bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic implications of a combined diagnostic workup including endomyocardial biopsy in an all‐comer population of patients with heart failure: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Sotiriou Efthymios , Heiner Susanne , Jansen Thomas , Brandt Moritz , Schmidt Kai Helge , Kreitner Karl‐Friedrich , Emrich Tilman , Schultheiss Heinz‐Peter , Schulz Eberhard , Münzel Thomas , Wenzel Philip 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundAetiology of heart failure (HF) often remains obscure. We therefore evaluated the usefulness of a combined diagnostic approach including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) and endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) to assess the cause of unexplained cardiomyopathy underlying HF.Methods and resultsWe retrospectively investigated 100 consecutive patients (36% women, mean age 53.6 ± 18.8 years) presenting with unexplained cardiomyopathy (HF with reduced ejection fraction or left ventricular hypertrophy; excluding ischaemic and valvular heart disease; left ventricular ejection fraction 31.6 ± 13.9%, Left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure 18.2 ± 9.3 mmHg, heart rate 89 ± 26.6 b.p.m.; mean ± SEM) at the University Medical Center Mainz. We performed electrocardiography, echocardiography, CMRI, and cardiac catheterization with EMB analysed at a Food and Drug Administration‐approved reference centre in 100%, 94%, 69%, and 100% of patients, respectively. On the basis of CMRI findings, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and medical history, the exact cause of cardiomyopathy remained uncertain in 37 of 69 cases (53.6%). In EMB, 25% of patients had viral replication, 23% had inflammation defined as lymphocytic infiltrations without active virus replication, 1% had giant cell myocarditis, and 1% had eosinophilic myocarditis. After diagnostic workup including EMB findings, the cause of cardiomyopathy remained unidentified in 14% of the cases, classified as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 10% or 4%, respectively. EMB helped to discuss a causal treatment strategy of HF involving immunosuppression or antiviral treatment in 53% of patients, which was opted for in 12% of the patients.ConclusionsA comprehensive workup including imaging and EMB in an all‐comer population of patients with HF may help physicians to improve diagnostics of unexplained cardiomyopathy in the majority of cases.
Differential requirements for IRF4 in the clonal expansion and homeostatic proliferation of naive and memory murine CD8+ T cells
Authors: Miyakoda Mana , Honma Kiri , Kimura Daisuke , Akbari Masoud , Kimura Kazumi , Matsuyama Toshifumi , Yui Katsuyuki 
Published: May 2018

AbstractInterferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) has critical roles in immune cell differentiation and function and is indispensable for clonal expansion and effector function in T cells. Here, we demonstrate that the AKT pathway is impaired in murine CD8+ T cells lacking IRF4. The expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a negative regulator of the AKT pathway, was elevated in Irf4−/− CD8+ T cells. Inhibition of PTEN partially rescued downstream events, suggesting that PTEN constitutes a checkpoint in the IRF4‐mediated regulation of cell signaling. Despite the clonal expansion defect, in the absence of IRF4, memory‐like CD8+ T cells could be generated and maintained, although unable to expand in recall responses. The homeostatic proliferation of naïve Irf4−/− CD8+ T cells was impaired, whereas their number eventually reached a level similar to that of wild‐type CD8+ T cells. Conversely, memory‐like Irf4−/− CD8+ T cells underwent homeostatic proliferation in a manner similar to that of wild‐type memory CD8+ T cells. These results suggest that IRF4 regulates the clonal expansion of CD8+ T cells at least in part via the AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, IRF4 regulates the homeostatic proliferation of naïve CD8+ T cells, whereas the maintenance of memory CD8+ T cells is IRF4‐independent.
