bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An alternative technique of arterial anastomosis in mouse heart transplantation
Authors: Cui Deli , Tan Changjun , Liu Zhong 
Published: April 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the characters and feasibility of continuous‐interrupted suture (CIS) method for arterial anastomosis in mouse heart transplantation (MHT).MethodsA MHT model was adopted. End‐to‐end anastomosis of donor ascending aorta to recipient abdominal aorta was achieved by CIS or continuous suture (CS) method. In both groups, end‐to‐end anastomosis of pulmonary vein to inferior vena cava (IVC) was achieved by CS. Technical indexes and histological examination were analyzed between 2 groups.ResultsThe total operative time in CIS group was 92.83 ± 2.13 minutes, and in CS group was 92.40 ± 3.85 minutes. In CS group, artery anastomosis time was 20.13 ± 1.89 minutes; in CIS group, it was 20.36 ± 1.09 minutes. Additionally, venous anastomosis time in CS group was 14.80 ± 0.84 minutes, and in CIS group was 15.03 ± 0.85 minutes. Operation success rate in CIS group was 100%, and in CS group was 80%. There were no significant histological findings differences in graft between 2 groups. However, cell arrangement of anastomosis site was lightly irregular and the vascular alignment was poor in CS group. In CIS group, cell arrangement of anastomosis site was well arranged and vessels were well aligned.ConclusionsCIS method could avoid arterial anastomosis‐related complications induced by CS and improve the success rate.
Value of additional endoscopic ultrasonography for surveillance after surgical removal of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms
Authors: Kamata Ken , Takenaka Mamoru , Minaga Kosuke , Omoto Shunsuke , Miyata Takeshi , Yamao Kentaro , Imai Hajime , Nakai Atsushi , Tanaka Hidekazu , Chiba Yasutaka , Watanabe Tomohiro , Sakurai Toshiharu , Nishida Naoshi , Chikugo Takaaki , Matsumoto Ippei , Takeyama Yoshifumi , Kitano Masayuki , Kudo Masatoshi 
Published: April 2018

Background and AimThis study evaluated the utility of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) combined with contrast‐enhanced harmonic EUS (CH‐EUS) for surveillance of the remnant pancreas after surgery for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN).MethodsThis was a single‐center, retrospective, descriptive study. A total of 134 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for IPMN between April 2009 and March 2015 were evaluated. Rates of recurrence and development of IPMN‐concomitant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) during follow up were assessed. Clinical findings of patients with recurrence or development of PDAC were also evaluated.ResultsOf 134 resected IPMN 56 (41.8%) and 78 (58.2%) were classified as benign and malignant, respectively. Patients were followed up for a median of 29 months, 33 (24.6%) by both contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CE‐CT) and EUS, and 101 (75.4%) by computed tomography (CT) alone. Thirteen patients (9.7%) showed tumor recurrence, five with intra‐pancreatic recurrence and eight with extra‐pancreatic metastases. An enhancing mural nodule within the dilated main pancreatic duct was successfully detected by EUS in one patient, but not by CE‐CT. Two patients developed IPMN‐concomitant PDAC during follow up. EUS combined with CH‐EUS successfully detected small IPMN‐concomitant PDAC in two patients, whereas these lesions were not detected by CT. CH‐EUS was useful for better visualization of the margins of IPMN‐concomitant PDAC in one of these two patients.ConclusionEndoscopic ultrasonography combined with CH‐EUS may improve follow up of patients with resected IPMN.
Anticoagulation in the management of neonatal cerebral sinovenous thrombosis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Rossor Thomas , Arichi Tomoki , Bhate Sanjay , Hart Anthony R , Raman Singh Rahul 
Published: April 2018

