bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct Ex Vivo Observation of Homologous Recombination Defect Reversal After DNA-Damaging Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Meijer Titia G. , Verkaik Nicole S. , van Deurzen Carolien H.M. , Dubbink Hendrikus-Jan , den Toom T. Dorine , Sleddens Hein F.B.M. , De Hoop Esther Oomen , Dinjens Winand N.M. , Kanaar Roland , van Gent Dik C. , Jager Agnes 
Published: March 2019

PURPOSE Biomarkers that predict response to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) are required to detect PARPi sensitivity beyond germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) cancers and PARPi resistance among reverted gBRCAm cancers. Therefore, we previously developed the Repair Capacity (RECAP) test, a functional homologous recombination (HR) assay that exploits the formation of RAD51 foci in proliferating cells after ex vivo irradiation of fresh primary breast cancer tissue. The aim of the current study was to validate the feasibility of this test on histologic biopsy specimens from metastatic breast cancer and to explore the utility of the RECAP test as a predictive tool for treatment with DNA-damaging agents, such as PARPis. METHODS Fresh tissue biopsies from easily accessible metastatic lesions from patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer were irradiated with 5 Gy and cultured for 2 hours followed by detection of RAD51 foci presence (HR proficient) or absence (HR deficient [HRD]). HRD biopsy specimens as well as platinum/PARP-resistant specimens were subjected to BRCA1/2 sequencing. RESULTS RECAP had a success rate of 93% on biopsy specimens from metastatic breast cancer lesions (n = 44). Although HRD was detected in 13 (32%) of 41 specimens, only five showed a gBRCAm. In three patients with gBRCAm, post-treatment RECAP tests showed HR phenotype reversion after in vivo progressive disease on platinum and PARPi treatment, which was explained in one patient by a secondary BRCA1 mutation. CONCLUSION The RECAP test, which reflects real-time HR status regardless of BRCA mutations, is feasible in metastatic breast cancer biopsy specimens. Compared with gBRCA analysis, it may identify twice as many candidates for PARPi treatment.
Correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin level of patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Wei Fengyun 
Published: March 2019

Objective: To explore the clinical influence of the changes of glycosylated hemoglobin level of patients with diabetes on hypertension and coronary heart disease.
Methods: One hundred and ninety-six patients between February 2015 and December 2016 were divided into a control group (96 non-diabetic patients) and an observation group (100 patients with diabetes) with or without diabetes. The biochemical indexes of patients in the two groups were compared. Moreover patients in the observation groups were divided into subgroups according to the presence of hypertension and coronary heart disease, and the level of HbA1c was compared between different subgroups.
Results: The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of patients in the two groups had no significant differences (P>0.05). However, the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of patients in the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS) and levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and HbA1c of patients in the observation group were apparently higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The level of HbA1c of patients with hypertension was significantly higher than that without hypertension (P<0.05). The level of HbA1c of patients with coronary heart disease was apparently higher than that without coronary heart disease (P<0.05). The Pearson correlation analysis results demonstrated that the level of HbA1c of patients in the diabetes group was in a positive correlation with SBP, DBP and level of hs-CRP (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The level of HbA1c of patients with diabetes was in a positive correlation with blood pressure and level of hs-CRP. The level of HbA1c can effectively predict the occurrence of hypertension and coronary heart disease. Detecting level of glycosylated hemoglobin is of important significance in screening patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease.
How to cite this:Wei F. Correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin level of patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(2):454-458. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.2.589
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Effect of inulin-type fructans in patients undergoing cancer treatments: A systematic review
Authors: Mazraeh Reihaneh , Azizi-Soleiman Fatemeh , Jazayeri Seyed Mohammad Hosein Mousavi , Noori Seyyed Mohammad Ali 
Published: March 2019

Background and Objective: Current studies give us inconsistent results regarding the inulin consumption in cancer patients. The results of to-date studies are summarized in this systematic review.
Methods: Web of Science (Science citation index expanded), PubMed (Medline), Embase and CENTRAL Science direct, Google scholar, Scopus and Cochrane were searched. Cochrane Collaboration’s ‘Risk of Bias’ tool was used to assess the quality of included articles.
Results: Our search yielded 2652 studies after the elimination of duplicates. Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), reporting results from 197 patients, were eligible for inclusion in the present systematic review. Risk of bias in these studies was assessed as high and moderate.
