bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of novel α2-adrenoreceptor agonist dexmedetomidine on shivering in patients underwent caesarean section
Authors: Yu Gaofeng , Jin Shangyi , Chen Jinghui , Yao Weifeng , Song Xingrong 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Objective: Meperidine used to control shivering during perioperative period has associated side effects. The present study compared the safety of selective α2-adrenoreceptor agonist dexmedetomidine and meperidine for anti-shivering in primiparas after caesarean delivery under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA).
Methods: 100 primiparas scheduled for caesarean delivery were randomly allocated to dexmedetomidine group (Group D, n=50) and meperidine positive control group (Group M, n=50). Primiparas experienced shivering that continued to cord clamping were treated with dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg/kg) or meperidine (0.5 mg/kg) after cord clamping. The primary outcome measures were incidence of nausea, vomiting, and respiratory depression. Secondary outcome measures were shivering score, vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate and O2 saturation, tympanic temperature, and sedation score.
Results: Dexmedetomidine provided similar anti-shivering effects as meperidine in patients after caesarean delivery under CSEA, evidenced as all shivering primiparas responded to either dexmedetomidine or meperidine treatment within 15 min. However, incidence of nausea and vomiting were significantly lower after dexmedetomidine treatment, accompanied with more stable blood pressure. Dexmedetomidine also provided well regulation of tympanic temperature and good sedation.
Conclusion: Selective α2-adrenoreceptor agonist dexmedetomidine has a better safety profile compared with meperidine for anti-shivering in primiparas undergoing caesarean delivery. Dexmedetomidine could be a better choice for anti-shivering in patients requiring caesarean section. The mechanism of anti-shivering for dexmedetomidine may relate to well regulation of temperature and good sedation.
Tumor necrosis factor gene polymorphisms are associated with silicosis: a systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Min , Peng Ling-Long , Ji Xue-Lei , Yang Hai-Bing , Zha Ri-Sheng , Gui Guo-Ping 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Studies investigating association between tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene polymorphisms and silicosis susceptibility report conflicting results. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess association between TNF gene polymorphisms and silicosis susceptibility. A systematic literature search was conducted to find relevant studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of association. Finally, a total of 12 articles, involving 1990 silicosis patients and 1898 healthy controls were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, meta-analysis revealed a significant association between the TNF −308A allele and silicosis (OR = 1.348, 95%CI = 1.156–1.570, P&lt;0.001). A significant association of AA+AG genotype of the TNF −308 A/G polymorphism with susceptibility to silicosis was also found (OR = 1.466, 95%CI = 1.226–1.753, P&lt;0.001). After stratification by ethnicity, significant associations were detected under the genetic models (A allele and AA+AG genotype) for TNF −308A/G polymorphisms in the Asian population (P&lt;0.05). Similarly, meta-analysis of the TNF −238A/G polymorphism revealed the same pattern as that shown by meta-analysis of TNF −308A/G. The meta-analysis suggests that the TNF −308A/G and −238A/G polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to silicosis, especially in Asians.
An engaging pedagogy for an academic curriculum
Authors: Rata Elizabeth , McPhail Graham , Barrett Brian 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe article discusses the link between a curriculum based on academic subjects derived from disciplinary knowledge and a progressive pedagogy that endeavours to engage students from all backgrounds with it. Section 1 describes the realist theory of knowledge which justifies the argument for this accommodation between curriculum and pedagogy. Section 2 explains how conceptual progression serves as an effective curriculum design strategy for supporting pedagogy. The final section discusses how concepts and studies from within the social realist tradition can be used to theorise an accommodation between curriculum and pedagogy that promotes cumulative knowledge building among students and teachers by being responsive to both the students and to the knowledge being taught in motivating ways.
The Risk of Hypertension Doubles Every 10 Years in China: Age, Period, and Birth Cohort Effects on the Prevalence of Hypertension From 2004 to 2013
Authors: Rao Jiaming , Chen Xiongfei , Zhang Jiayi , Yang Jianwei , Pang Minhui , Pan Bingying , Wu Xueji , Liu Zhengping , Dong Xiaomei 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Hypertension is a growing problem worldwide and can often result in a variety of negative health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of age at diagnosis, calendar period, and birth cohort on the change in the prevalence rate of hypertension in Guangzhou from 2004 to 2013.

