bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of deaths in a cohort of girls and women with cryopreserved ovarian tissue
Authors: Macklon Kirsten Tryde 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIntroductionOvarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is increasingly offered to women in need of fertility preservation. However, little is known about the risk of these women dying before they use the preserved material.Material and methodsFrom 1999 to 2016, 927 girls and women underwent OTC in our center, before receiving gonadotoxic treatment. All patients were without disseminated disease and with an estimated chance of survival after 5 years of >50%. For each patient the specific indication for OTC was noted, and through a national registry linked to a personal identification number, we were able to identify those who had died and the date and cause of death.ResultsBy December 2017, 124/927 patients had died from their disease (13%). The highest relative prevalence of death was seen in patients with liver cancer (2/2; 100%), gall bladder cancer (2/2; 100%), stomach cancer (1/1; 100%), hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (2/3; 66%), scleroderma (1/2; 50%), and sarcoma (24/78; 31%). The lowest risk of dying was seen in the group of individuals with non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (3/30; 10%) and breast cancer (31/313; 10%). The shortest time from OTC to death was seen in those with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (mean interval 0.25 years), gall bladder cancer, non‐Hodgkin disease and acute myeloid leukemia (mean interval 0.7 years) and the longest time from OTC to death was in women with breast cancer (mean interval 3.4 years). Of those who died, 34 had received chemotherapy at some point before OTC, indicating a relapse or non‐responsiveness to the initial treatment.ConclusionsPatients with upper gastrointestinal cancers and sarcoma had the highest risk of dying from their disease. Breast cancer patients had the lowest risk. This knowledge may guide clinicians in their decisions on whether to offer OTC to girls and younger women with a life‐threatening disease.
The efficacy of misoprostol vaginal insert compared with oral misoprostol in the induction of labor of nulliparous women: A randomized national multicenter trial
Authors: Hokkila Emma , Kruit Heidi , Rahkonen Leena , Timonen Susanna , Mattila Mirjami , Laatio Liisa , Ordén Maija‐Riitta , Uotila Jukka , Luukkaala Tiina , Tihtonen Kati 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIntroductionOur objective was to compare the efficacy of a 200‐μg misoprostol vaginal insert vs oral misoprostol regarding the cesarean section rate and the time interval to vaginal delivery in nulliparous women with unfavorable cervix.Material and methodsIn this prospective multicenter trial, 283 nulliparous women at term with Bishop score <6 were randomized to induction of labor with either a misoprostol vaginal insert (n = 140) or oral misoprostol (n = 143). In the oral misoprostol group, a 50‐μg dose of oral misoprostol was administered every 4 hours up to three times during the first day; during the second day, the dose was increased to 100‐μg every 4 hours up to three times during the first day, if necessary. Primary outcome was the cesarean section rate. Secondary outcomes were the time from induction of labor to vaginal delivery, the rate of other induction methods needed, labor augmentation with oxytocin and/or amniotomy, use of tocolytics and adverse neonatal and maternal events.ResultsIn the misoprostol vaginal insert group, median time to vaginal delivery was shorter (24.5 hours vs 44.2 hours, P < 0.001), whereas no difference was found in the cesarean section rate (33.8% vs 29.6%, odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66‐1.91, P = 0.67). Other induction methods and labor augmentation with oxytocin and/or amniotomy were less frequent in the misoprostol vaginal insert group (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.18‐0.59 and OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32‐0.99, respectively). Need for tocolysis and meconium‐stained amniotic fluid were more common in the misoprostol vaginal insert group (OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.12‐11.79 and OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.32‐4.29, respectively). Maternal and neonatal adverse events did not differ between groups.ConclusionsMisoprostol vaginal insert proved to shorten the time to vaginal delivery and to reduce the use of other methods of labor induction and augmentation, but it did not reduce the cesarean section rate compared with oral misoprostol. The benefit of more rapid delivery associated with misoprostol vaginal insert should be weighed against the greater risks for uterine hyperstimulation and meconium‐stained amniotic fluid.
