bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hospitalizations due to systemic connective tissue diseases: Secular trends and regional disparities in Sweden, 1998‐2016
Authors: Kiadaliri Aliasghar A. , Mohammad Aladdin J. , Englund Martin 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAimTo investigate secular trends and regional disparities in hospitalizations due to systemic connective tissue diseases (SCTD) in Sweden from 1998 to 2016.MethodWe identified all hospital admissions with a principal diagnosis of SCTD (ICD‐10 codes: M30‐M36) from the Swedish National Patient Register. Joinpoint regression was used to assess secular trends in age‐standardized hospitalization rates (ASHR) and proportions of SCTD from all and musculoskeletal disorders hospitalizations. We also assessed the secular trends in the absolute and relative regional disparities of SCTD hospitalizations.ResultsWe identified 89 333 SCTD hospitalizations (0.3% of all hospitalizations), of these about 69% were for women and 49% of patients were aged 15‐64 years. Polyarteritis nodosa and related conditions (PANRC) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were the most frequent SCTD among those aged <10 years and 10‐54 years, respectively. Joinpoint regression suggested that both rates and proportions of SCTD hospitalizations declined over time. These trends persisted among sex, age and diagnosis subgroups except for PANRC in patients aged 0‐19 years who observed an average annual increase of 3.4% (95% CI: 1.8, 5.1) over the study period. There were 2.4‐fold (95% CI: 2.3‐2.5) difference between the regions with the highest and lowest mean ASHR. There was no statistically significant secular trend in the relative regional disparities, whereas the absolute regional disparity declined over time.ConclusionThere were substantial decreases in the absolute and relative burden of SCTD hospitalizations reflecting possible improvements in disease management in Sweden. The rising trend in PANRC among the youngest children warrants further investigation.
Autoantibody profile in children with Kawasaki disease on long‐term follow‐up: A prospective study from North India
Authors: Basha Aseem , Rawat Amit , Jindal Ankur K. , Gupta Anju , Anand Shashi , Garg Ravinder , Minz Ranjana W. , Singh Surjit 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAimTo study the profile of autoantibodies on long‐term follow‐up of children with Kawasaki disease (KD).Patients and methodsIn this single‐center observational cohort study, 50 children who had been diagnosed and treated for KD with a minimum follow‐up period of 3 years were enrolled. The organ‐specific autoantibodies that were assessed in the study included anti‐thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA), anti‐parietal cell antibody (PCA) and anti‐liver kidney microsomal (LKM) antibody. The organ‐nonspecific autoantibodies that were studied included anti‐endothelial cell antibody (AECA), anti‐nuclear antibody (ANA), anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), anti‐mitochondrial antibody (AMA) and anti‐smooth muscle antibody (SMA).ResultsThe sample for assessment of serology was taken at a mean follow‐up period of 6.41 years (±1.95 SD) after diagnosis. Autoantibodies were detected in 11/50 (22%) patients. ANA was detected in three patients, TMA was positive in seven and ANCA was positive in one.ConclusionsThese autoantibodies likely develop in children with KD during the acute stage and may persist for many years. There is no concrete evidence to suggest that these children are at increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease in the future. However, there is some justification for prolonged surveillance for development of autoimmune manifestations.
Evaluation of joint cartilage thickness in healthy children by ultrasound: An experience from a developing nation
Authors: Samanta Moumita , Mitra Sonali , Samui Partha P. , Mondal Rakesh K. , Hazra Avijit , Sabui Tapas K. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractObjectivesMusculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) has a crucial role in clinical assessment and monitoring of patients with rheumatologic diseases. Early detection of joint cartilage destruction is difficult.MSUSis a cheap, noninvasive, nonhazardous bedside tool that can be used for detection of cartilage damage. We aimed to generate normative data of joint cartilage thickness of children in our population using this tool.MethodsHealthy children, aged between 2 and 12 years, not suffering from any joint disorders and not on any chronic medication were recruited. The thickness of joint cartilage at wrist, knee and ankle were measured by ultrasound as per European League Against Rheumatism standard scan criteria. The scans were done by a single observer.ResultsData of 409 children revealed median cartilage thickness at right wrist, knee and ankle joints as 2.20 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.60‐3.00) mm, 2.40 (1.80‐3.10) mm and 2.20 (1.80‐3.00) mm, respectively. The right‐left differences were not statistically significant except at the knee joint. Comparison between genders showed that boys had marginally thicker cartilage than girls at all three joints; this difference was statistically significant for the knee and ankle joints, but not at the wrist. Joint cartilage thickness showed a steady decline with age.ConclusionsMeasurement of joint cartilage thickness in children withMSUSand comparison with these normative values can help in better screening for joint‐related disease in children.
