bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cachexia does not induce loss of myonuclei or muscle fibres during xenografted prostate cancer in mice
Authors: Winje Ivan Myhre , Sheng Xia , Hansson Kenth‐Arne , Solbrå Andreas , Tennøe Simen , Saatcioglu Fahri , Bruusgaard Jo Christiansen , Gundersen Kristian 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAimCachexia is a severe wasting disorder involving loss of body‐ and muscle mass reducing survival and quality of life in cancer patients. We aim at determining if cachexia is a mere perturbation of the protein balance or if the condition also involves a degenerative loss of myonuclei within the fibre syncytia or loss of whole muscle fibres.MethodsWe induced cachexia by xenografting PC3 prostate cancer cells in nu/nu mice. Six weeks later, we counted myonuclei by in vivo microscopic imaging of single live fibres in the extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL), and the EDL, soleus and tibialis anterior muscles were also harvested for ex vivo histology.ResultsThe mice lost on average 15% of the whole‐body wt. The muscle wet weight of the glycolytic, fast EDL was reduced by 14%, the tibialis anterior by 17%, and the slow, oxidative soleus by 6%. The fibre cross‐sectional area in the EDL was reduced by 21% with no loss of myonuclei or any significant reduction in the number of muscle fibres. TUNEL‐positive nuclei or fibres with embryonic myosin were rare both in cachectic and control muscles, and haematoxylin‐eosin staining revealed no clear signs of muscle pathology.ConclusionThe data suggest that the cachexia induced by xenografted prostate tumours induces a pronounced atrophy not accompanied by a loss of myonuclei or a loss of muscle fibres. Thus, stem cell related treatment might be redundant, and the quest for treatment options should rather focus on intervening with intracellular pathways regulating muscle fibre size.
Interaction between warfarin and cannabis
Authors: Damkier Per , Lassen Dorte , Christensen Mette Marie Hougaard , Madsen Kenneth Grønkjær , Hellfritzsch Maja , Pottegård Anton 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDelta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, may inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2C9. Consequently, cannabis use might infer a risk of drug‐drug interaction with substrates for this enzyme, which includes drugs known to have a narrow therapeutic window. In this study, we describe a case report of a 27‐year‐old man treated with warfarin due to mechanical heart valve replacement who presented with elevated international normalized ratio (INR) value (INR = 4.6) following recreational cannabis use. We conducted a review of the available literature, using the PubMed and EMBASE databases while following PRISMA guidelines. Following screening of 85 articles, three eligible articles were identified, including one in vitro study and two case reports. The in vitro study indicated that THC inhibits the CYP2C9‐mediated metabolism of warfarin. One case study reported of a man who on two occasions of increased marijuana use experienced INR values above 10 as well as bleeding. The other case study reported of a patient who initiated treatment with a liquid formulation of cannabidiol for the management of epilepsy, ultimately necessitating a 30% reduction in warfarin dose to maintain therapeutic INR values. The available, although sparse, data suggest that use of cannabinoids increases INR values in patients receiving warfarin. Until further data are available, we suggest patients receiving warfarin be warned against cannabis use.
Evaluation of early wound healing scales/indexes in oral surgery: A literature review
Authors: Hamzani Yafit , Chaushu Gavriel 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe quality of the healing response after oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) is influenced by the nature of the tissue disruption and the circumstances surrounding wound closure. The use of wound healing scales may help the surgeon anticipate and, when possible, intervene so that wound repair can progress favorably.Materials and MethodsStudies reported in the OMS literature of the last 20 years that applied scales/indexes to monitor the wound healing process were reviewed.ResultsWe identified eight scales/indexes that were developed for use in OMS, including three that are modifications of a previously reported scale. Most were applied in split‐mouth trials of wound healing modifiers.ConclusionWound healing scales are infrequently used in OMS. Those that are available do not allow for an association of the outcome parameters, modifiers used, or effectiveness of the modifiers with the different phases of the wound healing process (inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling). Moreover, there is no consensus regarding the time frames that should be evaluated or the preferred scale. On the basis of these findings, we suggest a novel scale that distinguishes among the wound healing phases and yields three subscale scores and a total score.