AimTo determine whether anticoagulation therapy (ACT) in the treatment of neonatal cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) improves outcomes, in the presence or absence of pre‐existing intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH).MethodWe searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, the Web of Science, and clinical trial databases. We considered data from retrospective and prospective cohort studies, case series, and randomized controlled studies evaluating outcomes of CSVT treated with anticoagulation or no anticoagulation. Studies were included if they involved infants either younger than 28 days of age or younger than 44 weeks postmenstrual age at the time of diagnosis of CSVT in which ACT was considered.ResultsSeven non‐randomized studies were included in meta‐analysis. ACT had no significant effect on mortality before discharge either in the presence or absence of pre‐existing ICH, nor on the incidence of extension of pre‐existing ICH. ACT was associated with a reduced risk of propagation of thrombus (risk ratio 0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.03–0.72).InterpretationThere are no randomized trials assessing the safety and efficacy of ACT in the treatment of neonatal CSVT. The results of this meta‐analysis would justify a position of equipoise and support the need for well‐designed randomized controlled trials of ACT in this population.What this paper adds

No randomized studies have evaluated anticoagulation therapy (ACT) in neonatal cerebral sinovenous thrombosis.

ACT may reduce thrombus propagation.

No evidence of increased morbidity or mortality with ACT was demonstrated.

A position of equipoise is justified, supporting the need for placebo‐controlled randomized trials.
Evaluation of the left atrial appendage by real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography online
Authors: Zhang Juan , Cui Cun‐Ying , Huang Dan‐Qing , Liu Yuan‐Yuan , Qin Yun‐Yun , Zhang Lian‐Zhong , Liu Lin 
Published: April 2018