The exaggerated natriuresis of essential hypertension occurs independently of changes in renal medullary blood flow
Authors: Assersen Kasper B. , Høilund‐Carlsen Poul F. , Olsen Michael H. , Greve Sara V. , Gam‐Hadberg Jens C. , Braad Poul‐Erik , Damkjaer Mads , Bie Peter 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAimsIn patients with essential hypertension, abnormal renal sodium handling includes exaggerated natriuresis in response to extracellular volume expansion. We tested the hypothesis that exaggerated natriuresis is associated with increases in medullary and/or cortical renal blood flow.MethodsPatients with mild essential hypertension, but no signs of end organ damage, and control subjects were studied after 4 days of dietary standardization (<60 mmol Na+ day−1) preceded in patients by a 14‐day drug washout period. On the study day, subjects received a 4‐hour intravenous volume expansion with saline (2.1% of body mass). Renal medullary and cortical blood flows were measured by PET scanning using H215O as tracer; anatomical regions of interest were defined by contrast‐enhanced CT scanning.ResultsIn patients, arterial blood pressure increased during volume expansion (107 ± 2‐114 ± 3 mm Hg, P < 0.05) in contrast to the control group (92 ± 2‐92 ± 2 mm Hg). Renal sodium excretion increased more in patients than in controls (+133 ± 31 µmol min−1 vs +61 ± 14 µmol min−1, respectively, P < 0.05) confirming exaggerated natriuresis. During volume expansion, renal medullary blood flow did not change significantly in patients (2.8 ± 0.4‐2.5 ± 0.5 mL (g tissue)−1 min−1) or in controls (3.2 ± 0.3‐3.1 ± 0.2 mL (g tissue)−1 min−1). In control subjects, renal cortical blood flow fell during volume expansion (4.1 ± 0.3‐3.7 ± 0.2 mL (g tissue)−1 min−1, P < 0.05) in contrast to patients in which deviations remained insignificant.ConclusionExaggerated natriuresis, a hallmark of essential hypertension, is not mediated by increases in regional, renal blood flow.
Enrichment of CLDN18‐ARHGAP fusion gene in gastric cancers in young adults
Authors: Nakayama Izuma , Shinozaki Eiji , Sakata Seiji , Yamamoto Noriko , Fujisaki Junko , Muramatsu Yusuke , Hirota Toru , Takeuchi Kengo , Takahashi Shunji , Yamaguchi Kensei , Noda Tetsuo 
Published: February 2019

Gastric cancer in young adults has been pointed out to comprise a subgroup associated with distinctive clinicopathological features, including an equal gender distribution, advanced disease, and diffuse‐type histology. Comprehensive molecular analyses of gastric cancers have led to molecular‐based classifications and to specific and effective treatment options. The molecular traits of gastric cancers in young adults await investigations, which should provide a clue to explore therapeutic strategies. Here, we studied 146 gastric cancer patients diagnosed at the age of 40 years or younger at the Cancer Institute Hospital (Tokyo, Japan). Tumor specimens were examined for Helicobacter pylori infection, Epstein‐Barr virus positivity, and for the expression of mismatch repair genes to indicate microsatellite instability. Overexpression, gene amplifications, and rearrangements of 18 candidate driver genes were examined by immunohistochemistry and FISH. Although only a small number of cases were positive for Epstein‐Barr virus and microsatellite instability (n = 2 each), we repeatedly found tumors with gene fusion between a tight‐junction protein claudin, CLDN18, and a regulator of small G proteins, ARHGAP, in as many as 22 cases (15.1%), and RNA sequencing identified 2 novel types of the fusion. Notably, patients with the CLDN18‐ARHGAP fusion revealed associations between aggressive disease and poor prognosis, even when grouped by their clinical stage. These observations indicate that a fusion gene between CLDN18 and ARHGAP is enriched in younger age‐onset gastric cancers, and its presence could contribute to their aggressive characteristics.