Technetium‐99m‐anti‐tumour necrosis factor alpha scintigraphy as promising predictor of response to corticotherapy in chronic active Graves' ophthalmopathy
Authors: de Lacerda Adriano Machado , de Souza Sergio Augusto Lopes , Gutfilen Bianca , Barbosa da Fonseca Léa Mirian , Lobo Lopes Flávia Paiva Proença , Tonomura Elise , Vaisman Mário , Teixeira Patrícia de Fátima dos Santos 
Published: October 2018

SummaryIt has been suggested that technetium‐99m (99mTc)‐anti‐tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) scintigraphy (SCI) may be a useful diagnostic tool in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). This study evaluated whether orbit total radioactivity uptake on SCI could be used to predict corticosteroid therapy (CorT) responses in active‐GO patients. A longitudinal study of patients with active GO defined by Clinical Active Score (CAS) >3/7 was done. Clinical, laboratory and SCI evaluations were performed at baseline and 3 months after concluding intravenous CorT. SCI (planar and tomographic) was assessed after intravenous injection of 10 mCi of 99mTc‐anti‐TNF‐α. Orbits and cerebral hemispheres were defined as regions of interest (ROIs) to enable orbit/hemisphere ROI‐ratios of total radioactive uptake. ROI‐ratios were considered positive at >2·5. Average total radiation uptake (TRU) was also determined for each orbit (AVGROI). Clinical, laboratory and SCI data were compared between responders (CAS became inactive) and non‐responders to CorT (18 patients). At baseline, AVGROI were higher in active OG orbits (67·3 cps) than in inactive ones (33·6 cps; P<0·05). AVGROI (absolute values) reduced (−29·9 cps) in CorT responders and tended (P = 0·067) to differ from variations occurred in non‐responders (+6·9 cps in patients with maintained CAS positivity post‐treatment). Higher baseline ROI‐ratios (4·9 versus 3·3; P = 0·056) and its pronounced reductions following CorT (−37% versus +56% in non‐responders; P = 0·036) tended to be associated with good CorT responses in the subgroup of GO history ≥1 year. SCI showed a good association with active eye disease and may be an additional tool to identify CorT responders.
Characteristics of the paralysed diaphragm studied by M‐mode ultrasonography
Authors: Boussuges Alain , Brégeon Fabienne , Blanc Philippe , Gil Jean‐Marie , Poirette Laurent 
Published: October 2018

SummaryBackgroundM‐mode ultrasonography might be useful for detecting hemidiaphragm paralysis. The objective of the present study was to describe the motion recorded by M‐mode ultrasonography of both diaphragmatic leaves in patients with a pre‐established diagnosis of hemidiaphragm paralysis.MethodsA study was conducted in 26 patients (18 men, 8 women) with unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. They were referred to two different rehabilitation centres after thoracic surgery in 23 cases and cardiac interventional procedures in three cases. The pulmonary function tests and the study of the diaphragmatic motion using M‐mode ultrasonography were recorded.ResultsThe pulmonary function tests showed a restrictive pattern. The M‐mode ultrasonography reported either the absence of motion or a weak paradoxical (cranial) displacement (less than 0·5 cm) of the paralysed hemidiaphragm during quiet breathing. A paradoxical motion was recorded in all patients during voluntary sniffing, reaching around −1 cm. During deep breathing, a paradoxical motion at the beginning of the inspiration was observed. Thereafter, a re‐establishment of the motion in the craniocaudal direction was recorded. The excursions measured on the healthy side, during quiet breathing and voluntary sniffing, were increased in patients suffering from contralateral hemidiaphragm paralysis, when compared with 170 healthy volunteers.ConclusionsTo detect diaphragmatic dysfunction in patients at risk, it would be useful to study diaphragmatic motion by M‐mode ultrasonography during quiet breathing, voluntary sniffing and deep breathing.