Conclusion: The available evidence is inconclusive regarding the effect of inulin and oligofructose on cancer outcomes. Nonetheless, possible inulin positive effects including improved stool consistency after abdomen radiotherapy and increased stool butyrate content which is involved in controlling tumor cells proliferation and apoptosis should not be denied. Further research is needed in this area before strong conclusions can be drawn.
How to cite this:Mazraeh R, Azizi-Soleiman F, Jazayeri SMHM, Noori SMA. Effect of inulin-type fructans in patients undergoing cancer treatments: A systematic review. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(2):575-580. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.2.701
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Analysis of transgenic zebrafish expressing the Lenz-Majewski syndrome gene PTDSS1 in skeletal cell lineages
Authors: Seda Marian , Peskett Emma , Demetriou Charalambos , Bryant Dale , Moore Gudrun E. , Stanier Philip , Jenkins Dagan 
Published: March 2019

Background:Lenz-Majewski syndrome (LMS) is characterized by osteosclerosis and hyperostosis of skull, vertebrae and tubular bones as well as craniofacial, dental, cutaneous, and digit abnormalities. We previously found that LMS is caused byde novodominant missense mutations in the PTDSS1 gene, which encodes phosphatidylserine synthase 1 (PSS1), an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylserine. The mutations causing LMS result in a gain-of-function, leading to increased enzyme activity and blocking end-product inhibition of PSS1.Methods:Here, we have used transpose-mediated transgenesis to attempt to stably express wild-type and mutant forms of humanPTDSS1ubiquitously or specifically in chondrocytes, osteoblasts or osteoclasts in zebrafish.Results:We report multiple genomic integration sites for each of 8 different transgenes. While we confirmed that the ubiquitously driven transgene constructs were functional in terms of driving gene expression following transient transfection in HeLa cells, and that all lines exhibited expression of a heart-specific cistron within the transgene, we failed to detectPTDSS1gene expression at either the RNA or protein levels in zebrafish. All wild-type and mutant transgenic lines of zebrafish exhibited mild scoliosis with variable incomplete penetrance which was never observed in non-transgenic animals.Conclusions:Collectively the data suggest that the transgenes are silenced, that animals with integrations that escape silencing are not viable, or that other technical factors prevent transgene expression. In conclusion, the incomplete penetrance of the phenotype and the lack of a matched transgenic control model precludes further meaningful investigations of these transgenic lines.
Toward a paradigm shift from deficit-based to proactive speech and language treatment: Randomized pilot trial of the Babble Boot Camp in infants with classic galactosemia
Authors: Peter Beate , Potter Nancy , Davis Jennifer , Donenfeld-Peled Inbal , Finestack Lizbeth , Stoel-Gammon Carol , Lien Kari , Bruce Laurel , Vose Caitlin , Eng Linda , Yokoyama Hanako , Olds Daniel , VanDam Mark 
Published: March 2019

Background: Speech or language therapy is typically initiated reactively after a child starts showing delays. Infants with classic galactosemia (CG), an inborn error of metabolism with a known high risk for both speech and language disorders, hold the keys towards evaluating whether preventive treatment is effective when the risks are known at birth. We present pilot data from a randomized parallel trial of an innovative proactive speech and language intervention program, the Babble Boot Camp (BBC). Method: Five children with CG, otherwise healthy, participated in the BBC from approximately 2 to 24 months of age. One of these was randomly selected as control receiving conventional management. A pediatric speech-language pathologist met weekly via telepractice with the parents in the treatment cohort. Parents implemented the prespeech, speech, and language stimulation and expansion activities according to the protocol. The control child was still too young for conventional treatment. Primary outcome measures were speech sound production complexity in babble and speech and expressive vocabulary size. Secondary outcome measures were developmental milestones in communication, motor, and cognition. Outcomes in the treatment cohort were compared to typical children and the control child. The trial is ongoing. Results: All four treated children had higher speech sound skills in babble, three had higher speech sound skills in meaningful speech, two had higher expressive vocabularies, and three had higher communication and personal-social skills, compared to the control child with CG. Discussion: Given the high risk for speech and language delays in children with CG, finding on-schedule abilities in two or more of the treated children but not the untreated child is unexpected under random conditions. The trends toward beneficial effects of the BBC on speech sound production, expressive language, and communication milestones warrant appropriately powered larger clinical trials with full randomization. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03838016 (12th February 2019).