Antiepileptic drug therapy in autoimmune epilepsy associated with antibodies targeting the leucine‐rich glioma‐inactivated protein 1
Authors: Feyissa Anteneh M. , Lamb Christopher , Pittock Sean J. , Gadoth Avi , McKeon Andrew , Klein Christopher J. , Britton Jeffrey W. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryObjectiveTo characterize seizure semiology and the utility of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in leucine‐rich glioma inactivated‐1 ( LGI1‐Ab) autoimmune epilepsy (AE).MethodsPatients with voltage‐gated potassium channel complex (VGKCc) titers higher than 0.02 nmol/L who were evaluated between May 2008 and June 2016 at the 3 Mayo Clinic sites (Arizona, Florida, or Minnesota) were identified. We then performed a retrospective review of those who were LGI1‐Ab positive and were treated for seizures.ResultsA total of 1,095 patients with VGKCc titers higher than 0.02 nmol/L were identified, in which 77 were LGI1 positive. Of these, 56 patients with seizures were included in the analysis. Mean age at symptom onset was 62.9 years; 66% (n = 37) were male. The most common seizure semiology was focal faciobrachial dystonic seizures with preserved awareness (FBDS) (n = 35, 63%), followed by focal with impaired awareness (FIA) (n = 29, 52%), generalized tonic–clonic (GTCs) (n = 28, 50%), and focal non‐motor seizures with preserved awareness (n = 28, 50%). The majority had more than one seizure type (n = 49, 88%; median = 2.5). Thirty‐eight patients (68%) became seizure free: 29 (76%) with immunotherapy, 3 (5%) with AEDs alone, 2 (3%) with AEDs before any immunotherapy, and 4 (7%) with AEDs after immunotherapy. Levetiracetam (n = 47, 84%) and valproic acid (n = 21, 38%) were the most commonly used AEDs, but neither were associated with seizure freedom. Sodium channel blocking (NCB) AEDs were associated with seizure freedom in 4 patients compared to none treated with non‐NCB AEDs. Regardless of class, AEDs prior to or apart from immunotherapy were associated with seizure freedom in only five patients (9%). In patients with FBDS, seizure freedom was more often associated with immunotherapy than AEDs (20/30 vs. 3/34, p = 0.001).SignificanceAlthough FBDS are the most characteristic seizure type seen in LGI1‐Ab AE, other seizure types including FIA and GTCs also occur. Immunotherapy was the treatment most frequently associated with seizure freedom in LGI1‐Ab AE. In general, AEDs seemed to confer a very low chance for seizure freedom, although AEDs with NCB‐blocking properties were associated with seizure freedom in a limited number. Levetiracetam in particular appears to be ineffective in this patient population.
The influence of neap–spring tidal variation and wave energy on sediment flux in salt marsh tidal creeks
Authors: Lacy Jessica R. , Ferner Matthew C. , Callaway John C. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSediment flux in marsh tidal creeks is commonly used to gauge sediment supply to marshes. We conducted a field investigation of temporal variability in sediment flux in tidal creeks in the accreting tidal marsh at China Camp State Park adjacent to northern San Francisco Bay. Suspended‐sediment concentration (SSC), velocity and depth were measured near the mouths of two tidal creeks during three 6‐ to 10‐week deployments: two in winter and one in summer. Currents, wave properties and SSC were measured in the adjacent shallows. All deployments spanned the largest spring tides of the season. Results show that tidally averaged suspended‐sediment flux (SSF) in the tidal creeks varied from slightly landward to strongly bayward with increasing tidal energy. SSF was negative (bayward) for tidal cycles with maximum water surface elevation above the marsh plain. Export during the largest spring tides dominated the cumulative SSF for each deployment. During ebb tides following the highest tides, velocities exceeded 1 m s−1 in the narrow tidal creeks, resulting in negative tidally averaged water flux, and mobilizing sediment from the creek banks or bed. Storm surge also produced negative SSF. Tidally averaged SSF was positive in wavy conditions with moderate tides. Spring tide sediment export at the creek mouth was about twice that at a station 130 m further up the tidal creek. The negative tidally averaged water flux near the creek mouth during spring tides indicates that in the lower marsh some of the water flooding directly across the bay–marsh interface drains through the tidal creeks, and suggests that this interface may be a pathway for sediment supply to the lower marsh as well. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using performance reference compounds to compare mass transfer calibration methodologies in passive samplers deployed in the water column
Authors: Joyce Abigail S. , Burgess Robert M. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Performance reference compounds (PRCs) are often added to passive samplers prior to field deployments to provide information about mass transfer kinetics between the sampled environment and the passive sampler. Their popularity has resulted in different methods of varying complexity to estimate mass transfer and better estimate freely dissolved concentrations (Cfree) of targeted compounds. Three methods for describing a mass transfer model are commonly used: a first-order kinetic method, a nonlinear least squares fitting of sampling rate, and a diffusion method. Low-density polyethylene strips loaded with PRCs and of 4 different thicknesses were used as passive samplers to create an array of PRC results to assess the comparability and reproducibility of each of the methods. Samplers were deployed in the water column at 3 stations in New Bedford Harbor (MA, USA). Collected data allowed Cfree comparisons to be performed in 2 ways: 1) comparison of Cfree derived from one thickness using different methods, and 2) comparison of Cfree derived by the same method using different thicknesses of polyethylene. Overall, the nonlinear least squares and diffusion methods demonstrated the most precise results for all the PCBs measured and generated Cfree values that were often statistically indistinguishable. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) for total PCB measurements using the same thickness and varying model types ranged from 0.04 to 12% and increased with sampler thickness, and RSDs for estimates using the same method and varying thickness ranged from 8 to 18%. Environmental scientists and managers are encouraged to use these methods when estimating Cfree from passive sampling and PRC data. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2089–2097. Published 2018 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Abstract
Mean freely dissolved water concentration (Cfree) per polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener as measured without performance reference compound correction and by each examined performance reference compound modeling approach for a 76-μm-thick low-density polyethylene passive sampler deployed in the water column of New Bedford Harbor (MA, USA).
