bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Initial Efficacy of Delivering Alcohol Use Cognitive Interventions via Crowdsourcing
Authors: Strickland Justin C. , Hill J. Chauncey , Stoops William W. , Rush Craig R. 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundInhibitory control training and working memory training are 2 cognitive interventions that have been considered for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Existing studies have typically relied on small samples that preclude the evaluation of small effects. Crowdsourcing is a sampling method that can address these limitations by effectively and efficiently recruiting large samples with varying health histories. This study tested the feasibility and acceptability of delivering cognitive training interventions via crowdsourcing.MethodsParticipants with AUD were recruited from the crowdsourcing website Amazon Mechanical Turk (mTurk) (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT03438539). Following completion of a baseline survey, participants were randomized to an inhibitory control, working memory, or control training condition. Participants were asked to complete training tasks daily over a 2‐week period. Follow‐up assessments evaluating acceptability measures and alcohol and soda consumption were completed immediately following and 2 weeks after training.ResultsResponse rates were satisfactory over the 2‐week intervention period (65% of training tasks completed), and performance on training tasks was consistent with expected effects. A majority of participants indicated that they were satisfied with the study procedures (94.6%), would participate again (97.4%), and would consider incorporating the training task in their daily life (81.1%). Modest reductions in alcohol consumption were observed (e.g., 0.5 drinking day/wk), primarily in the inhibitory control group, and these effects were selective to alcohol use and did not extend to soda consumption.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of utilizing crowdsourcing methods for interventions development. Such a demonstration helps establish the crowdsourcing setting for future large sample studies testing novel interventions for AUD and other substance use disorders.
Feasibility of a mail‐in, self‐administered dried blood spot collection method in national, population‐based alcohol surveys in the United States
Authors: Martinez Priscilla , Zemore Sarah E. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackground and AimsIncluding a low‐intensity blood collection method in population‐based alcohol studies would advance our ability to study biological mechanisms related to alcohol. However, the likelihood of participation in such a blood collection method remains understudied. This study's primary aims were to (1) estimate the return rate of mail‐in, self‐administered dried blood spot (saDBS) samples in national surveys and (2) test correlates of returning a sample.DesignRe‐contact of all eligible participants from two telephone, population‐based alcohol surveys followed by χ2 tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis.SettingNon‐institutionalized US population in all 50 states and Washington, DC.ParticipantsAdults aged 18+ who reported drinking at least one alcoholic beverage in the past 12 months (assessed 2017–18). Contact was made with 680 eligible participants, and 257 consented.MeasurementsThe return rate of saDBS samples was defined as the proportion of returned samples among those who were eligible and contacted. Key correlates examined were gender, age, race/ethnicity and education.FindingsAmong the 680 eligible people contacted, 179 (26.3%) returned a saDBS sample. Blacks [odds ratio (OR) = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.35–0.95], Latinos (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.23–0.69) and those with a high school education or less (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.31–0.81).ConclusionsThe likelihood of participating in mail‐in, self‐administered dried blood spot (saDBS) sampling among drinkers in the US general population appears low, and blacks, Latinos and people with lower levels of education appear less likely to provide a saDBS sample compared with whites and people with higher levels of education.
Consanguinity: A blessing or menace at population level?