Biologics and risk of tuberculosis in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: A real‐world clinical experience from India
Authors: Shobha Vineeta , Chandrashekara S. , Rao Vijay , Desai Anu , Jois Ramesh , Dharmanand Balebail G. , Kumar Sharath , Kumar Pradeep , Dharmapalaiah Chethana , Mahendranath Kurugodu Mathada , Prasad Shiva , Daware Manisha Ashwin , Singh Yogesh , Karjigi Uma , Nagaraj S. , Anupama K. R. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAimTuberculosis (TB) is one of the major adverse events of concern associated with the use of biologics for managing autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs). The study presents the data on incidence of TB in relation to biologic used, screening test and TB prophylaxis in a real‐world setting.MethodsThe cross‐sectional, observational, retrospective study was conducted across 12 centres in Karnataka, India. The study included patients receiving biologics therapy for AIRDs, established based on the respective diagnostic criteria. The development of TB after receiving biologic therapy and other clinical variables and the predictability of the test performed for latent TB were evaluated.ResultsOne hundred and ninety‐five AIRDs patients with an average age of 41 years were initiated on biologic therapy. Twenty‐one patients were latent TB positive and were given antitubercular prophylaxis, prior to biologics treatment. During follow‐up, seven patients belonging to the negative test group (n = 174) developed TB. The negative predictive values noted for Mantoux test (n = 120) and quantiFERON TB gold test (n = 178) were 96.52% and 96.25%, respectively. Patients on anti‐tumor necrosis factor were more likely to develop TB. Presence of comorbidities and steroid use increased the likelihood of developing TB by 1.5 and 4.6 times, respectively.ConclusionClose monitoring of patients receiving biologics is essential for early identification of adverse events, especially in test negative patients. Prophylaxis can effectively reduce the risk of developing TB in patients positive for screening.
Model selection with overdispersed distance sampling data
Authors: Howe Eric J. , Buckland Stephen T. , Després‐Einspenner Marie‐Lyne , Kühl Hjalmar S. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDistance sampling (DS) is a widely used framework for estimating animal abundance.DSmodels assume that observations of distances to animals are independent. Non‐independent observations introduce overdispersion, causing model selection criteria such asAICorAICcto favour overly complex models, with adverse effects on accuracy and precision.We describe, and evaluate via simulation and with real data, estimators of an overdispersion factor (), and associated adjusted model selection criteria (QAIC) for use with overdispersedDSdata. In other contexts, a single value ofis calculated from the “global” model, that is the most highly parameterised model in the candidate set, and used to calculateQAICfor all models in the set; the resultingQAICvalues, and associated ΔQAICvalues andQAICweights, are comparable across the entire set. Candidate models of theDSdetection function include models with different general forms (e.g. half‐normal, hazard rate, uniform), so it may not be possible to identify a single global model. We therefore propose a two‐step model selection procedure by whichQAICis used to select among models with the same general form, and then a goodness‐of‐fit statistic is used to select among models with different forms. A drawback of this approach is thatQAICvalues are not comparable across all models in the candidate set.Relative toAIC,QAICand the two‐step model selection procedure avoided overfitting and improved the accuracy and precision of densities estimated from simulated data. When applied to six real datasets, adjusted criteria and procedures selected either the same model asAICor a model that yielded a more accurate density estimate in five cases, and a model that yielded a less accurate estimate in one case.ManyDSsurveys yield overdispersed data, including cue counting surveys of songbirds and cetaceans, surveys of social species including primates, and camera‐trapping surveys. Methods that adjust for overdispersion during the model selection stage ofDSanalyses therefore address a conspicuous gap in theDSanalytical framework as applied to species of conservation concern.