Academic achievement of adolescents with asthma or atopic disease
Authors: Brew Bronwyn K. , Söderberg Joakim , Lundholm Cecilia , Afshar Soren , Holmberg Kirsten , Almqvist Catarina 
Published: February 2019

SummaryBackgroundOver a fifth of children and adolescents suffer with asthma or atopic disease. It is unclear whether asthma impacts academic performance in children and adolescents, and little is known about the association of eczema, food allergy or hayfever and academic performance.ObjectiveTo examine whether asthma, eczema, food allergy or hayfever impacts on adolescent academic performance and to assess the role of unmeasured confounding.MethodsThis study used the Childhood and Adolescent Twin Study of Sweden cohort born 1992‐1998. At age 9‐12 years, parents reported on their child's ever or current asthma, eczema, food allergy and hayfever status (n = 10 963). At age 15, linked national patient and medication register information was used to create current and ever asthma definitions including severe and uncontrolled asthma for the same children. Academic outcomes in Grade 9 (age 15‐16 years) included: eligibility for high school (Grades 10‐12), and total mark of the best 16 subject units, retrieved from the Grade 9 academic register. Whole cohort analyses adjusted for known covariates were performed, and co‐twin control analyses to assess unmeasured confounders.ResultsThere were no associations found for asthma or food allergy at 9‐12 years and academic outcomes in adolescence. In addition, at age 15, there were no statistically significant associations with current, ever, severe or uncontrolled asthma and academic outcomes. Eczema and hayfever at age 9‐12 years were found to be positively associated with academic outcomes; however, co‐twin control analyses did not support these findings, suggesting the main analyses may be subject to unmeasured confounding.Conclusion and clinical relevanceHaving asthma or an atopic disease during childhood or adolescence does not negatively impact on academic performance. This information can be used by clinicians when talking with children and parents about the implications of living with asthma or atopic disease.
Immune cell metabolism in autoimmunity
Authors: Teng X , Li W , Cornaby C , Morel L 
Published: February 2019

Summary
Immune metabolism is a rapidly moving field. While most of the research has been conducted to define the metabolism of healthy immune cells in the mouse, it is recognized that the overactive immune system that drives autoimmune diseases presents metabolic abnormalities that provide therapeutic opportunities, as well as a means to understand the fundamental mechanisms of autoimmune activation more clearly. Here, we review recent publications that have reported how the major metabolic pathways are affected in autoimmune diseases, with a focus on rheumatic diseases.
The Renew® anal insert for passive faecal incontinence: a retrospective audit of our use of a novel device
Authors: Leo C. A. , Thomas G. P. , Hodgkinson J. D. , Segal J. P. , Maeda Y. , Murphy J. , Vaizey C. J. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAimThe Renew® anal insert is a recent treatment for patients who suffer from passive faecal incontinence (FI). Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of the insert and patients’ satisfaction with it.MethodA retrospective audit of patients who were treated with the Renew® anal insert was undertaken. The St Mark's Incontinence Score was used to evaluate clinical outcome. Renew® size, the number of inserts used per day and per week had also been recorded. Subjective assessment of symptoms, how beneficial Renew® was and how satisfied patients were with the device were all recorded. Major events and side effects were also noted.ResultsThirty patients received Renew® as a treatment for passive incontinence in 2016. The median St Mark's Incontinence Score was 15 (range 7–18) at baseline and 10 (range 2–18) at first follow‐up (P < 0.0001) at a median of 11 (range 8–14) weeks. Eleven (37%) patients used the regular size and 19 (63%) the large size. Patients used an average of 1.67 inserts per day (range 1–3) on an average of 3.58 days per week (1–7). Three patients reported a deterioration in symptoms, seven (23%) had no change and 20 (67%) showed a significant improvement. Six patients (20%) did not like the device while 24 (80%) liked it. Seventeen patients (57%) wanted to continue this treatment in the long term.ConclusionThe Renew® device seems to be an acceptable and effective therapeutic option for passive FI. Further work is needed to compare it with other treatments and establish its position in the treatment pathway.