Diabetic nephropathy after kidney transplantation in patients with pretransplantation type II diabetes: A retrospective case series study from a high‐volume center in the United States
Authors: Cimeno Arielle , Munley Jennifer , Drachenberg Cinthia , Weir Matthew , Haririan Abdolreza , Bromberg Jonathan , Barth Rolf N. , Scalea Joseph R. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundPatients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing renal transplantation are at risk of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in the transplanted kidney. The true risk of developing post‐transplantation DN is unknown, and post‐transplantation DN is poorly characterized in the literature.MethodsThe biopsy database at the University of Maryland Medical Center was queried for kidney transplant biopsies which demonstrated evidence of DN. The time from transplantation to biopsy‐proven DN (time to diagnosis, TTD) was calculated and analyzed in the context of demographics, serum creatinine, and onset of diabetes. By extrapolating the total number of patients who developed DN in the last 2 years, we estimated the recurrence rate of DN.ResultsSixty patients whose renal biopsies met criteria were identified. The mean age was 56.6 (±1.58) years, and the mean creatinine level at time of biopsy was 1.65 (±0.12) mg/dL. Simultaneous pathological diagnoses were frequent on kidney biopsy; rejection was present at variable rates: classes I, IIA, IIB, and III were 5.0%, 66.7%, 18.4%, and 10%, respectively. The mean TTD was 1456 (±206) days. TTD was significantly shorter for patients receiving a cadaveric vs living donor renal transplant (1118 ± 184 vs 2470 ± 547 days, P = 0.004). Older patients (r = 0.378, P = 0.003) and patients with higher serum creatinine (r = 0.282, P = 0.029) had shorter TTDs. Extrapolations showed that 74.7% of patients would be free of DN 10 years after renal transplantation.ConclusionsDiabetic nephropathy occurs after transplantation, and this appears to be due to both donor and recipient‐derived factors. Encouragingly, our estimates suggest that as many as 75% of patients may be free of DN at 10 years following kidney transplantation.
The importance of transplant program measures: Surveys of three national patient advocacy groups
Authors: Schaffhausen Cory R. , Bruin Marilyn J. , Chu Sauman , Wey Andrew , Snyder Jon J. , Kasiske Bertram L. , Israni Ajay K. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) provides federally mandated program‐specific transplant data to the public. Currently, there is little understanding of how different program measures are prioritized by patients in selecting a program for transplantation. This study recruited 479 transplant advocacy group members from mailing lists and social media of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), transplant families (TF), and Transplant Recipient International Organization (TRIO). Survey participants identified how many different programs would be reasonable to consider and viewed four measures that have recently been displayed on SRTR public search result websites and six measures not recently displayed and indicated importance on a 5‐point scale. Four hundred two completed the survey (TF = 26; TRIO = 34; NKF = 342). Seventy‐eight percent indicated that considering more than one program would be reasonable. Linear mixed models adjusted for organization, education, and gender. Likert scores for pretransplant (transplant rate) and transplant volume measures were similar and were very or extremely important to over 80% of participants. Posttransplant (survival after transplant) was rated as 0.52 points higher, confidence interval (0.41, 0.64). Results indicate that many patient advocacy group members find a choice between two or more programs reasonable and value multiple measures when assessing programs where they may want to undergo transplantation.