METHODS
We used data from the Guangzhou Community Health Survey, a population-based study designed by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC every 5 years. A total of 27,299, 23,467, and 18,362 participants aged 15–79 years completed the survey in 2004, 2009, and 2013, respectively.

RESULTS
Age effects increased slowly before the age of 42 years but increased rapidly after the age of 42 years, peaking at 79 years. Cohort effects grew slowly before the end of the 1960s but grew quickly after the end of the 1960s. The risk of suffering from hypertension among people born in 1962, 1972, 1982, and 1992 was 1.39, 2.68, 5.55, and 11.53 times, respectively, than that of people born in 1952. The period effects increased 25% from 2004 to 2009 and later declined 27% from 2009 to 2013 in the entire population. There was no gender difference in age effects and period effects, but strong cohort effects on hypertension were observed among males compared with females.

CONCLUSIONS
For Chinese individuals, the later one is born, the higher the risk is of suffering from hypertension. Strong cohort effects for hypertension were observed among males compared with females, indicating that males are more easily affected by hypertension based on the change in birth cohort.
Factors Associated with Māori Performance on the WAIS-IV
Authors: Dudley Margaret D , Barker-Collo Suzanne L , Wilson Denise L , Garrett Nick K 
Published: January 2019

AbstractNeuropsychological tests are routinely used to assess Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, yet very few investigations of the psychometric properties of these tests with this population have been conducted. This paper focuses on factors that may impact performance of Māori adults on neuropsychological testing. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) was administered to a sample of 284 Māori stratified for age (between 16 years and 90 years) and gender in order to establish a Māori normative data set. The sample who primarily spoke English as their first language were recruited from a range of urban, regional and rural areas in New Zealand to obtain representation of the main Māori Iwi (tribes). Analysis of test results suggests acculturation, education, income, and, “a culturally positive experience” may have accounted for some of the variance in test performance.
Disentangling the complexity of low complexity proteins
Authors: Mier Pablo , Paladin Lisanna , Tamana Stella , Petrosian Sophia , Hajdu-Soltész Borbála , Urbanek Annika , Gruca Aleksandra , Plewczynski Dariusz , Grynberg Marcin , Bernadó Pau , Gáspári Zoltán , Ouzounis Christos A , Promponas Vasilis J , Kajava Andrey V , Hancock John M , Tosatto Silvio C E , Dosztanyi Zsuzsanna , Andrade-Navarro Miguel A 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThere are multiple definitions for low complexity regions (LCRs) in protein sequences, with all of them broadly considering LCRs as regions with fewer amino acid types compared to an average composition. Following this view, LCRs can also be defined as regions showing composition bias. In this critical review, we focus on the definition of sequence complexity of LCRs and their connection with structure. We present statistics and methodological approaches that measure low complexity (LC) and related sequence properties. Composition bias is often associated with LC and disorder, but repeats, while compositionally biased, might also induce ordered structures. We illustrate this dichotomy, and more generally the overlaps between different properties related to LCRs, using examples. We argue that statistical measures alone cannot capture all structural aspects of LCRs and recommend the combined usage of a variety of predictive tools and measurements. While the methodologies available to study LCRs are already very advanced, we foresee that a more comprehensive annotation of sequences in the databases will enable the improvement of predictions and a better understanding of the evolution and the connection between structure and function of LCRs. This will require the use of standards for the generation and exchange of data describing all aspects of LCRs.Short abstractThere are multiple definitions for low complexity regions (LCRs) in protein sequences. In this critical review, we focus on the definition of sequence complexity of LCRs and their connection with structure. We present statistics and methodological approaches that measure low complexity (LC) and related sequence properties. Composition bias is often associated with LC and disorder, but repeats, while compositionally biased, might also induce ordered structures. We illustrate this dichotomy, plus overlaps between different properties related to LCRs, using examples.
Computational methods for identifying the critical nodes in biological networks
Authors: Liu Xiangrong , Hong Zengyan , Liu Juan , Lin Yuan , Rodríguez-Patón Alfonso , Zou Quan , Zeng Xiangxiang 
Published: January 2019