The validity and sensitivity of PANSS‐6 in treatment‐resistant schizophrenia
Authors: Østergaard S. D. , Foldager L. , Mors O. , Bech P. , Correll C. U. 
Published: August 2018

ObjectiveTo test the validity and sensitivity of the six‐item version (PANSS‐6) of the 30‐item Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS‐30) in treatment‐resistant schizophrenia (TRS).MethodUsing data from the clozapine phase (2E) of the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) study, we investigated the following: (i) The scalability of PANSS‐6 and PANSS‐30; (ii) The correlation between PANSS‐6 and PANSS‐30 total scores; (iii) Whether PANSS‐6 could identify cross‐sectional symptom remission; and (iv) The efficacy of clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone and quetiapine in TRS using the ‘speed of change’ on PANSS‐6 and PANSS‐30 (change in total score per week) as outcome measures.ResultsWe found that (i) only PANSS‐6 and not PANSS‐30 was scalable; (ii) The correlation between PANSS‐6 and PANSS‐30 total scores was high (Spearman coefficient: 0.85), (iii) PANSS‐6 accurately identified cross‐sectional symptom remission as defined by the Andreasen et al. criteria; and (iv) The only antipsychotic that caused improvement (speed of change significantly lower than 0 during the first three months of treatment) was clozapine, both when using PANSS‐6 (speed of change: −0.50 points/week; 95%CI: −0.84, −0.17) and PANSS‐30 (speed of change: −1.41 points/week; 95%CI: −2.80, −0.02) as outcome measures.ConclusionPANSS‐6 validly measures severity, remission and antipsychotic efficacy in TRS.
Medical emergencies in dental practice – management requirements and international practitioner proficiency. A scoping review
Authors: Vaughan M , Park A , Sholapurkar A , Esterman A 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe management of medical emergencies is widely considered a requisite skill for all dentists. Timely intervention of an emergency can significantly alter the outcome for a patient's morbidity and possible mortality. This scoping review examines the prevalence of medical emergencies in dental practice, as well as dentists’ attitude, confidence, and competence, of medical emergency management within a dental setting. Key findings include a lack of preparedness towards medical emergencies, despite a universal recognition of the importance and desire to improve key medical skills.
Humoral immunity in late‐onset Pre‐eclampsia and linkage with angiogenic and inflammatory markers
Authors: Sarween Nadia , Drayson Mark T. , Hodson James , Knox Ellen M. , Plant Timothy , Day Clara J. , Lipkin Graham W. 
Published: August 2018

ProblemPre‐eclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal and foetal morbidity worldwide. Given the implication of immune mechanisms, we compared markers of humoral immunity in PE and their relationship to circulating markers of inflammation, angiogenic factors, and renal function.Method of studySerum samples from 88 previously healthy women admitted to hospital with PE and 107 healthy pregnant controls at term were analysed for serum immunoglobulins (Ig), including IgG subclasses and free light chain (sFLC) levels, beta‐2 microglobulin (B2‐M), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (HS‐CRP), albumin, complement proteins (C3 & C4), creatinine, cystatin‐C and the ratio of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFLT‐1) and placental growth factor (PlGF).ResultsCompared to the controls, women with PE had significantly reduced renal function, serum IgG (subclass 1 & 3), albumin, and C4 levels, whilst concentrations of total sFLC, HS‐CRP, B2‐M, and sFLT‐1:PlGF were raised. On multivariable analysis, sFLT‐1:PlGF ratio (P < 0.001), sFLC (P < 0.001) and IgG1 (P < 0.024) were found to be independently associated with PE, after accounting for renal function, patient age, BMI, ethnicity, and parity. B2‐M and sFLT‐1:PlGF had comparable diagnostic association with PE (P = 0.184), and correlated strongly with each other (ρ = 0.588, P < 0.001) as well as with renal function and adverse clinical outcome.ConclusionWe describe for the first time that PE is independently associated with activation of the humoral immune system independent of deranged kidney function and angiogenic markers. The role of B2‐M as a potential predictive marker of PE remains to be determined.