“I Thought I Did Much Better”—Overconfidence in University Exams
Authors: Wüst Kirsten , Beck Hanno 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTStudents tend to be overconfident about their future performance in university exams, which can lead to demotivation when faced with unexpectedly bad results. We hypothesized that overconfidence is partly a personality trait but also partly results from students’ insufficient knowledge of what is expected of them in university exams. It follows that this should decrease as the students learn what is really required. In a longitudinal study with 441 students from a southern German university, we asked students to solve intelligence test questions and to make estimates of their own performances. Additionally, students estimated their performance in a forthcoming maths and/or a descriptive statistics exam. Then shortly after the exam was taken they indicated their planned and effective hours of study. As expected, students did not, in the mean, overestimate their performance on intelligence test questions. Women were more likely than men to underestimate their performance. Over‐ or underestimation in intelligence test questions did, however, predict misestimation in the mathematics and the statistics exams. Also, further correlations of misestimation between the statistics and a financial mathematics exam could be found—as such misestimation can be interpreted to be a stable trait. Students with an "Abitur" qualification were more likely to underestimate their performance, while students with other preuniversity qualifications tended to overestimate their performance. No effect of personality factors was found. Against our expectations, students who had overestimated themselves later indicated a higher number of hours studied than other students. We suggest different strategies by which students and universities can actively counter overestimation.
Photodynamic therapy with a 5‐ALA patch does not increase the risk of conversion of actinic keratoses into squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Reinhold Uwe , Petering Holger , Dirschka Thomas , Rozsondai András , Gille Jens , Kurzen Hjalmar , Ostendorf Rolf , Ebeling Andrea , Stocker Marcus , Radny Peter 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundIt is important to collect data about the risk of transformation of an actinic keratosis (AK) lesion into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) after a single photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5‐ALA patch for a longer follow‐up period under daily routine.Questions addressedThe purpose of this non‐interventional study (NIS) was to collect data on the frequency of occurrence of SCCs in the treated area during an interval of 2 years after a single 5‐ALA patch‐PDT.Experimental designThis prospective observational case‐only study included patients with mild AK lesions on the head and face treated with 5‐ALA patch‐PDT according to the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC).ResultsIn 370 patients, the risk of transformation of their treated AK lesion into SCC was 0.073% with its exact 95% confidence interval using the Poisson distribution of [0.009%, 0.262%]. The rate of complete clinical clearance on lesion basis after 3 months was 84.3%.ConclusionThe efficacy and the safety results show no observation of an increased risk for conversion of an AK into a SCC 2 years after a single 5‐ALA patch‐PDT. Additionally, the high clinical complete remission rate under routine conditions is comparable to the rates observed in the approval trials.
Large‐scale environmental flow results in mixed outcomes with short‐term benefits for a semi‐arid floodplain plant community
Authors: Moxham Claire , Kenny Sally A. , Beesley Leah S. , Gwinn Daniel C. 
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Demonstrating and predicting the effectiveness of environmental watering to maintain ecosystem health is becoming increasingly important, notably in semi‐arid floodplain ecosystems. Modelling plant floodplain vegetation responses to inform environmental watering outcomes is also challenging.

We evaluated the effects of a large‐scale environmental flow event on a semi‐arid floodplain lakeside plant assemblage for meeting the management goal of increasing water‐dependant taxa and functional groups. We developed a multi‐taxon Bayesian hierarchical model to describe temporal and small‐scale spatial patterns in taxonomic occurrences. We then examined community summary metrics (proportion of native taxa, plant functional groups) to evaluate patterns for the entire floodplain lakes system, the scale most relevant to management.

Overall, in a system dominated by terrestrial dry plant taxa, 52.9% of terrestrial damp plant taxa showed a short‐term increase in occurrence in response to the environmental flow, which translated into similar responses in some functional groups. However, nearly half of the plant taxa that increased then demonstrated a decline by 18 months after the flow event. Our community summary metrics captured these general results; however, they were disproportionately influenced by a few abundant plant taxa.

These results highlight the advantages of multi‐taxon models for interpreting flow responses and developing effective environmental flow management strategies, because they can be used to summarise community responses, while preserving important taxon‐specific information.

In semi‐arid systems, where river regulation and climate change have reduced the frequency of flood events, the ability to deliver environmental flows during protracted periods of drought may be a policy option to restore or maintain the natural floodplain vegetation assemblage and prevents the transition to dryland taxa.