AbstractA biological network is complex. A group of critical nodes determines the quality and state of such a network. Increasing studies have shown that diseases and biological networks are closely and mutually related and that certain diseases are often caused by errors occurring in certain nodes in biological networks. Thus, studying biological networks and identifying critical nodes can help determine the key targets in treating diseases. The problem is how to find the critical nodes in a network efficiently and with low cost. Existing experimental methods in identifying critical nodes generally require much time, manpower and money. Accordingly, many scientists are attempting to solve this problem by researching efficient and low-cost computing methods. To facilitate calculations, biological networks are often modeled as several common networks. In this review, we classify biological networks according to the network types used by several kinds of common computational methods and introduce the computational methods used by each type of network.
AllerCatPro—prediction of protein allergenicity potential from the protein sequence
Authors: Maurer-Stroh Sebastian , Krutz Nora L , Kern Petra S , Gunalan Vithiagaran , Nguyen Minh N , Limviphuvadh Vachiranee , Eisenhaber Frank , Gerberick G Frank 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Motivation
Due to the risk of inducing an immediate Type I (IgE-mediated) allergic response, proteins intended for use in consumer products must be investigated for their allergenic potential before introduction into the marketplace. The FAO/WHO guidelines for computational assessment of allergenic potential of proteins based on short peptide hits and linear sequence window identity thresholds misclassify many proteins as allergens.

Results
We developed AllerCatPro which predicts the allergenic potential of proteins based on similarity of their 3D protein structure as well as their amino acid sequence compared with a data set of known protein allergens comprising of 4180 unique allergenic protein sequences derived from the union of the major databases Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, Comprehensive Protein Allergen Resource, WHO/International Union of Immunological Societies, UniProtKB and Allergome. We extended the hexamer hit rule by removing peptides with high probability of random occurrence measured by sequence entropy as well as requiring 3 or more hexamer hits consistent with natural linear epitope patterns in known allergens. This is complemented with a Gluten-like repeat pattern detection. We also switched from a linear sequence window similarity to a B-cell epitope-like 3D surface similarity window which became possible through extensive 3D structure modeling covering the majority (74%) of allergens. In case no structure similarity is found, the decision workflow reverts to the old linear sequence window rule. The overall accuracy of AllerCatPro is 84% compared with other current methods which range from 51 to 73%. Both the FAO/WHO rules and AllerCatPro achieve highest sensitivity but AllerCatPro provides a 37-fold increase in specificity.

Availability and implementation
https://allercatpro.bii.a-star.edu.sg/

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Venous access-site closure with vascular closure device vs. manual compression in patients undergoing catheter ablation or left atrial appendage occlusion under uninterrupted anticoagulation: a multicentre experience on efficacy and complications
Authors: Mohanty Sanghamitra , Trivedi Chintan , Beheiry Salwa , Al-Ahmad Amin , Horton Rodney , Della Rocca Domenico G , Gianni Carola , Gasperetti Alessio , Abdul-Moheeth Mustafa , Turakhia Mintu , Natale Andrea 
Published: January 2019

Aims
Manual compression (MC), widely used to achieve venous access haemostasis, needs prolonged immobilization and extended time-to-haemostasis. Vascular closure devices (VCD) have been reported to have significantly shorter time to haemostasis and ambulation in arterial access-site management. The current study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy as well as rate of urinary tract complications in patients receiving MC vs. VCD for venous access-site closure.