Characterization of blood flow patterns and endothelial shear stress during flow‐mediated dilation
Authors: Morales‐Acuna Francisco , Ochoa Luis , Valencia Carolina , Gurovich Alvaro N. 
Published: February 2019

SummaryIntroductionEndothelial dysfunction is considered the first step in the development of atherosclerosis. Flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) has been the most common assessment of endothelial function in research but it has failed in obtaining a widespread use in clinical settings due to a lack of standardization and a large inter‐subject variability. Normalization of FMD to endothelial shear stress (ESS) has been proposed to solve its technical limitations. However, studies have not considered the characteristic of the blood flow during FMD under pulsatile conditions in their ESS estimations.MethodsA total of 26 young healthy subjects (15 females and 11 males) underwent FMD testing. Microhematocrit measurement was used to determine blood viscosity (μ). ESS was calculated by Womersley's approximation, ESS = μ*2K*Velocity/Diameter, where K is a function of Womersley's parameter (α). Blood flow patterns were determined by critical Reynolds number. Statistical analysis included repeated measures ANOVA to detect ESS differences during FMD until peak dilation. Significance was established at P≤0.05.ResultsThe mean (SD) FMD% and time to peak dilation were 7·4 (3·1) % and 35 (9·3) seconds, respectively. ESS was significantly reduced during FMD until peak dilation (P<0·001). Turbulent blood flow was the only pattern observed until peak dilation in 96·15% of the sample.ConclusionPeak FMD dilation in a young healthy population is triggered mostly by high‐ESS under turbulent flow conditions. Due to the pulsatile nature of blood flow and the appearance of a turbulent pattern during FMD, ESS should be estimated by Womersley's approximation rather than Poiseuille's law.
Impact of gender on echocardiographic characteristics in heart transplant recipients
Authors: Ingvarsson Annika , Werther‐Evaldsson Anna , Smith Gustav J. , Waktare Johan , Nilsson Johan , Stagmo Martin , Roijer Anders , Rådegran Göran , Meurling Carl 
Published: February 2019

SummaryAimsAssessment following heart transplantation (HTx) is routinely performed using transthoracic echocardiography. Differences in long‐term mortality following HTx related to donor‐recipient matching have been reported, but effects of gender on cardiac size and function are not well studied. The aims of this study were to evaluate differences in echocardiographic characteristics of HTx recipients defined by gender.Methods and resultsThe study prospectively enrolled 123 (n = 34 female) HTx recipients of which 23 recipients was donor‐recipient gender mismatched. Patients were examined with 2‐dimensional echocardiography using Philips iE33 ultrasound system. Data were analysed across strata based on recipient gender and gender mismatch. Male recipients had larger left ventricular (LV) mass, thicker septal wall (P<0·001) and larger absolute LV volumes (P<0·001). Mean LV ejection fraction (EF) was higher in females (P<0·05), but no differences in conventional parameters of right ventricular (RV) function were found. Ventricular strain was higher in females than in males: LV global longitudinal strain (P<0·01), RV global longitudinal strain (P<0·05) and RV lateral free wall (P<0·05). The male group receiving a female donor heart had comparable EF and strain parameters to the female group receiving a gender‐matched heart.ConclusionWe found that female recipient gender was associated with smaller chamber size, higher LV EF and better LV and RV longitudinal strain. Gender‐mismatched male recipients appeared to exhibit function parameters similar to gender‐matched female recipients. Our results indicate that the gender aspect, analogous to current reference guidelines in general population, should be taken into consideration when examining patients post‐HTx.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults with systemic right ventricles referred for cardiac transplantation
Authors: Kim Yuli Y. , Awh Katherine , Acker Michael , Atluri Pavan , Bermudez Christian , Crespo Maria , Diamond Joshua M. , Drajpuch David , Forde‐Mclean Rhondalyn , Fuller Stephanie , Goldberg Lee , Mazurek Jeremy , Mascio Christopher , Menachem Jonathan N. , Rame Eduardo , Ruckdeschel Emily , Tobin Lynda , Wald Joyce 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundSystemic right ventricular (RV) failure may progress necessitating referral for orthotropic heart transplantation (OHT). Pulmonary hypertension (PH) frequently coexists in adult congenital heart disease and can complicate the assessment for OHT.MethodsSingle‐center case series of six patients (median age 34.9 years [IQR, 31.9‐42.4]) with systemic RV physiology with PH referred for OHT evaluation from 2008 to 2017.ResultsOne‐third (n = 6) of 18 patients with systemic RV physiology referred for OHT evaluation had pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) > 25 mm Hg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) > 3 Wood Units. Two of the six patients were considered OHT‐ineligible due to PH and comorbidities. Of the remaining four, two had pre‐capillary PH and underwent heart‐lung transplant (HLTx). The other two demonstrated reversibility of PVR with vasodilator testing and underwent OHT alone, one of whom died post‐transplant from PH crisis.ConclusionsPulmonary arterial hypertension is common in systemic RV patients referred for OHT. Systemic RV dysfunction places these patients at risk for post‐capillary PH but pre‐capillary PH can exist. Despite management with selective pulmonary vasodilators and afterload reduction, criteria for listing patients for HLTx vs OHT are not known and need further elucidation.