Successful Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy improves symptoms of chronic constipation
Authors: Murata Masaki , Sugimoto Mitsushige , Otsuka Taketo , Nishida Atsushi , Inatomi Osamu , Bamba Shigeki , Andoh Akira 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgrounds and AimsConstipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal functional disorders. Recently, the gut microbiota has been implicated in the development of constipation. Helicobacter pylori infection is considered to be a possible factor influencing the gut microbiota profile. Here, we investigated the effect of H. pylori eradication therapy on symptoms of chronic constipation.MethodsWe recruited 166 H pylori‐positive patients who underwent eradication therapy after endoscopy. We evaluated the severity of symptoms of chronic constipation before eradication therapy and 2 months post‐therapy using two questionnaires, the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and the Izumo scale. In addition, we evaluated association with constipation and H. pylori infection in patients with constipation‐related symptoms in not only all patients, but also patients with the constipation‐related symptoms in relation to eradication outcome, the severity of constipation‐related symptoms, and the severity of endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy.ResultsMean GSRS scores were 5.10 ± 2.67 in all patients and 6.15 ± 2.91 in constipation patients which were significantly lower than that before eradication (5.78 ± 3.27, P < 0.01 and 8.19 ± 3.09, P < 0.01, respectively). Constipation‐related scores of the GSRS questionnaire in the successful eradication group were significantly improved after eradication from 5.63 ± 3.06 in all patients and 8.00 ± 2.85 in constipation patients to 5.11 ± 2.71 (P = 0.02) and 6.16 ± 2.96 (P < 0.01), while scores in the failed eradication group before and after eradication were similar. Constipation‐related scores in patients with mild gastric atrophy (Kimura‐Takemoto classification, C‐I to O‐I) were significantly decreased after eradication, but were not decreased in patients with severe atrophy (O‐II and O‐III).ConclusionsSuccessful eradication therapy for H. pylori infection may confer additional benefits in H. pylori‐positive patients with symptoms of chronic constipation, especially in patients with mild gastric atrophy.
Dynamics of antimicrobial resistance of Helicobacter pylori isolates in the Smolensk region of Russian Federation
Authors: Dekhnich Natalia , Ivanchik Natalie , Kozlov Roman , Alimov Alexander , Steshits Andrey , Kirsov Pavel , Pandav Krunal 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundEfficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy depends on the chance of having a resistant H. pylori strain, which is ultimately related to the local antimicrobial resistance epidemiology.AimTo assess H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, and tetracycline in adult patients in the Smolensk region of Russian Federation over a 9‐year period.Materials and methodsBiopsy samples were taken from the gastric antrum and body of 573 and 210 patients with dyspepsia symptoms and positive rapid urease test during esophagogastroduodenoscopy in 2015‐2017 and 2009‐2010, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, and tetracycline by the agar dilution method.ResultsA total of 143 strains of H. pylori isolated during 2015‐2017 and 133 strains isolated during 2009‐2010 were tested. Culture success rates were 30% vs 64% for the two periods. Over the 2015‐2017, the prevalence of resistance to clarithromycin was 6.3%, to amoxicillin 1.4%, to metronidazole 23.8%, to levofloxacin 24.5%, and to tetracycline 0.7%. Over the 2009‐2010, the corresponding resistance rates were 5.3%, 4.5%, 3.8%, 8.3%, and 0%, respectively. There were no significant increases in resistance to clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline (P > 0.05) over the 9 years period. Significant increase in resistance to levofloxacin (8.3% in 2009‐2010% vs 24.5% in 2015‐2017, P < 0.01) and metronidazole (3.8% in 2009‐2010% vs 23.8% in 2015‐2017, P < 0.01) was observed.ConclusionsH. pylori resistance to clarithromycin remained low in the Smolensk region of Russian Federation between 2009 and 2017. Resistance to levofloxacin and metronidazole increased between 2009 and 2017.