Risk of fistula formation and long‐term health effects after a benign hysterectomy complicated by organ injury: A population‐based register study
Authors: Hesselman Susanne , Bergman Lina , Högberg Ulf , Jonsson Maria 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIntroductionThere is a paucity of data on the impact of organ injury on long‐term outcomes after a hysterectomy for benign indications. The aim of this study was to investigate fistula formation and patient‐reported long‐term health outcomes after organ injury at the time of a hysterectomy.Material and methodsThis was a population‐based study of 22 538 women undergoing a hysterectomy between 2000 and 2014 in Sweden. Their medical history, characteristics of their surgery, and patient‐reported outcomes were retrieved from Swedish national health and quality registers. Predictors for fistula formation were investigated with logistic regression and are presented as odds ratios with a 95% CI.ResultsFistulas were reported in 7% of women with organ injuries, compared with 0.4% of those without organ injuries (adjusted odds ratio 15.29 [9.81‐23.85]). Laparotomy and postoperative infection were associated with postoperative fistulas. Most of the women reported having better health 1 year after the hysterectomy, but 7% of those with organ injuries and 24% of those with fistulas reported deteriorated health, compared with 2% of women without injuries.ConclusionsOrgan injury at the time of hysterectomy is associated with the development of fistulas involving the female genital tract and increases the proportion of women reporting deteriorated health 1 year after surgery.
Estimated date of delivery based on second trimester fetal head circumference: A population‐based validation of 21 451 deliveries
Authors: Kessler Jörg , Johnsen Synnøve Lian , Ebbing Cathrine , Karlsen Henriette Odland , Rasmussen Svein , Kiserud Torvid 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIntroductionFetal biometry is used for determining gestational age and estimated date of delivery (EDD). However, the accuracy of the EDD depends on the assumed length of pregnancy included in the calculation. This study aimed at assessing the actual pregnancy length and accuracy of EDD prediction based on fetal head circumference measured at the second trimester.Material and methodsThis was a population‐based observational study with the following inclusion criteria: singleton pregnancy, head circumference dating in the second trimester, spontaneous onset or induction of delivery ≥ 294 days of gestation, live birth. The EDD was set anticipating a pregnancy length of 282 days. Bias in the prediction of EDD was defined as the difference between the actual date of birth and the EDD.ResultsHead circumference measurements were available for 21 451 pregnancies. Ultrasound‐dated pregnancies had a median pregnancy length of 283.03 days, corresponding to a method bias of 1.03 days (95% CI; 0.89‐1.16). This bias was dependent on the head circumference at dating, ranging from −1.58 days (95% CI; −3.54 to 1.12) to 3.42 days (95% CI; 1.98‐4.31). The median pregnancy length, based on the last menstrual period of women with a regular menstrual cycle (n = 12 985), was 283.15 days (95% CI; 282.91‐283.31). A total of 5685 (22.9%, 95% CI; 22.4% to 23.4%) and 886 women (3.6%, 95% CI; 3.3%‐3.8%) were still pregnant 7 and 14 days after the EDD, respectively.ConclusionsSecond trimester head circumference measurements can be safely used to predict EDD. A revision of the pregnancy length to 283 days will reduce the bias of EDD prediction to a level comparable with other methods.
