMed databases using pre-defined search terms and Boolean operators. The search included studies published from 2008 to 2017 (August) with emphasis on the efficacy of praziquantel on S. haematobium and S. mansoni infections among preschool and school children. Nineteen publications satisfied the inclusion criteria for the review. The studies reviewed were from 10 sub-Saharan African countries and 7/19 of the studies (37%) were conducted in Uganda. Seven studies (37%) focused on Schistosoma mansoni, 6/19 (31.5%) on S. haematobium and another 6 on mixed infection. A single standard dose of 40 mg/kg body weight was the most used regimen (9) followed by the repeated single standard dose assessed for efficacy at 3–4 weeks post-treatment.

Conclusions
A repeated standard dose of 40 mg/kg achieved satisfactory efficacy compared to a single dose against both parasite species. However, findings on efficacy of repeated doses in co-infection of S. mansoni and S. haematobium were not conclusive. Praziquantel administrated at 60 mg/kg was slightly more efficacious than the 40 mg/kg standard dose. Minor and transitory side-effects were reported for both regimens. The review indicates that further investigations are necessary to conclusively determine efficacy of praziquantel on coinfection of S. haematobium and S. mansoni to formulate concrete guidelines on the use of repeated doses at 40 or 60 mg/kg for treating schistosomiasis. We recommend the use of the egg reduction rate (ERR) formula recommended by the WHO for assessing praziquantel efficacy in order for the results to be comparable for different regions.
Pax6 regulation of Sox9 in the mouse retinal pigmented epithelium controls its timely differentiation and choroid vasculature development
Authors: Cohen-Tayar Yamit , Cohen Hadar , Mitiagin Yulia , Abravanel Zohar , Levy Carmit , Idelson Masha , Reubinoff Benjamin , Itzkovitz Shalev , Raviv Shaul , Kaestner Klaus H. , Blinder Pablo , Elkon Ran , Ashery-Padan Ruth 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACT
The synchronized differentiation of neuronal and vascular tissues is crucial for normal organ development and function, although there is limited information about the mechanisms regulating the coordinated development of these tissues. The choroid vasculature of the eye serves as the main blood supply to the metabolically active photoreceptors, and develops together with the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). Here, we describe a novel regulatory relationship between the RPE transcription factors Pax6 and Sox9 that controls the timing of RPE differentiation and the adjacent choroid maturation. We used a novel machine learning algorithm tool to analyze high resolution imaging of the choroid in Pax6 and Sox9 conditional mutant mice. Additional unbiased transcriptomic analyses in mutant mice and RPE cells generated from human embryonic stem cells, as well as chromatin immunoprecipitation and high-throughput analyses, revealed secreted factors that are regulated by Pax6 and Sox9. These factors might be involved in choroid development and in the pathogenesis of the common blinding disease: age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Single-cell biology: resolving biological complexity, one cell at a time
Authors: Ranzoni Anna M. , Cvejic Ana 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACT
In March 2018, over 250 researchers came together at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton, Cambridge, UK, to present their latest research in the area of single-cell biology. A highly interdisciplinary meeting, the Single Cell Biology conference covered a variety of topics, ranging from cutting-edge technological innovation, developmental biology and stem cell research to evolution and cancer. This meeting report summarises the key findings presented and the major research themes that emerged during the conference.
The MAPK Erk5 is necessary for proper skeletogenesis involving a Smurf-Smad-Sox9 molecular axis
Authors: Iezaki Takashi , Fukasawa Kazuya , Horie Tetsuhiro , Park Gyujin , Robinson Samuel , Nakaya Michio , Fujita Hiroyuki , Onishi Yuki , Ozaki Kakeru , Kanayama Takashi , Hiraiwa Manami , Kitaguchi Yuka , Kaneda Katsuyuki , Yoneda Yukio , Takarada Takeshi , Guo X. Edward , Kurose Hitoshi , Hinoi Eiichi 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACT
Erk5 belongs to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. Following its phosphorylation by Mek5, Erk5 modulates several signaling pathways in a number of cell types. In this study, we demonstrated that Erk5 inactivation in mesenchymal cells causes abnormalities in skeletal development by inducing Sox9, an important transcription factor of skeletogenesis. We further demonstrate that Erk5 directly phosphorylates and activates Smurf2 (a ubiquitin E3 ligase) at Thr249, which promotes the proteasomal degradation of Smad proteins and phosphorylates Smad1 at Ser206 in the linker region known to trigger its proteasomal degradation by Smurf1. Smads transcriptionally activated the expression of Sox9 in mesenchymal cells. Accordingly, removal of one Sox9 allele in mesenchymal cells from Erk5-deficient mice rescued some abnormalities of skeletogenesis. These findings highlight the importance of the Mek5-Erk5-Smurf-Smad-Sox9 axis in mammalian skeletogenesis.
RDH10-mediated retinol metabolism and RARα-mediated retinoic acid signaling are required for submandibular salivary gland initiation
Authors: Metzler Melissa A. , Raja Swetha , Elliott Kelsey H. , Friedl Regina M. , Tran Nhut Quang Huy , Brugmann Samantha A. , Larsen Melinda , Sandell Lisa L. 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACT
In mammals, the epithelial tissues of major salivary glands generate saliva and drain it into the oral cavity. For submandibular salivary glands (SMGs), the epithelial tissues arise during embryogenesis from naïve oral ectoderm adjacent to the base of the tongue, which begins to thicken, express SOX9 and invaginate into underlying mesenchyme. The developmental mechanisms initiating salivary gland development remain unexplored. In this study, we show that retinoic acid (RA) signaling activity at the site of gland initiation is colocalized with expression of retinol metabolic genes Rdh10 and Aldh1a2 in the underlying SMG mesenchyme. Utilizing a novel ex vivo assay for SMG initiation developed for this study, we show that RDH10 and RA are required for salivary gland initiation. Moreover, we show that the requirement for RA in gland initiation involves canonical signaling through retinoic acid receptors (RAR). Finally, we show that RA signaling essential for gland initiation is transduced specifically through RARα, with no contribution from other RAR isoforms. This is the first study to identify a molecular signal regulating mammalian salivary gland initiation.
A three minutes supine position test reveals higher risk of spinal anesthesia induced hypotension during cesarean delivery. An observational study.
Authors: Erango Markos , Frigessi Arnoldo , Rosseland Leiv Arne 
Published: July 2018