Authors: Bhinder Munir Ahmad , Sadia Haleema , Mahmood Nasir , Qasim Muhammad , Hussain Zawar , Rashid Muhammad Mudassar , Zahoor Muhammad Yasir , Bhatti Rashid , Shehzad Wasim , Waryah Ali Muhammad , Jahan Shah 
Published: March 2019

AbstractConsanguinity has highly complex and multifaceted aspects with sociocultural as well as biological debates on its pros and cons. The biological upshot of consanguinity includes the increased homozygosity, which results in manifold increased risk of genetic disorders at family and population levels. On the other hand, in addition to social, cultural, political, and economic benefits, consanguineous marriages have biological advantages at the population level. The consequence of consanguineous marriages is an upsurge in the number of homozygous diseased individuals with fewer chances of mating and reduced chances of survival, therefore evolutionarily confining the transmission of disease alleles to future generations and encouraging its elimination from a population. Protective effects of consanguinity have also been observed in a few diseases in different populations. Although attractive for many reasons, nonconsanguineous marriages will cause risk alleles to spread throughout the population, making most individuals carriers, and ultimately will resume the production of recessive diseases in subsequent generations. Although consanguinity, from an evolutionary point of view, is beneficial at the population level, it increases the risk of diseases in the very next generation. Presently, there is no treatment for most of the genetic disorders; we cannot opt for consanguinity for long‐term benefits. Nonconsanguineous marriages are a better strategy by which we may delay disease manifestation for some generations until science offers a viable solution.
Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in TPM1 rs11071720, rs3803499, rs12148828, and rs1972041 with the risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate in a sample of the Iranian population, a preliminary report
Authors: Rafighdoost Houshang , Tabatabaei Fatemeh , Bahari Gholamreza , Hashemi Mohammad 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSeveral lines of evidence support an association between tropomyosin 1 (TPM1) and the risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P). The present study aimed to investigate the association between TPM1 polymorphisms and the risk of NSCL/P in an Iranian population. This case‐control was done on 105 NSCL/P patients and 110 unrelated healthy controls. TPM1 rs11071720, rs3803499, rs12148828, and rs1972041 polymorphisms were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The finding showed that rs11071720 polymorphism significantly increased the risk of NSCL/P in homozygous codominant (odds ratio [OR] = 2.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14–5.69, p = 0.023, TT vs. CC), recessive (OR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.06–5.18, p = 0.021, TT vs. CT + CC), and allele (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.02–2.30, p = 0.030, T vs. C). The rs12148828 polymorphism was associated with protection against NSCL/P in codominant (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.15–0.48, p < 0.001, TC vs. TT) and allele (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.22–0.64, p < 0.001, C vs. T). Regarding rs3803499, the findings proposed that this polymorphism significantly increased the risk of NSCL/P in codominant (OR = 3.86, 95% CI = 1.19–12.56, p = 0.025, CC vs. TT) and recessive (OR = 3.74, 95% CI = 1.09–14.15, p = 0.018, CC vs. CT + TT). No significant association was practical between rs1972041 polymorphism and NSCL/P. In conclusion, the findings proposed that TPM1 polymorphisms may contribute to the etiology of NSCL/P in a sample of the Iranian population.
Real‐world treatment patterns and outcomes in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Chiang C. L. , Choi H. C. , Lam K. O. , Chan B. Y. , Lee S. F. , Yeung S. Y. , Lau K. S. , Chan S. Y. , Choy T. S. , Yuen K. K. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimTo investigate treatment patterns and outcomes of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients beyond second progression (PD2) since regorafenib and TAS‐102 became available in Hong Kong.MethodsThe clinical records of consecutive mCRC patients who were treated beyond PD2 at Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospital between June 2013 and February 2018, were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsOf 176 PD2 patients (76.7% Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1 and a median follow‐up time of 6.6 [range, 0.4–37.2] months), 104 (59%) underwent palliative care only and 72 (41%) received active third‐line (3L) treatment: regorafenib (n = 22), TAS‐102 (n = 6), chemotherapy + antiepidermal growth factor receptor (n = 12), chemotherapy + antivascular endothelial growth factor (n = 28) or clinical trials (n = 4). Patients on active 3L treatment had significantly longer OS than those on palliative care only: 11.7 versus 5.5 months (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.41, 95% confidence interval: 0.28–0.61, P < 0.001). For those on active treatment, OS was significantly associated with the time from diagnosis of metastasis to PD2 (P < 0.001) and post‐3L treatments (P = 0.009). When analyzing treatment eligibility according to trial criteria, half of the eligible patients (54/109) did not receive active treatment, but both eligible and ineligible patients achieved better OS when receiving active 3L treatment versus palliative care only (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002). No unexpected toxicity was reported.ConclusionActive 3L and beyond treatment significantly prolonged OS versus palliative care, even in selected “trial ineligible” patients. Given a high rate of palliation only care in eligible patients, improved patient access to medicine and counseling may be needed to maximize outcomes.