Isolation of mitochondrial subpopulations from skeletal muscle: Optimizing recovery and preserving integrity
Authors: Lai Nicola , M. Kummitha China , Rosca Mariana G. , Fujioka Hisashi , Tandler Bernard , Hoppel Charles L. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAimThe subsarcolemmal (SSM) and interfibrillar (IFM) mitochondria in skeletal muscle appear to have distinct biochemical properties affecting metabolism in health and disease. The isolation of mitochondrial subpopulations has been a long‐time challenge while the presence of a continuous mitochondrial reticulum challenges the view of distinctive SSM and IFM bioenergetics. Here, a comprehensive approach is developed to identify the best conditions to separate mitochondrial fractions.MethodsThe main modifications to the protocol to isolate SSM and IFM from rat skeletal muscle were: (a) decreased dispase content and homogenization speed; (b) trypsin treatment of SSM fractions; (c) recentrifugation of mitochondrial fractions at low speed to remove subcellular components. To identify the conditions preserving mitochondrial function, integrity, and maximizing their recovery, microscopy (light and electron) were used to monitor effectiveness and efficiency in separating mitochondrial subpopulations while respiratory and enzyme activities were employed to evaluate function, recovery, and integrity.ResultsWith the modifications described, the total mitochondrial yield increased with a recovery of 80% of mitochondria contained in the original skeletal muscle sample. The difference between SSM and IFM oxidative capacity (10%) with complex‐I substrate was significant only with a saturated ADP concentration. The inner and outer membrane damage for both subpopulations was <1% and 8%, respectively, while the respiratory control ratio was 16.ConclusionUsing a multidisciplinary approach, conditions were identified to maximize SSM and IFM recovery while preserving mitochondrial integrity, biochemistry, and morphology. High quality and recovery of mitochondrial subpopulations allow to study the relationship between these organelles and disease.
Recent advancements of robotic surgery for kidney cancer
Authors: Phung Michael C , Lee Benjamin R 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSurgical management of renal cell carcinoma has undergone a transformation in recent decades, especially with the dissemination of the robotic platform. Increasingly, larger and more complex renal lesions are now being treated in a minimally invasive fashion. The purpose of this article is to review advances in the use of the robotic approach for treatment of renal cell carcinoma, including nephron‐sparing surgery, radical nephrectomy, and cytoreductive nephrectomy.
Simultaneous resections of left lung cancer and esophageal schwannoma using video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A case report
Authors: An Byonggu , Abe Tetsuya , Uemura Norihisa , Higaki Eiji , Hosoi Takahiro , Kuroda Hiroaki , Matsui Takuya , Ishihara Makoto , Kurita Yusuke , Yatabe Yasushi , Shimizu Yasuhiro 
Published: August 2018

AbstractEsophageal schwannomas are extremely rare esophageal submucosal tumors. Herein, we report a case of simultaneous resection of left lung cancer and an esophageal schwannoma with video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery. An asymptomatic 74‐year‐old woman received a diagnosis of an esophageal submucosal tumor during the preoperative assessment of a left lung cancer. The esophageal submucosal tumor arose in the left wall of the lower esophagus, and the patient was diagnosed as having a schwannoma by endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration. She underwent video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the simultaneous removal of both tumors. Her postoperative course was uneventful. Thoracoscopic surgery is less invasive than thoracotomy, and this allowed the patient to undergo simultaneous operations for two tumors.
A Hidden Markov Model for Identifying Differentially Methylated Sites in Bisulfite Sequencing Data
Authors: Shokoohi Farhad , Stephens David A. , Bourque Guillaume , Pastinen Tomi , Greenwood Celia M. T. , Labbe Aurélie 
Published: August 2018

Summary
DNA methylation studies have enabled researchers to understand methylation patterns and their regulatory roles in biological processes and disease. However, only a limited number of statistical approaches have been developed to provide formal quantitative analysis. Specifically, a few available methods do identify differentially methylated CpG (DMC) sites or regions (DMR), but they suffer from limitations that arise mostly due to challenges inherent in bisulfite sequencing data. These challenges include: (1) that read-depths vary considerably among genomic positions and are often low; (2) both methylation and autocorrelation patterns change as regions change; and (3) CpG sites are distributed unevenly. Furthermore, there are several methodological limitations: almost none of these tools is capable of comparing multiple groups and/or working with missing values, and only a few allow continuous or multiple covariates. The last of these is of great interest among researchers, as the goal is often to find which regions of the genome are associated with several exposures and traits. To tackle these issues, we have developed an efficient DMC identification method based on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) called “DMCHMM” which is a three-step approach (model selection, prediction, testing) aiming to address the aforementioned drawbacks. Our proposed method is different from other HMM methods since it profiles methylation of each sample separately, hence exploiting inter-CpG autocorrelation within samples, and it is more flexible than previous approaches by allowing multiple hidden states. Using simulations, we show that DMCHMM has the best performance among several competing methods. An analysis of cell-separated blood methylation profiles is also provided.