bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Companion rats (Rattus norvegicus) with cutaneous lesions: a retrospective study of 470 cases at two university veterinary teaching hospitals (1985–2018)
Authors: White Stephen D. , Bourdeau Patrick J. , Brément Thomas , Bruet Vincent , Gimenez‐Acosta Carmen , Guzman David S.‐M. , Paul‐Murphy Joanne , Hawkins Michelle G. 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundRats are popular companion animals that are often presented to veterinarians for treatment of skin diseases. However, descriptions of dermatoses in rats have primarily been limited to case reports and text books.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo document skin diseases and their prevalence in companion rats examined in northern California, USA and Nantes, France and to investigate predilections for the most common conditions over a 33 year or 15 year period, respectively.AnimalsFour hundred and seventy rats from two hospital populations met the inclusion criteria.Methods and materialsA retrospective study was performed by searching computerized medical records of rats seen at the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of California, Davis (UCD), USA from 1 January 1985 to 1 January 2018 using the key words “skin” and “dermatitis”. The medical records of rats presenting to Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation Nantes‐Atlantique (ONIRIS), France from 1995 to 2016 were reviewed for evidence of skin disease. The presence of lesions as noted in the key search words for the UCD records were used as the inclusion criteria for both institutions.ResultsOf 494 rats examined at UCD, 231 (47%) had skin disease, with neoplasia the most common diagnosis. Of the 619 rats examined at ONIRIS, 239 (39%) had skin disease, with ectoparasitism being the most common diagnosis.Conclusions and clinical importanceCutaneous conditions in companion rats are common. Clinicians should include a dermatological examination when examining these rodents, especially in regard to neoplasia, ectoparasites and pyoderma.
Evolution of rotavirus C in humans and several domestic animal species
Authors: Trovão Nídia S. , Shepherd Frances K. , Herzberg Katerina , Jarvis Matthew C. , Lam Ham C. , Rovira Albert , Culhane Marie R. , Nelson Martha I. , Marthaler Douglas G. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractRotavirus C (RVC) causes enteric disease in multiple species, including humans, swine, bovines, and canines. To date, the evolutionary relationships of RVC populations circulating in different host species are poorly understood, owing to the low availability of genetic sequence data. To address this gap, we sequenced 45 RVC complete genomes from swine samples collected in the United States and Mexico. A phylogenetic analysis of each genome segment indicates that RVC populations have been evolving independently in human, swine, canine, and bovine hosts for at least the last century, with inter‐species transmission events occurring deep in the phylogenetic tree, and none in the last 100 years. Bovine and canine RVC populations clustered together nine of the 11 gene segments, indicating a shared common ancestor centuries ago. The evolutionary relationships of RVC in humans and swine were more complex, due to the extensive genetic diversity and multiple RVC clades identified in pigs, which were not structured geographically. Topological differences between trees inferred for different genome segments occurred frequently, including at nodes deep in the tree, indicating that RVC's evolutionary history includes multiple reassortment events that occurred a long time ago. Overall, we find that RVC is evolving within host‐defined lineages, but the evolutionary history of RVC is more complex than previously recognized due to the high genetic diversity of RVC in swine, with a common ancestor dating back centuries. Pigs may act as a reservoir host for RVC, and a source of the lineages identified in other species, including humans, but additional sequencing is needed to understand the full diversity of this understudied pathogen across multiple host species.
Factors that influence ultrasound evaluation of breast tumor size
Authors: Xu Jin , Ma Ge , Liang Mengdi , Wang Yue , Pan Hong , Li Li , Li Cuiying , Zhou Wenbin , Wang Shui 
Published: March 2019