Management of ocular allergy
Authors: Leonardi Andrea , Silva Diana , Perez Formigo Daniel , Bozkurt Banu , Sharma Vibha , Allegri Pia , Rondon Carmen , Calder Virginia , Ryan Dermot , Kowalski Marek L. , Delgado Luis , Doan Serge , Fauquert Jean L. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe treatment and management of ocular allergy (OA) remain a major concern for different specialties, including allergists, ophthalmologists, primary care physicians, rhinologists, pediatricians, dermatologists, clinical immunologists, and pharmacists. We performed a systematic review of all relevant publications in MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web Science including systematic reviews and meta‐analysis. Publications were considered relevant if they addressed treatments, or management strategies of OA. A further wider systematic literature search was performed if no evidence or good quality evidence was found. There are effective drugs for the treatment of OA; however, there is a lack an optimal treatment for the perennial and severe forms. Topical antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, or double‐action drugs are the first choice of treatment. All of them are effective in reducing signs and symptoms of OA. The safety and optimal dosing regimen of the most effective topical anti‐inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, are still a major concern. Topical calcineurin inhibitors may be used in steroid‐dependent/resistant cases of severe allergic keratoconjunctivitis. Allergen‐specific immunotherapy may be considered in cases of failure of first‐line treatments or to modify the natural course of OA disease. Based on the current wealth of publications and on the collective experience, recommendations on management of OA have been proposed.
Innate immunity in allergy
Authors: Maeda Kazuhiko , Caldez Matias J. , Akira Shizuo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractInnate immune system quickly responds to invasion of microbes and foreign substances through the extracellular and intracellular sensing receptors, which recognize distinctive molecular and structural patterns. The recognition of innate immune receptors leads to the induction of inflammatory and adaptive immune responses by activating downstream signaling pathways. Allergy is an immune‐related disease and results from a hypersensitive immune response to harmless substances in the environment. However, less is known about the activation of innate immunity during exposure to allergens. New insights into the innate immune system by sensors and their signaling cascades provide us with more important clues and a framework for understanding allergy disorders. In this review, we will focus on recent advances in the innate immune sensing system.
Impact of public–private partnership on a regional colonoscopy service
Authors: Sakowska Magdalena M. , Cole Jessie A. M. , Watters David A. , Guest Glenn D. 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundA public–private partnership for endoscopy was introduced in Geelong where there was no capacity for public hospital endoscopy lists to expand. This paper presents the impact of this partnership on colonoscopy services.MethodsData were collated from prospectively maintained databases. Wait‐times to outpatient appointments, colonoscopy and follow‐up were analysed between July 2015 and June 2017 allowing for a 12‐month period of analysis before and after the initiation of the contract. Data are presented as medians (interquartile range).ResultsA total of 1300 colonoscopies were done between July 2015 and June 2016 compared to 2114 colonoscopies (P < 0.01) after the initiation of the public–private contract; 1073 (51%) colonoscopies were done on private contract. Prior to public–private contract, 41% patients waited more than 120 days from first presentation to healthcare services to diagnostic colonoscopy, this decreased to 19% after. Improvements were seen in both the waiting time for outpatient consultation (reduced from 92 days (39–136) prior to July 2016 to 73 days (32–122); P < 0.01) after) and the time taken from consultation to colonoscopy (from 125 days (70–207) to 36 days (21–159); P < 0.01) for category 1 patients.ConclusionWait‐times for both specialist outpatient assessment and colonoscopy have been significantly reduced through the introduction of a unique public–private partnership in the Greater Geelong area, resulting in more timely access for public patients and improved compliance with new guidelines.