Variation between hospitals in outcomes following cardiac surgery in the UK
Authors: Soppa G , Theodoropoulos P , Bilkhu R , Harrison DA , Alam R , Beattie R , Bleetman D , Hussain A , Jones S , Kenny L , Khorsandi M , Lea A , Mensah Ka , Hici TN , Pinho-Gomes AC , Rogers L , Sepehripour A , Singh S , Steele D , Weaver H , Klein A , Fletcher N , Jahangiri M 
Published: March 2019

Introduction We examine the influence of variations in provision of cardiac surgery in the UK at hospital level on patient outcomes and also to assess whether there is an inequality of access and delivery of healthcare. Cardiothoracic surgery has pioneered the reporting of surgeon-specific outcomes, which other specialties have followed. We set out to identify factors other than the individual surgeon, which can affect outcomes and enable other surgical specialties to adopt a similar model. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patient and hospital level factors between 2013 and 2016 from 16 cardiac surgical units in the UK were analysed through the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland and the Royal College of Surgeons Research Collaborative. Patient demographic data, risks factors, postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality, as well as hospital-level factors such as number of beds and operating theatres, were collected. Correlation between outcome measures was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Associations between hospital-level factors and outcomes were assessed using univariable and multivariable regression models. Results Of 50,871 patients (60.5% of UK caseload), 25% were older than 75 years and 29% were female. There was considerable variation between units in patient comorbidities, bed distribution and staffing. All hospitals had dedicated cardiothoracic intensive care beds and consultants. Median survival was 97.9% (range 96.3–98.6%). Postoperative complications included re-sternotomy for bleeding (median 4.8%; range 3.5–6.9%) and mediastinitis (0.4%; 0.1–1.0%), transient ischaemic attack/cerebrovascular accident (1.7%; range 0.3–3.0%), haemofiltration (3.7%; range 0.8–6.8%), intra-aortic balloon pump use (3.3%; range 0.4–7.4%), tracheostomy (1.6%; range 1.3–2.6%) and laparotomy (0.3%; range 0.2–0.6%). There was variation in outcomes between hospitals. Univariable analysis showed a small number of positive associations between hospital-level factors and outcomes but none remained significant in multivariable models. Conclusions Variations among hospital level factors exists in both delivery of, and outcomes, following cardiac surgery in the UK. However, there was no clear association between these factors and patient outcomes. This negative finding could be explained by differences in outcome definition, differences in risk factors between centres that are not captured by standard risk stratification scores or individual surgeon/team performance.
Aggregation with non-convex labor supply, unobservable effort, and efficiency wages of the no-shirking type
Authors: Vasilev Aleksandar 
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this note is to explore the problem of non-convex labor supply decision in an economy with imperfect observability of work effort, and the need to use effciency wages to prevent shirking as in Shapiro and Stiglitz 1984. In addition, the paper and explicitly performs the aggregation presented in Vasilev 2017 without a formal proof, and thus provide - starting from micto-foundations - the derivation of the expected utility functions used for the aggregate household. We show how lotteries as in Rogerson 1988 can be used to convexify consumption sets, and aggregate over individual preferences. With a discrete labor supply decisions, the elasticity of aggregate labor supply increases from unity to infinity.
Chinese Geopolitics in Southeast Asia: A New Pattern of Economic Power within ASEAN?
Authors: Wrobel Ralph Michael 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Southeast Asia is of highest geostrategic interest for China as a rising Great Power as well as for the U.S. and its ally Japan. Since the “Pivot to East Asia” of the Obama administration in Washington in 2011 observers are discussing a “New Great Game” in the region. But has China already established a “backyard” by its economic activities in Southeast Asia and in particular in ASEAN countries? What is the spatial pattern of China’s activities? As an analysis of FDI stocks as well as trade related data show ASEAN countries can be divided into several groups. (1) China’s small neighbour Laos dominated by Chinese FDI. (2) Countries like Cambodia and Myanmar partly dominated by Chinese FDI. (3) Countries with different trade ties to China but mostly strong military or diplomatic ties to the U.S. like Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and (4) the independent Brunei Darussalam. Therefore, Southeast Asia and in particular ASEAN cannot be called a Chinese “backyard” yet. But if U.S. president Trump withdraws the U.S. attention from the region China could be able to achieve a hegemonic position in the region soon.
Neo-Liberal Economic Reform, Social Change, and Inequality in the Post-Crisis Period in South Korea
Authors: Shin Kwang-Yeong 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
This paper attempts to explore the dynamics of inequality in the post-financial crisis period, which has been reshaping the lifeworld in South Korea. The neo-liberal economic reform in the post-crisis period has drastically affected income distribution, generating working poor and large marginalized social groups. The sharp rise of income inequality has been conducive to an unprecedented social crisis associated with the lowest birth rate and the highest poverty rate of the elderly in the world. Under the poor South Korean welfare system, the increase in precarious employment and rising inequality and poverty have undermined the social fabric, generating a drastic increase in suicide, family dissolution, and social distrust.