Aims: To determine the factors influencing ultrasound breast tumor size assessment accuracy.Material and methods: Five factors (tumor type, molecular subtype, histological size, histological grade, and breast density) were used to assess the measurement accuracy of breast ultrasound in tumor size. Size underestimation was defined as ultrasound index lesion diameter < histological size by at least 5 mm.Results: Breast ultrasound underestimated tumor size significantly, especially in cases with intraductal components (p=0.002). There was a tendency for higher size underestimation in breast cancer tumors with high–histological grade (p=0.03), human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer tumors (p=0.02) and hormone receptor (HR)−/HER2+ breast cancer tumors (p=0.008). Furthermore, core biopsy revealedhigher probability of size underestimation with intraductal components (p=0.002). Size underestimation was more frequent with larger histological size (p<0.001). Masses in non-dense breasts were significantly underestimated (p=0.036) compared to dense breasts.Conclusions: The size underestimation was influenced by pathological type, molecular subtype, and histological size. The pathological results of core biopsy were conducive for predicting tumor size pre-surgery in precise breast cancer diagnosis.
cGAS in action: Expanding roles in immunity and inflammation
Authors: Ablasser Andrea , Chen Zhijian J. 
Published: March 2019

cGAS sensing of DNA: A comprehensive look
The immune system uses the cGAS-STING (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon genes) signaling pathway to detect the presence of intracellular DNA. This is beneficial because cytosolic DNA is often a sign of host damage or invasion by pathogens. However, inappropriate responses to self-DNA must be suppressed to prevent detrimental effects on the host. Ablasser and Chen review the latest advances uncovering how cGAS and STING control inflammatory responses and are themselves regulated. Special attention is paid to the role of cGAS in sterile inflammatory conditions as well as to the therapeutic potential of modulating this pathway.

Science
, this issue p.
eaat8657
Optimizing I/O Performance of HPC Applications with Autotuning
Authors: Behzad Babak , Byna Surendra , Prabhat  , Snir Marc 
Published: March 2019

Parallel Input output is an essential component of modern high-performance computing (HPC). Obtaining good I/O performance for a broad range of applications on diverse HPC platforms is a major challenge, in part, because of complex inter dependencies between I/O middleware and hardware. The parallel file system and I/O middleware layers all offer optimization parameters that can, in theory, result in better I/O performance. Unfortunately, the right combination of parameters is highly dependent on the application, HPC platform, problem size, and concurrency. Scientific application developers do not have the time or expertise to take on the substantial burden of identifying good parameters for each problem configuration. They resort to using system defaults, a choice that frequently results in poor I/O performance. We expect this problem to be compounded on exascale-class machines, which will likely have a deeper software stack with hierarchically arranged hardware resources.
We present as a solution to this problem an autotuning system for optimizing I/O performance, I/O performance modeling, I/O tuning, and I/O patterns. We demonstrate the value of this framework across several HPC platforms and applications at scale.
Body Mass Index at Diagnosis as a Prognostic Factor for Early-Stage Invasive Breast Cancer after Surgical Resection
Authors: Wang Xue , Hui Tian-Li , Wang Mei-Qi , Liu Huan , Li Ruo-Yang , Song Zhen-Chuan 
Published: March 2019

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The aim of this study was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and prognosis of Chinese women with breast cancer. <b><i>Patients and</i></b> <b><i>Methods:</i></b> 3,380 primary breast cancer patients who underwent surgery from 2010 to 2012 were selected and classified as low BMI group (BMI &#x3c; 25.0) and high BMI group (BMI ≥ 25.0). The follow-up data for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were obtained from 3,178 patients (median follow-up of 58 months). Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of BMI on DFS and OS. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The high BMI group showed more aggressive pathological features. BMI was negatively associated with OS (hazard ratio (HR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.66; p = 0.012) but not DFS (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.94–1.40; p = 0.17). Furthermore, when stratified by age, BMI was significantly and negatively associated with OS (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.05–1.95; p = 0.025) in patients above 50 years of age, but this effect was not detected in younger patients. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> BMI was an independent prognostic factor of OS in Chinese women with breast cancer, and age might be a mitigating factor. Among patients above 50 years of age, those with a high BMI were at greater risk of poor prognosis compared to individuals with a low BMI.
Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Molidustat for Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: DIALOGUE Extension Studies
Authors: Akizawa Tadao , Macdougall Iain C. , Berns Jeffrey S. , Bernhardt Thomas , Staedtler Gerald , Taguchi Megumi , Iekushi Kazuma , Krueger Thilo 
Published: March 2019