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of online real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT3DTEE) in the measurement of left atrial appendage (LAA) orifice size. We also analyzed the correlation between LAA ejection fraction (EF) and its peak empty velocity (PEV).MethodsThere were 91 subjects enrolled in this study, with 46 patients with AF and 45 individuals with sinus rhythm (SR). RT3DTEE was performed by four methods including iSlice and iCrop online and QLAB software 3DQ and GI‐3DQ off‐line which were used to measure LAA orifice area, long diameter, short diameter, depth in the largest LAA, and number of LAA lobes. These LAA parameters achieved by the four methods were compared, respectively. GI‐3DQ off‐line was used to measure LAA end‐diastolic and end‐systolic volumes to calculate EF of LAA. Two‐dimensional (2D) TEE was applied to measure PEV of LAA. The correlation between EF and PEV was analyzed.ResultsThere were no significant differences in all LAA parameters between any two RT3DTEE methods (All P > .05). There was a significant and positive correlation between PEV and EF (r = .423, P = .000). There were statistical differences in LAA EF and PEV between patients with AF and SR individuals (0.38 ± 0.12 vs 0.61 ± 0.07, 35.7 ± 12.1 vs 49.5 ± 10.0 cm/s, P = .000).ConclusionUsing online RT3DTEE for measuring LAA orifice size is feasible, and online RT3DTEE is more convenient than offline RT3DTEE. EF is positively correlated with PEV. LAA function is significantly decreased in patients with AF.
Severe heart failure (NYHA Class IV) is associated with increased left ventricular mass index and short mitral deceleration time in severe aortic valve stenosis
Authors: Kobayashi Sayuki , Utsunomiya Hiroto , Shiota Takahiro 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundIn aortic valve stenosis (AS), congestive heart failure (CHF) is a well‐established symptom that indicates the need for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). However, it is difficult to judge whether CHF symptoms such as dyspnea are caused by severe AS or other conditions, especially in elderly persons with restricted mobility or other organ complications. It is important to identify objective and noninvasive parameters associated with severe CHF symptoms in severe AS.MethodsOne hundred ninety‐eight patients with severe AS without left ventricular (LV) dysfunction were retrospectively studied. CHF symptoms were classified by New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class. Echo parameters were compared between NYHA I–III and NYHA IV.ResultsPatients with NYHA IV (n = 40; 20%) were older (86 ± 6 vs 82 ± 8 years; P = .001) and had a larger LV mass index (LVMI) (157 ± 43 vs 114 ± 34 g/m2, P < .001), a higher transmitral flow velocity ratio (E/A) (1.31 ± 0.62 vs 0.93 ± 0.42; P = .001), a shorter deceleration time (DT) (202 ± 72 vs 286 ± 98 ms; P < .001), and a higher systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP) (44 ± 13 vs 35 ± 13 mm Hg; P < .001) than patients with NYHA I–III. On multivariable analysis, LVMI and DT were independently associated with NYHA IV. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified LVMI ≥ 142 g/m2 and DT ≤ 194 ms as the cutoff values associated with NYHA IV in patients with severe AS.ConclusionLeft ventricular mass index and DT were independently associated with severe heart failure (NYHA IV). These echo parameters could be helpful to judge whether CHF symptoms are caused by severe AS.
Unilateral cervical plexus block for prosthetic laryngoplasty in the standing horse
Authors: Campoy L. , Morris T. B. , Ducharme N. G. , Gleed R. D. , Martin‐Flores M. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryBackgroundLocoregional anaesthetic techniques can facilitate certain surgeries being performed under standing procedural sedation. The second and third spinal cervical nerves (C2, C3) are part of the cervical plexus and provide sensory innervation to the peri‐laryngeal structures in people; block of these nerves might permit laryngeal lateralisation surgery in horses.ObjectivesTo describe the anatomical basis for an ultrasound‐guided cervical plexus block in horses. To compare this block with conventional local anaesthetic tissue infiltration in horses undergoing standing prosthetic laryngoplasty.Study designCadaveric study followed by a double‐blinded prospective clinical trial.MethodsA fresh equine cadaver was dissected to characterise the distribution of C2 and C3 to the perilaryngeal structures on the left side. A second cadaver was utilised to correlate ultrasound images with the previously identified structures; a tissue marker was injected to confirm the feasibility of an ultrasound‐guided approach to the cervical plexus. In the clinical study, horses were assigned to two groups, CP (n = 17; cervical plexus block) and INF (n = 17; conventional tissue infiltration). Data collection and analyses included time to completion of surgical procedure, sedation time, surgical field conditions and surgeon's perception of block quality.ResultsWe confirmed that C2 and C3 provided innervation to the perilaryngeal structures. The nerve root of C2 was identified ultrasonographically located between the longus capitis and the cleidomastoideus muscles, caudal to the parotid gland. The CP group was deemed to provide better (P<0.0002) surgical conditions with no differences in the other variables measured.Main limitationsFurther studies with larger numbers of horses may be necessary to detect smaller differences in surgical procedure completion time based on the improved surgical filed conditions.ConclusionsFor standing unilateral laryngeal surgery, a cervical plexus block is a viable alternative to tissue infiltration and it improves the surgical field conditions.
Exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses: a longitudinal study
Authors: Crispe E. J. , Secombe C. J. , Perera D. I. , Manderson A. A. , Turlach B. A. , Lester G. D. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryBackgroundExercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is considered a progressive disease based on histopathology, but it is unknown if tracheobronchoscopic EIPH severity worsens over time.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine tracheobronchoscopic EIPH changes over time in a population of Thoroughbred racehorses. A secondary aim was to identify factors that affect changes in tracheobronchoscopic EIPH severity between observations.Study designProspective, longitudinal, observational cross‐sectional study.MethodsThoroughbred racehorses were examined with tracheobronchoscopy no earlier than 30 min after racing. Examinations were recorded and graded blindly by experienced veterinarians using a 0–4 scale. Horses with 2 or more observations were included in the analysis. The association between the previous and current EIPH score was investigated using a linear mixed effect model. Factors associated with transitioning from a lower to a high EIPH grade and vice versa were examined using multiple ordinal regression. A semi‐parametric regression model was used to examine progression using the number of career starts as a marker for time. Models were adjusted for potential confounding variables.ResultsThere were 2974 tracheobronchoscopic examinations performed on 747 horses. Blood was detected in over half of all examinations (55.6%). The population prevalence of EIPH increased as the number of examinations for each horse increased. The preceding EIPH score was significantly associated with the current EIPH score. Significant variables associated with moving between EIPH grades were the number of days since last racing, ambient temperature and weight carried. Tracheobronchoscopic EIPH is mildly progressive over the first thirty career starts.Main limitationsEnrolment was voluntary. Horses were not followed for their entire career.ConclusionLimiting the number of days in the current racing preparation and spacing races for horses with moderate to severe EIPH may be beneficial for reducing tracheobronchoscopic EIPH severity. The association between ambient temperature and EIPH warrants further investigation.
Does Noninformative Text Affect Investor Behavior?
Authors: Anderson Alyssa G. , Larkin Yelena 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis article demonstrates that easily processed texts affect investor trading behavior even in the absence of any informational content. We examine the trading symbols of US firms and find that stocks with clever tickers (those that are actual words in the English language) are more liquid, as measured by higher turnover and trading volume, as well as lower spreads. Furthermore, clever ticker stocks are traded more by uninformed investors and have larger market reactions on earnings announcement days. These results suggest that ticker fluency facilitates trading by improving the firm's visibility among retail investors through attention grabbing and memorization.
Environmental variability controls recruitment but with different drivers among spawning components in Gulf of St. Lawrence herring stocks
Authors: Brosset Pablo , Doniol‐Valcroze Thomas , Swain Douglas P. , Lehoux Caroline , Van Beveren Elisabeth , Mbaye Baye C. , Emond Kim , Plourde Stéphane 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe factors affecting herring recruitment are still poorly understood, complicating the prediction of stock dynamics and the choice of operational management strategies. We investigated effects of intrinsic (SSB) and extrinsic factors (physical and biological environments, including competition and predation) on recruitment of the spring and fall spawning components of each of the two herring stocks occurring in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence between 1971 and 2014. Effects of potential explanatory factors on recruit (age 2) abundance were tested using Generalized Additive Models. Model fit was significantly improved by incorporating both physical and biological environmental variability, but effects of herring SSB and predation were not significant. Indices of zooplankton abundance and phenology explained more variance in recruitment than physical indices. Our results emphasize the dominance of bottom‐up processes over SSB in the regulation of herring recruitment. Environmental variability did not seem to act uniformly on the recruitment of either stock or their respective spawning components. A long‐term trend of decreasing recruitment in spring spawners was associated with a long‐term decline in abundance of cold water copepods. In fall spawners, optimal recruitment was dependent on warmer environmental conditions combined with an adequate supply (species composition and phenology) of zooplankton. These results provide the first empirical evidence that spring and fall spawning herring are adapted to contrasting environmental conditions and shed light on the potential mechanisms linking herring recruitment to key zooplankton community characteristics and phenology. Management strategies can be improved by incorporating this new knowledge on environmental drivers of herring recruitment.
Spring migration strategies of Whinchat Saxicola rubetra when successfully crossing potential barriers of the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Blackburn Emma , Burgess Malcolm , Freeman Benedictus , Risely Alice , Izang Arin , Ivande Sam , Hewson Chris , Cresswell Will 
Published: April 2018