Translational research aiming to improve survival of ovarian tissue transplants using adipose tissue‐derived stem cells
Authors: Dolmans Marie‐Madeleine , Cacciottola Luciana , Amorim Christiani A. , Manavella Diego 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThere is now sufficient evidence to support the feasibility and efficacy of ovarian tissue (OT) cryopreservation and transplantation for both fertility preservation and restoration purposes. However, there are still issues to address regarding the grafting procedure itself, since transplanted tissue suffers massive follicle loss in the early post‐grafting period. To improve follicle survival after transplantation, our group recently developed a two‐step transplantation technique for OT transplantation in a xenografting model using adipose tissue‐derived stem cells (ASCs). The aim of this narrative review is to describe and discuss the previously reported findings. ASCs were initially characterized by flow cytometry as positive for CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD166 (>95%) and negative for CD34, CD14, CD31, CD45 and Lin1. ASCs were used in a model of xenotransplantation, were they were embedded in a fibrin scaffold and transplanted to the peritoneum of immunodeficient mice. The goal of the first step was to increase levels of partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) and revascularization in the peritoneal transplantation site for further OT transplantation. As ASCs showed the ability to differentiate into endothelial‐like cells and vessels in our model, OT transplantation was then performed with ASC grafts in a controlled experiment. At 7 days post‐transplantation, the ASC group showed: (1) significantly higher pO2 levels; (2) significantly greater human and murine CD34‐positive endothelial areas; (3) significantly higher primordial follicle survival rates; (4) and significantly lower numbers of apoptotic follicles compared with the control group. Our research model demonstrates that by adding ASCs to a fibrin scaffold before OT transplantation, faster and better graft reoxygenation and revascularization may be obtained, resulting in increased follicle survival and reduced follicle apoptosis.
Coadministration of the prostaglandin F2α receptor antagonist preterm labour drug candidate OBE022 with magnesium sulfate, atosiban, nifedipine and betamethasone
Authors: Pohl Oliver , Marchand Line , Gotteland Jean‐Pierre , Coates Simon , Täubel Jörg , Lorch Ulrike 
Published: March 2019

AimsTo investigate presence or absence of clinically relevant drug interactions (pharmacokinetic and safety/tolerability) of OBE022 with standard‐of‐care medicines for preterm labour, enabling coadministration and further clinical development.MethodsPart A: open‐label, randomized, 3‐period crossover assessing coadministration of single doses of OBE022 (1100 mg) and MgSO4. Part B: open‐label, single‐sequence crossover assessing the interactions following administration of OBE022 (1000 mg/day) at steady state coadministered with single doses of atosiban, nifedipine and betamethasone. Twenty‐five healthy nonpregnant women of reproductive age were enrolled (Part A: n = 12; Part B: n = 13).ResultsOBE022, alone or in combination with standard‐of‐care medications, was well tolerated. Headache and dizziness were the most frequently reported adverse events; dizziness occurred more often with the nifedipine/OBE022 combination. There were no clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions when coadministered with MgSO4. Co‐administration had no notable effect on atosiban exposure. Atosiban reduced exposure to OBE002 (peak concentration [Cmax] 22%, area under the concentration–time curve [AUC] 19%). Coadministration with betamethasone slightly increased betamethasone exposure (Cmax + 18%, AUC +27%) and OBE002 exposure (Cmax + 35%, AUC +15%). These changes were not considered clinically significant. Coadministration with nifedipine slightly increased OBE002 exposure (Cmax + 29%, AUC +24%) and markedly increased nifedipine exposure (Cmax by 2‐fold and AUC by 2‐fold), which may be clinically significant.ConclusionsThe use of OBE022, a PGF2α antagonist prodrug, in combination with standard‐of‐care medicines may provide new treatment alternatives for preterm labour. All tested combinations were well tolerated. Nifedipine doses could potentially be reduced or staggered when coadministered with OBE022.