Unfertige Studien 5: Angeberei und Sufikleidung
Authors: van Ess Josef 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
The article is concerned with the Masāʾil fī aʿmāl al-qulūb wa-l-jawāriḥ (“Questions concerning the acts of the heart and the limbs”) by al-Muḥāsibī (d. 247 AH/853 CE). It contains a translation and a commentary of a part of the work that deals with the meaning of the term shuhra. The word is used in the sense of “to attract attention”. A repeated example is the woolen dress of the ṣūfīs, by which they distinguish themselves from the common people. Other examples are men dressed like women or women dressed like men. As in his other works, al-Muḥāsibī concentrates on the intention of an action, rather than on the action itself. To attract attention is not sinful as such, but when it is driven by a histrionic disorder, it begins to be. The text introduces the reader into a virtual discussion in which different traditional views of the matter are brought forward. According to a liberal attitude, everything which is not explicitly forbidden by Qurʾān and Sunna should be regarded as allowed. But by distinguishing between the customs of different epochs – pre-Islamic times, early Islamic times, the author’s present day – the same action could be considered correct or sinful depending upon when it happened. However, according to another view, the customs of the first Islamic community can never become wrong. With this, the direction of argumentation shifts towards fundamentalism. This view was held by al-Muḥāsibī himself, for whom the ideal of the early Islamic community stands above all.
The Philosophical Proof for God’s Existence between Europe and the Islamic World: Reflections on an Entangled History of Philosophy and Its Contemporary Relevance
Authors: Rudolph Ulrich , Seidel Roman 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
The Argument for God’s Existence is one of the major issues in the history of philosophy. It also constitutes an illuminating example of a shared philosophical problem in the entangled intellectual histories of Europe and the Islamic World. Drawing on Aristotle, various forms of the argument were appropriated by both rational Islamic Theology (kalām) and Islamic philosophers such as Avicenna. Whereas the argument, reshaped, refined and modified, has been intensively discussed throughout the entire post-classical era, particularly in the Islamic East, it has likewise been adopted in the West by thinkers such as the Hebrew Polymath Maimonides and the Medieval Latin Philosopher and Theologian Thomas Aquinas. However, these mutual reception-processes did not end in the middle ages. They can be witnessed in the twentieth century and even up until today: On the one hand, we see a Middle Eastern thinker like the Iranian philosopher Mahdī Ḥāʾirī Yazdī re-evaluating Kant’s fundamental critique of the classical philosophical arguments for God’s existence, in particular of the ontological proof, and refuting the critique. On the other hand, an argument from creation brought forward by the Islamic Theologian and critic of the peripatetic tradition al-Ghazāli has been adopted by a strand of Western philosophers who label their own version “The Kalām-cosmological Argument”. By discussing important cornerstones in the history of the philosophical proof for God’s existence we argue for a re-consideration of current Eurocentric narratives in the history of philosophy and suggest that such a transcultural perspective may also provide inspiration for current philosophical discourses between Europe, the Middle East and beyond.
Gender Discrimination in Exam Grading? Double Evidence from a Natural Experiment and a Field Experiment
Authors: Rangvid Beatrice Schindler 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Grading bias against boys may be one of the reasons why boys underperform in school compared to girls. This study assesses the causal effect of blind grading of boys relative to girls using difference-in-differences methods and exploiting two separate identification strategies: a unique full cohort natural experiment providing exogenous variation in blind grading, and a field experiment where the exact same exam papers are scored twice (blind and non-blind). Even though the two strategies hinge on different assumptions, the results persistently suggest against the existence of systematic gender biases in non-blind evaluation. The results are robust to different model specifications.
Diagnostic uncertainty: from education to communication
Authors: Santhosh Lekshmi , Chou Calvin L. , Connor Denise M. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Diagnostic uncertainty is common in clinical practice and affects both providers and patients on a daily basis. Yet, a unifying model describing uncertainty and identifying the best practices for how to teach about and discuss this issue with trainees and patients is lacking. In this paper, we explore the intersection of uncertainty and expertise. We propose a 2 × 2 model of diagnostic accuracy and certainty that can be used in discussions with trainees, outline an approach to communicating diagnostic uncertainty with patients, and advocate for teaching trainees how to hold such conversations with patients.