Habituation and novelty detection fNIRS brain responses in 5‐ and 8‐month‐old infants: The Gambia and UK
Authors: Lloyd‐Fox Sarah , Blasi Anna , McCann Samantha , Rozhko Maria , Katus Laura , Mason Luke , Austin Topun , Moore Sophie E. , Elwell Clare E. ,   The BRIGHT project team
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe first 1,000 days of life are a critical window of vulnerability to exposure to socioeconomic and health challenges (i.e. poverty/undernutrition). The Brain Imaging for Global Health (BRIGHT) project has been established to deliver longitudinal measures of brain development from 0 to 24 months in UK and Gambian infants and to assess the impact of early adversity. Here results from the Habituation‐Novelty Detection (HaND) functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) task at 5 and 8 months are presented (N = 62 UK;N = 115 Gambia). In the UK cohort distinct patterns of habituation and recovery of response to novelty are seen, becoming more robust from 5 to 8 months of age. In The Gambia, an attenuated habituation response is evident: a larger number of trials are required before the response sufficiently suppresses relative to the response during the first presented trials. Furthermore, recovery of response to novelty is not evident at 5 or 8 months of age. As this longitudinal study continues in The Gambia, the parallel collection of socioeconomic, caregiving, health and nutrition data will allow us to stratify how individual trajectories of habituation and recovery of response to novelty associate with different risk factors and adaptive mechanisms in greater depth. Given the increasing interest in the use of neuroimaging methods within global neurocognitive developmental studies, this study provides a novel cross‐culturally appropriate paradigm for the study of brain responses associated with attention and learning mechanisms across early development.
Separation between maternal and paternal effects on offspring following exposure of adult red flour beetles to two stressors
Authors: Gilad Tomer , Scharf Inon 
Published: February 2019

1. The contribution of non‐genetic maternal effects to offspring performance is well established and the evidence for paternal effects has also been increasing recently. Studies determining the relative contributions of the two parents to offspring success are, however, still rare.2. In this study, two stressors were applied to adult red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) – starvation and cold stress – and a full‐factorial design was used to distinguish between maternal and paternal reproductive decisions and their effects on the offspring.3. Starvation had a stronger negative effect than cold stress on both males and females, and the likelihood of starved females producing offspring was very low. Furthermore, starved fathers led to lower offspring mass at the larval stage, probably leading to impaired starvation tolerance of the offspring.4. Cold‐stressed fathers were less likely than unstressed fathers to reproduce, whereas cold‐stressed mothers demonstrated a similar effect by producing fewer offspring.5. Applying stress probably led to energy saving that came at the expense of reproduction intensity. It is suggested that the smaller offspring mass is a negative consequence of the parental exposure to stress.6. The differences between the consequences of the two stressors applied and between the relative contribution of each parent could perhaps be explained by the distinct physiological responses of each sex to each of the stressors.