Background: Molidustat, a novel hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, is being investigated for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The efficacy and safety of molidustat were recently evaluated in three 16-week phase 2b studies. Here, we report the results of two long-term extension studies of molidustat. Methods: Both studies were parallel-group, open-label, multicenter studies of ≤36 months’ duration, in patients with anemia due to CKD, and included an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent as active control. One study enrolled patients not receiving dialysis (n = 164), and the other enrolled patients receiving hemodialysis (n = 88). The primary efficacy variable for both studies was change in blood hemoglobin (Hb) level from baseline to each post-baseline visit, and safety outcomes included adverse events (AEs). Results: In patients not on dialysis, the mean ± SD Hb concentrations at baseline were 11.28 ± 0.55 g/dL for molidustat and 11.08 ± 0.51 g/dL for darbepoetin. The mean ± SD blood Hb concentrations throughout the study (defined as mean of each patient’s overall study Hb levels) were 11.10 ± 0.508 and 10.98 ± 0.571 g/dL in patients treated with molidustat and darbepoetin, respectively. Similar proportions of patients reported at least one AE in the molidustat (85.6%) and darbepoetin (85.7%) groups. In patients on dialysis, mean ± SD Hb levels at baseline were 10.40 ± 0.70 and 10.52 ± 0.53 g/dL in the molidustat and epoetin groups, respectively. The mean ± SD blood Hb concentrations during the study were 10.37 ± 0.56 g/dL in the molidustat group and 10.52 ± 0.47 g/dL in the epoetin group. Proportions of patients who reported at least one AE were 91.2% in the molidustat group and 93.3% in the epoetin group. Conclusions: Molidustat was well tolerated for up to 36 months and appears to be an effective alternative to darbepoetin and epoetin in the long-term management of anemia associated with CKD.
Characteristics, Outcomes, and Treatment of Heart Failure With Improved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Park Chan Soon , Park Jin Joo , Mebazaa Alexandre , Oh Il‐Young , Park Hyun‐Ah , Cho Hyun‐Jai , Lee Hae‐Young , Kim Kye Hun , Yoo Byung‐Su , Kang Seok‐Min , Baek Sang Hong , Jeon Eun‐Seok , Kim Jae‐Joong , Cho Myeong‐Chan , Chae Shung Chull , Oh Byung‐Hee , Choi Dong‐Ju 
Published: March 2019

Background

Many patients with heart failure (
HF
) with reduced ejection fraction (
HF
r
EF
) experience improvement or recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (
LVEF
). Data on clinical characteristics, outcomes, and medical therapy in patients with HF with improved ejection fraction (HFiEF) are scarce.

Methods and Results

Of 5625 consecutive patients hospitalized for acute
HF
in the KorAHF (Registry [Prospective Cohort] for Heart Failure in Korea) study, 5103 patients had baseline echocardiography and 2302 patients had follow‐up echocardiography at 12 months.
HF
phenotypes were defined as persistent
HF
r
EF
(
LVEF
≤40% at baseline and at 1‐year follow‐up),
HF
i
EF
(
LVEF
≤40% at baseline and improved up to 40% at 1‐year follow‐up),
HF
with midrange ejection fraction (LVEF between 40% and <50%), and
HF
with preserved ejection fraction (
LVEF
≥50%). The primary outcome was 4‐year all‐cause mortality from the time of
HF
i
EF
diagnosis. Among 1509
HF
r
EF
patients who had echocardiography 1 year after index hospitalization, 720 (31.3%) were diagnosed as having
HF
i
EF
. Younger age, female sex, de novo
HF
, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and β‐blocker use were positive predictors and diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease were negative predictors of
HF
i
EF
. During 4‐year follow‐up, patients with
HF
i
EF
showed lower mortality than those with persistent
HF
r
EF
in univariate, multivariate, and propensity‐score–matched analyses. β‐Blockers, but not renin–angiotensin system inhibitors or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, were associated with a reduced all‐cause mortality risk (hazard ratio: 0.59; 95%
CI
, 0.40–0.87;
P
=0.007). Benefits for outcome seemed similar among patients receiving low‐ or high‐dose β‐blockers (log‐rank,
P
=0.304).