Methods and results
A total of 803 consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation or left atrial appendage closure were classified into the VCD (n = 304) and the MC (n = 499) group, based on the methods used for haemostasis at the venous access site. Foley catheter was used for bladder-emptying in all MC cases and 15 VCD patients. At one site, VCD group patients with experience of MC in prior ablations were asked to describe their overall satisfaction level after comparing the past experience with the present. Haemostasis was achieved effectively in both populations. No VCD cases required >2 h bed rest, whereas 7 (1.4%) patients in the MC group needed prolonged immobilization (P = 0.04). Significantly higher incidence of access-site haematoma (P = 0.004) and urinary complications (P < 0.05) were observed in the MC group. Majority of VCD patients (68%) with prior experience of MC for haemostasis expressed satisfaction over the early ambulation and ability to void urine without bladder catheterization.

Conclusion
Vascular closure devices provided effective haemostasis, while reducing the access-site complications, ambulation time, and urinary complications.
Of Aging Mice and Men: Gait Speed Decline Is a Translatable Trait, With Species-Specific Underlying Properties
Authors: Bair Woei-Nan , Petr Michael , Alfaras Irene , Mitchell Sarah J , Bernier Michel , Ferrucci Luigi , Studenski Stephanie A , De Cabo Rafael 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
In the last two decades, great strides were made in our ability to extend the life span of model organisms through dietary and other manipulations. Survival curves provide evidence of altered aging processes but are uninformative on what lead to that increase in life span. Longitudinal assessments of health and function during intervention studies could help in the identification of predictive biomarkers for health and survival. Comparable biomarkers of healthspan are necessary to effectively translate interventions into human clinical trials. Gait speed is a well-established predictive biomarker of healthspan in humans for risk of disability, health outcomes and mortality, and is relatively simple to assess noninvasively in rodents. In this study, we assessed and compared gait speed in males from two species (mice and humans), from young adulthood to advanced old age. Although gait speed decreases nonlinearly with age in both species, the underlying drivers of this change in gait speed were different, with humans exhibiting a shortened step length, and mice displaying a decrease in cadence. Future longitudinal and interventional studies in mice should examine the predictive value of longitudinal declines in gait speed for health and survival.
Omega-3 fatty acid-derived mediators that control inflammation and tissue homeostasis
Authors: Ishihara Tomoaki , Yoshida Mio , Arita Makoto 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, display a wide range of beneficial effects in humans and animals. Many of the biological functions of PUFAs are mediated via bioactive metabolites produced by fatty acid oxygenases such as cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry-based mediator lipidomics revealed a series of novel bioactive lipid mediators derived from omega-3 PUFAs. Here, we describe recent advances on omega-3 PUFA-derived mediators, mainly focusing on their enzymatic oxygenation pathway, and their biological functions in controlling inflammation and tissue homeostasis.
Visions of Peace in International Relations
Authors: Möller Frank , Shim David 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIn this article, we engage with IR's recently rediscovered interest in peace and connect it with the visual turn in international relations. We move the field's focus on representations of war to representations of peace and develop the concept of peace photography. We suggest both understanding photography as a social agent promoting visions of peace and incorporating analysis of peace photography into IR's emerging agenda on peace. Our illustrative examples show that it is insufficient to think about and analyze visual images only in connection with representations of large scale violence and interstate war. In contrast, we provide an alternative approach which aims to broaden our understanding of (the study of) peace in IR. First, we explore a positive conception of peace at the individual and everyday level of analysis. Second, we advocate methodological pluralism by examining different analytical sites of peace photography. Third, we concentrate on the potentialities of peace photography in Colombia and Brazil—notorious spaces of everyday violence. We argue that the analytical perspectives developed in this paper have also relevance beyond our examples: If peace photography can be found here, than it can also be found elsewhere. Put differently, everyday visions of peace constitute particular instances of the international.
Genomic analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Malawi reveals acquisition of multiple ESBL determinants across diverse lineages
Authors: Musicha Patrick , Msefula Chisomo L , Mather Alison E , Chaguza Chrispin , Cain Amy K , Peno Chikondi , Kallonen Teemu , Khonga Margaret , Denis Brigitte , Gray Katherine J , Heyderman Robert S , Thomson Nicholas R , Everett Dean B , Feasey Nicholas A 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Objectives
ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN) pose a major threat to human health globally. We carried out a WGS study to understand the genetic background of ESBL-producing KPN in Malawi and place them in the context of other global isolates.