Background: Cesarean delivery is performed under spinal anesthesia, and vasodilation is the main cause for a drop in blood pressure. The compression of the aorta and inferior vena cava by the gravid uterus is of additional clinical importance. Hypotension may occur during cesarean delivery even if prophylactic infusion of phenylephrine is practiced. We have tested if a 3 minute supine observation, can identify a subset of women with decreasing systolic arterial pressure (SAP) under spinal anesthesia. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study at Oslo University Hospital on healthy pregnant women for planned cesarean delivery. Continuous measurements of calibrated invasive SAP and estimated cardiac output were recorded for 76 women in a 3 minutes measurement with the woman in the left lateral position, followed by supine position for 3 minutes. Using functional data clustering, principal component analysis and curve smoothing, to filter way noise and reduce the dimensionality of the signal, we clustered the women into separate SAP groups. Results: We identified two significantly different groups of women during supine position; one characterized by initial drop in SAP, the other showed initial increase. After spinal anesthesia, the mean SAP curve of the women in the first group showed a drop in blood pressure, which was more rapid than for the other women. A minor difference in cardiac output was observed between the two groups of women with the mean cardiac output curve for the first group being higher. Conclusions: This work indicates that supine position affect clinically relevant cardiovascular measurements in pregnant women. A simple test may identify patients with increased risk of spinal anesthesia induced hypotension.
Do funding applications where peer reviewers disagree have higher citations? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Barnett Adrian G , Glisson Scott R. , Gallo Stephen 
Published: July 2018

Background: Decisions about which applications to fund are generally based on the mean scores of a panel of peer reviewers. As well as the mean, a large disagreement between peer reviewers may also be worth considering, as it may indicate a high-risk application with a high return. Methods: We examined the peer reviewers' scores for 227 funded applications submitted to the American Institute of Biological Sciences between 1999 and 2006. We examined the mean score and two measures of reviewer disagreement: the standard deviation and range. The outcome variable was the relative citation ratio, which is the number of citations from all publications associated with the application, standardised by field and publication year. Results: There was a clear increase in relative citations for applications with a higher mean. There was no association between relative citations and either of the two measures of disagreement. Conclusions: We found no evidence that reviewer disagreement was able to identify applications with a higher than average return. However, this is the first study to empirically examine this association, and it would be useful to examine whether reviewer disagreement is associated with research impact in other funding schemes and in larger sample sizes.
Micronuclei Formation Is Prevented by Aurora B-Mediated Exclusion of HP1a from Late-Segregating Chromatin inDrosophila
Authors: Warecki Brandt , Sullivan William 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHere, Warecki and Sullivan investigate how late-segregating chromosome fragments pass through nuclear envelope channels to maintain euploidy in the nuclei of Drosophila neuroblasts during telophase. The authors find that Aurora B activity prevents the recruitment of HP1a to...While it is known that micronuclei pose a serious risk to genomic integrity by undergoing chromothripsis, mechanisms preventing micronucleus formation remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate how late-segregating acentric chromosomes that would otherwise form micronuclei instead reintegrate into daughter nuclei by passing through Aurora B kinase-dependent channels in the nuclear envelope of Drosophila melanogaster neuroblasts. We find that localized concentrations of Aurora B preferentially phosphorylate H3(S10) on acentrics and their associated DNA tethers. This phosphorylation event prevents HP1a from associating with heterochromatin and results in localized inhibition of nuclear envelope reassembly on endonuclease- and X-irradiation-induced acentrics, promoting channel formation. Finally, we find that HP1a also specifies initiation sites of nuclear envelope reassembly on undamaged chromatin. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Aurora B-mediated regulation of HP1a-chromatin interaction plays a key role in maintaining genome integrity by locally preventing nuclear envelope assembly and facilitating the incorporation of late-segregating acentrics into daughter nuclei.