The flexibility for migrant land birds to be able to travel long distances rapidly without stopovers, and thus to cross wide inhospitable areas such as deserts and oceans, is likely to be a major determinant of their survival during migration. We measured variation in flight distance, speed and duration of major stopovers (more than 2 days), using geolocator tracks of 35 Whinchats Saxicola rubetra that migrated successfully from central Nigeria to Eastern Europe in spring, and examined how these measures changed, or depended on age, when crossing the barriers of the Sahara or the Mediterranean Sea. In all, 31% of Whinchats crossed at least the Sahara and the Mediterranean before a major stopover and 17% travelled over 4751 km on average without any major stopovers. Flight distance and speed during, and duration of major stopovers after, crossing the Mediterranean Sea were indistinguishable from migration over Continental Europe. Speed during a migration leg was lowest crossing Continental Europe and fastest, with longer duration major stopovers afterwards, when crossing the Sahara, but there was much individual variation, and start date of migration was also a good predictor of stopover duration. As the distance travelled during a leg increased, so major stopover duration afterwards increased (1 day for every 1000 km), but the speed of travel during the leg had no effect. There were no differences in any migration characteristics with age, other than an earlier start date for adult birds. The results suggest that adaptive shortening or even dropping of daily stopovers may occur often, allowing rapid, long‐distance migration at the cost of major stopovers afterwards, but such behaviour is not restricted to or always found when crossing barriers, even for birds on their first spring migration. The results may highlight the importance of stopover sites rather than barrier width as the likely key component to successful migration. Individual variation in spring migration may indicate that small passerine migrants like Whinchats may be resilient to future changes in the extent of barriers they encounter, although this may not be true of first autumn migrations or if stopover sites are lost.
Association of the HLA‐B27 antigen and the CTLA4 gene CT60/rs3087243 polymorphism with ankylosing spondylitis in Algerian population: A case–control study
Authors: Dahmani C. A. , Benzaoui A. , Amroun H. , Mecabih F. , Sediki F. Z. , Zemani‐Fodil F. , Fodil M. , Boughrara W. , Mecheti B. , Attal N. , Mehtar N. , Petit‐Teixeira E. , Boudjema A. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is a complex inflammatory disease that represents a major health problem both in Algeria and worldwide. Several lines of evidence support that genetic risk factors play a role in AS etiology and the CTLA4 gene has attracted a considerable attention. In this study, we were interested in evaluating the HLA‐B27 frequency and in exploring the CTLA4 gene in a sample of the North African population. The dataset of the current study is composed of 81 patients with AS and 123 healthy controls. All samples were genotyped by TaqMan®allelic discrimination assay. The genetic risk of the HLA‐B27 specificity and the CTLA4/CT60 polymorphism were assessed by odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). High spondylitis risk was detected for HLA‐B27 allele (OR= 14.62, p = 10−6) in addition to a significant association of the CT60*G allele (OR= 1.89, p = .002). After gender and age stratifications, the association of the CT60*G allele was still significant in females sample (OR= 2.10, p = .001) and when age up to 30 years (OR = 2.21, p = .008). Interestingly, the CT60*G allele revealed an increased spondylitis risk in the B27 negative group (OR= 2.81, p = .006). The present work showed in West Algerian population that the HLA‐B27 antigen and the variation in the CTLA4 3′UTR region played an important role in the ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility. The heterogeneity of this disease is deduced by genetic difference found between B27+ and B27− groups.
Effects of MASP2 haplotypes and MASP‐2 levels in hepatitis C‐infected patients
Authors: Silva Amanda A. , Catarino Sandra J. , Boldt Angelica B. W. , Pedroso Maria Lucia A. , Beltrame Marcia H. , Messias‐Reason Iara J. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryMannan‐binding lectin (MBL) and MBL‐associated serine protease 2 (MASP‐2) are components of the lectin pathway, which activate the complement system after binding to the HCV structural proteins E1 and E2. We haplotyped 11 MASP2 polymorphisms in 103 HCV patients and 205 controls and measured MASP‐2 levels in 67 HCV patients and 77 controls to better understand the role of MASP‐2 in hepatitis C susceptibility and disease severity according to viral genotype and fibrosis levels. The haplotype block MASP2*ARDP was associated with protection against HCV infection (OR = 0.49, p = .044) and lower MASP‐2 levels in controls (p = .021), while haplotype block AGTDVRC was significantly increased in patients (OR = 7.58, p = .003). MASP‐2 levels were lower in patients than in controls (p < .001) and in patients with viral genotype 1 or 4 (poor responders to treatment) than genotype 3 (p = .022) and correlated inversely with the levels of alkaline phosphatase, especially in individuals with fibrosis 3 or 4 (R = −.7, p = .005). MASP2 gene polymorphisms modulate basal gene expression, which may influence the quality of complement response against HCV. MASP‐2 levels decrease during chronic disease, independently of MASP2 genotypes, most probably due to consumption and attenuation mechanisms of viral origin and by the reduced liver function, the site of MASP‐2 production.
Public Opinion and Immigration: Who Favours Employment Discrimination against Immigrants?
Authors: Cooray Arusha , Marfouk Abdeslam , Nazir Maliha 
Published: April 2018

AbstractUsing information from the world values survey wave 6, containing information from 78,743 respondents in 53 countries, we examine the factors which influence respondents’ answers to the question: “when jobs are scarce, should employers give priority to people of the country of origin rather than immigrants?” Taking into account a number of factors, including the economic, socio‐demographic, political and individual levels, we find that all of these factors influence respondents’ preference for this form of discrimination.