Conclusions

HF
i
EF
is a distinct
HF
phenotype with better clinical outcomes than other phenotypes. The use of β‐blockers may be beneficial for these patients.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01389843.
Wristband Accelerometers to motiVate arm Exercises after Stroke (WAVES): a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Da-Silva Ruth H , Moore Sarah A , Rodgers Helen , Shaw Lisa , Sutcliffe Louise , van Wijck Frederike , Price Christopher I 
Published: March 2019

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a multicentre, observer-blind, pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a wristband accelerometer with activity-dependent vibration alerts to prompt impaired arm use after stroke. Design: Parallel-group pilot RCT. Setting: Four English stroke services. Participants: Patients 0–3 months post stroke with a new arm deficit. Intervention: Participants were randomized to wear a prompting or ‘sham’ wristband during a four-week self-directed therapy programme with twice-weekly therapy review. Main outcomes: Recruitment, retention and adherence rates, safety and completion of assessments were reported. Arm recovery was measured by Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and Motor Activity Log (MAL) without statistical comparison. Results: In total, 33 patients were recruited (0.6 per month/site; median time post stroke: 26 days (interquartile range (IQR):15.5–45)). Baseline, four-week and eight-week median (IQR) ARAT for the control group ( n = 19) were 15 (2–35), 35 (15–26) and 31 (21–55) and those for the intervention group (n = 14) were 37 (16–45), 57 (29–57) and 57 (37–57), respectively; for MAL Amount of Use, the corresponding values in the control group were 0.2 (0.0–1.2), 1.1 (0.3–2.9) and 1.2 (0.7–2.9) and in the intervention group were 1.4 (0.5–2.6), 3.8 (1.9–4.5) and 3.7 (2.1–4.3). Four participants withdrew from the study. Wristbands were worn for 79% of the recommended time. The intervention and control group participants received a median of 6.0 (IQR: 4.3–8.0) and 7.5 (IQR: 6.8–8.0) therapy reviews. A median of 8 (IQR: 6–10) prompts were delivered per intervention participant/day. Research assessments were completed for 28/29 and 25/28 patients at four and eight weeks. Eight serious adverse events were reported, all unrelated to the intervention. Conclusion: A multicentre RCT of wristband accelerometers to prompt arm activity early after stroke is feasible. A total sample of 108 participants would be required.
Implementing a Palliative Medicine Music Therapy Program: A Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Wood Christina , Cutshall Susanne M. , Wiste Rachel M. , Gentes Rachel C. , Rian Johanna S. , Tipton Amie M. , Ann-Marie Dose , Mahapatra Saswati , Carey Elise C. , Strand Jacob J. 
Published: March 2019

Objectives: Recent evidence suggests that music therapy, a holistic method of care, potentially is beneficial for symptom management. This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the effect of music therapy on symptom management and coping skills of patients receiving palliative care and to measure patient satisfaction with the therapy. A secondary aim was to evaluate staff perception of patient outcomes of music therapy services. Methods: Palliative care clinicians attended a 30-minute education session on music therapy before the project was initiated. Study participants were patients and their families who were cared for by the inpatient palliative care consulting service at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) from June 1 through December 31, 2016. Patients were eligible if they required ongoing management of pain and anxiety or needed adaptive coping strategies. Patients and families were asked to complete a survey after each music therapy session. Staff were asked to complete a survey after completion of the project. Results: Music therapy was provided to 57 patients and 53 family members. Patient surveys indicated a decrease in anxiety and pain. All patients reported that music therapy facilitated stress relief, relaxation, pain relief, spiritual support, emotional support, and a general feeling of wellness. All participants recommended music therapy services for others. Palliative care clinicians reported that music therapy added value as a holistic service. Conclusions: In this quality improvement project, music therapy positively affected multiple domains of well-being for patients receiving palliative care.
Three-year follow-up of intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation in central keratoconus with regular astigmatism: ‘Bow-tie’ shape
Authors: Fernández-Vega-Cueto Luis , Lisa Carlos , Poo-López Aranzazu , Alfonso José F , Madrid-Costa David 
Published: March 2019