Impact of germline CTC1 alterations on telomere length in acquired bone marrow failure
Authors: Shen Wenyi , Kerr Cassandra M. , Przychozen Bartlomiej , Mahfouz Reda Z. , LaFramboise Thomas , Nagata Yasunobu , Hanna Rabi , Radivoyevitch Tomas , Nazha Aziz , Sekeres Mikkael A. , Maciejewski Jaroslaw P. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryCompound heterozygous germline mutations in CTC1 gene have been found in patients with atypical dyskeratosis congenita (DC), whereas heterozygous carriers are unaffected. Through screening of a large cohort of adult patients with acquired bone marrow failure syndromes, in addition to a DC case, we have also found extremely rare or novel heterozygous deleterious germline variants of CTC1 in patients with aplastic anaemia (AA; n = 5), paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH; n = 3) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; n = 2). A compound heterozygous case of AA showed clonal evolution. Our results suggest that some of the inherited CTC1 variants may represent predisposition factors for acquired bone marrow failure.
Circulating mast cell progenitors correlate with reduced lung function in allergic asthma
Authors: Salomonsson Maya , Malinovschi Andrei , Kalm‐Stephens Pia , Dahlin Joakim S. , Janson Christer , Alving Kjell , Hallgren Jenny 
Published: March 2019

SummaryBackgroundStudies using mouse models have revealed that mast cell progenitors are recruited from the blood circulation to the lung during acute allergic airway inflammation. The discovery of a corresponding human mast cell progenitor population in the blood has enabled to study the relation of circulating mast cell progenitors in clinical settings.ObjectivesTo explore the possible association between the frequency of mast cell progenitors in the blood circulation and allergic asthma, we assessed the relation of this recently identified cell population with asthma outcomes and inflammatory mediators in allergic asthmatic patients and controls.MethodsBlood samples were obtained, and spirometry was performed on 38 well‐controlled allergic asthmatic patients and 29 controls. The frequency of blood mast cell progenitors, total serum IgE and 180 inflammation‐ and immune‐related plasma proteins were quantified.ResultsAllergic asthmatic patients and controls had a similar mean frequency of blood mast cell progenitors, but the frequency was higher in allergic asthmatic patients with reduced FEV1 and PEF (% of predicted) as well as in women. The level of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF‐21) correlated positively with the frequency of mast cell progenitors, independent of age and gender, and negatively with lung function. The expression of FcεRI on mast cell progenitors was higher in allergic asthmatic patients and correlated positively with the level of total IgE in the controls but not in the asthmatic patients.ConclusionElevated levels of circulating mast cell progenitors are related to reduced lung function, female gender and high levels of FGF‐21 in young adults with allergic asthma.
Entrainment and Modulation of Gesture–Speech Synchrony Under Delayed Auditory Feedback
Authors: Pouw Wim , Dixon James A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractGesture–speech synchrony re‐stabilizes when hand movement or speech is disrupted by a delayed feedback manipulation, suggesting strong bidirectional coupling between gesture and speech. Yet it has also been argued from case studies in perceptual–motor pathology that hand gestures are a special kind of action that does not require closed‐loop re‐afferent feedback to maintain synchrony with speech. In the current pre‐registered within‐subject study, we used motion tracking to conceptually replicate McNeill's () classic study on gesture–speech synchrony under normal and 150 ms delayed auditory feedback of speech conditions (NO DAF vs. DAF). Consistent with, and extending McNeill's original results, we obtain evidence that (a) gesture‐speech synchrony is more stable under DAF versus NO DAF (i.e., increased coupling effect), (b) that gesture and speech variably entrain to the external auditory delay as indicated by a consistent shift in gesture‐speech synchrony offsets (i.e., entrainment effect), and (c) that the coupling effect and the entrainment effect are co‐dependent. We suggest, therefore, that gesture–speech synchrony provides a way for the cognitive system to stabilize rhythmic activity under interfering conditions.