Methods
We sequenced genomes of 72 invasive and carriage KPN isolates collected from patients admitted to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. We performed phylogenetic and population structure analyses on these and previously published genomes from Kenya (n = 66) and from outside sub-Saharan Africa (n = 67). We screened for presence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genetic determinants and carried out association analyses by genomic sequence cluster, AMR phenotype and time.

Results
Malawian isolates fit within the global population structure of KPN, clustering into the major lineages of KpI, KpII and KpIII. KpI isolates from Malawi were more related to those from Kenya, with both collections exhibiting more clonality than isolates from the rest of the world. We identified multiple ESBL genes, including blaCTX-M-15, several blaSHV, blaTEM-63 and blaOXA-10, and other AMR genes, across diverse lineages of the KPN isolates from Malawi. No carbapenem resistance genes were detected; however, we detected IncFII and IncFIB plasmids that were similar to the carbapenem resistance-associated plasmid pNDM-mar.

Conclusions
There are multiple ESBL genes across diverse KPN lineages in Malawi and plasmids in circulation that are capable of carrying carbapenem resistance. Unless appropriate interventions are rapidly put in place, these may lead to a high burden of locally untreatable infection in vulnerable populations.
Radium 223-Mediated Zonal Cytotoxicity of Prostate Cancer in Bone
Authors: Dondossola Eleonora , Casarin Stefano , Paindelli Claudia , De-Juan-Pardo Elena M , Hutmacher Dietmar W , Logothetis Christopher J , Friedl Peter 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Background
Bone-targeting radiotherapy with Radium-223 (Rad-223), a radioisotope emitting genotoxic alpha-radiation with limited tissue penetrance (∼100 µm), prolongs the survival of patients with metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Confoundingly, the clinical response to Rad-223 is often followed by detrimental relapse and progression, and whether Rad-223 causes tumor-cell directed cytotoxicity in vivo remains unclear. We hypothesized that limited radiation penetrance in situ defines outcome.

Methods
We tested Rad-223 overall response by PC3 and C4–2B human PCa cell lines in mouse bones (n = 5–18 tibiae per group). Rad-223 efficacy at subcellular resolution was determined by intravital microscopy analysis of dual-color fluorescent PC3 cells (n = 3–4 mice per group) in tissue-engineered bone constructs. In vivo data were fed into an in silico model to predict Rad-223 effectiveness in lesions of different sizes (1–27, 306 initial cells; n = 10–100 simulations) and the predictions validated in vivo by treating PCa tumors of varying sizes in bones (n = 10–14 tibiae per group). Statistical tests were performed by two-sided Student t test or by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test.

Results
Rad-223 (385 kBq/kg) delayed the growth (means [SD]; comparison with control-treated mice) of PC3 (6.7 × 105[4.2 × 105] vs 2.8 × 106 [2.2 × 106], P = .01) and C4–2B tumors in bone (7.7 × 105 [4.0 × 105] vs 3.5 × 106 [1.3 × 106], P < .001). Cancer cell lethality in response to Rad-223 (385 kBq/kg) was profound but zonally confined along the bone interface compared with the more distant tumor core, which remained unperturbed (day 4; 13.1 [2.3%] apoptotic cells, 0–100 µm distance from bone vs 3.6 [0.2%], >300 µm distance; P = .01).In silico simulations predicted greater efficacy of Rad-223 on single-cell lesions (eradication rate: 88.0%) and minimal effects on larger tumors (no eradication, 16.2% growth reduction in tumors of 27 306 cells), as further confirmed in vivo for PC3 and C4–2B tumors.

Conclusions
Micro-tumors showed severe growth delay or eradication in response to Rad-223, whereas macro-tumors persisted and expanded. The relative inefficacy in controlling large tumors points to application of Rad-223 in secondary prevention of early bone-metastatic disease and regimens co-targeting the tumor core.