Purpose: To assess the outcomes of implanting Ferrara-type intrastromal corneal ring segments in central ‘bow-tie’-shaped keratoconus over 3 years of follow-up. Methods: A total of 20 eyes with central ‘bow-tie’-shaped keratoconus were evaluated before and after implanting Ferrara-type intrastromal corneal ring segments (AJL Ophthalmic, Spain). LogMAR uncorrected distance visual acuity and best corrected distance visual acuity and residual refractive errors analysed using vector analysis were recorded preoperatively, at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years postoperatively. Results: The mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (LogMAR scale) rose from a preoperative 0.75 ± 0.28 to a 6-month postoperative 0.38 ± 0.28 (p < 0.0001). The corrected distance visual acuity, in turn, improved from 0.07 ± 0.06 to 0.05 ± 0.06 (p = 0.0008). Both the uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity were stable over the postoperative period in both groups (p > 0.05). None of the eyes lost uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity lines over the postoperative follow-up period. The spherical equivalent and the refractive cylinder declined steeply after intrastromal corneal ring segments implantation (p < 0.0001). Both the spherical equivalent and refractive cylinder were stable over the postoperative period. None of the eyes had an increase in maximum or minimum keratometry greater than 0.75D over the postoperative period. Conclusion: The planning for intrastromal corneal ring segments insertion proposed in this study reduces the spherical equivalent and refractive cylinder in this type of keratoconus, while improving post-surgery uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity. These results remain stable over 3 years of follow-up. Therefore, this procedure could be considered as an effective therapeutic alternative in patients affected by this type of keratoconus.
Oculofacial alterations in NBAS-SOPH like mutations: Case report
Authors: Nucci Francesca , Lembo Andrea , Farronato Marco , Farronato Giampietro , Nucci Paolo , Serafino Massimiliano 
Published: March 2019

Purpose:To describe the clinical features of a rare case of NBAS-SOPH-like mutations; to emphasize special aspects of the ocular and oro-facial regions.Methods:Case report.Case Description:We present a 5-year-old girl initially examined for her dysmorphic features, mental delay, strabismus, and high myopia. During the funduscopic examination, we observed optic atrophy with narrow thinned arterioles with the light brown reflex of the central retina. A genetic assessment revealed NBAS-SOPH like mutation. An assessment by a team of orthodontists defined typical characteristics.Conclusions:NBAS mutations can also cause complex disease with a broad clinical spectrum ranging from isolated recurrent acute liver failure (RALF) to a multisystemic phenotype. Due to the heterogeneity of the expressions, a multispeciality approach to this situation is recommended.
A Retrospective Cohort Study of Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection Following Liver Transplantation
Authors: Oliveira Ramon Antônio , Mancero Jorge Marcelo Padilla , Faria Dalila Fernanda , Poveda Vanessa de Brito 
Published: March 2019

Background: Surgical site infection is an important complication in the postoperative period among liver transplant recipients. However, little is known about the risk factors in this patient group. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the incidence and risk factors for surgical site infections among adult liver transplant recipients. Methods: Medical records of adult liver transplant recipients from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2015, were analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. Results: We enrolled 156 recipients’ medical records. Forty-two (26.9%) cases of surgical site infections were identified. The main isolated microorganisms were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species, extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella species, carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis. We found that long operative times (≥487 minutes) and differences in body mass index between donor and recipient (≥1.3 kg/m2) increased the risk for surgical site infections by approximately 5 times (odds ratio [OR], 5.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-11.8), and capillary glycemia ≥175 mg/dL in the first 96 postoperative hours increased the risk by approximately 3 times (OR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.43-6.17). Conclusions: There was a high incidence of surgical site infections among the studied population and that some risk factors identified differ from those reported in the scientific literature.