Developing and applying control charts to detect changes in water chemistry parameters measured in the Athabasca River near the oil sands: A tool for surveillance monitoring
Authors: Arciszewski Tim J. , Hazewinkel Rod R. , Munkittrick Kelly R. , Kilgour Bruce W. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Control charting is a simple technique to identify change and is well suited for use in water quality programs. Control charts accounting for covariation associated with discharge and in some cases time were used to explore example and representative variables routinely measured in the Athabasca River near the oil sands area for indications of change. The explored variables include 5 major ions (chloride, sodium, sulfate, calcium, magnesium), 5 total metals (aluminum, iron, thallium, molybdenum, vanadium), and total suspended solids at two sites straddling the developments north of Fort McMurray. Regression equations developed from reference data (1988–2009) were used to predict observations and calculate residuals from later test data (2010–2016). Evidence of change was sought in the deviation of residual errors from the test period compared with the patterns expected and defined from probability distributions of the reference residuals using the odds ratio. In most cases, the patterns in test residuals were not statistically different from those expected from the reference period at either site, especially when data were examined annually. However, differences were found at both locations, more were found at the downstream site, and more differences emerged as data accumulated and were analyzed over time. In sum, the analyses at the downstream site suggest higher concentrations than predicted in most major ions, but the source of the changes is uncertain. In contrast, the concentrations of most metals at during the test period were lower than expected, which may be related to deposition patterns of materials or weathering of minerals during construction activities of the 2000s which influence the reference data used. The analyses also suggest alternative approaches may be necessary to understand change in some variables. Despite this, the results support the use of control charts to detect changes in water chemistry parameters and the value of the tool in surveillance phases of long-term and adaptive monitoring programs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2296–2311. © 2018 SETAC
The health benefits of a targeted cash transfer: The UK Winter Fuel Payment
Authors: Crossley Thomas F. , Zilio Federico 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEach year, the UK records 25,000 or more excess winter deaths, primarily among the elderly. A key policy response is the “Winter Fuel Payment” (WFP), a labelled but unconditional cash transfer to households with a member above the female state pension age. The WFP has been shown to raise fuel spending among eligible households. We examine the causal effect of the WFP on health outcomes, including self‐reports of chest infection, measured hypertension, and biomarkers of infection and inflammation. We find a robust, 6 percentage point reduction in the incidence of high levels of serum fibrinogen. Reductions in other disease markers point to health benefits, but the estimated effects are less robust.
Internal migrants' experiences with and perceptions of frontline health workers: A nationwide study in 13 Indian cities
Authors: Babu Bontha V. , Sharma Yogita , Kusuma Yadlapalli S. , Sivakami Muthusamy , Lal Dharmesh K. , Marimuthu Palaniappan , Geddam Jagjeevan B. , Khanna Anoop , Agarwal Monika , Sudhakar Godi , Sengupta Paramita , Borhade Anjali , Khan Zulfia , Kerketta Anna S. , Brogen Akoijam 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThe role of frontline health workers is crucial in strengthening primary health care in India. This paper reports on the extent of services provided by frontline health workers in migrants' experiences and perceptions of these services in 13 Indian cities. Cluster random sampling was used to sample 51 055 households for a quantitative survey through interviewer‐administered questionnaires. Information was sought on the receipt of health workers' services for general health care overall (from the head/other adult member of the household) and maternal and immunization services in particular (from mothers of children <2 years old). Purposively, 240 key informants and 290 recently delivered mothers were selected for qualitative interviews. Only 31% of the total respondents were aware of the visits of frontline health workers, and 20% of households reported visits to their locality during past month. In 4 cities, approximately 90% of households never saw health workers in their locality. Only 20% of women and 22% of children received antenatal care and vaccination cards from frontline health workers. Qualitative data confirm that the frontline health workers' visits were not regular and that health workers limited their services to antenatal care and childhood immunization. It was further noted that health workers saw the migrants as“outsiders.” These findings warrant developing migrant‐specific health‐care services that consider their vulnerability and living conditions. The present study has implications for India's National Urban Health Mission, which envisions addressing the health care needs of the urban population with a focus on the urban poor.
Comparison of the nasopharynx microbiome between influenza and non‐influenza cases of severe acute respiratory infections: A pilot study
Authors: Borges Luiz Gustavo dos Anjos , Giongo Adriana , Pereira Leandro de Mattos , Trindade Fernanda J. , Gregianini Tatiana Schäffer , Campos Fabrício Souza , Ghedin Elodie , da Veiga Ana Beatriz Gorini 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAimsInfluenza A virus (IAV) can cause severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), and disease outcome may be associated with changes in the microbiome of the nasopharynx. This is a pilot study to characterize the microbiome of the nasopharynx in patients hospitalized with SARI, infected and not infected by IAV.Methods and ResultsUsing target sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, we assessed the bacterial community of nasopharyngeal aspirate samples and compared the microbiome of patients infected with IAV with the microbiome of patients who were negative for IAV. We observed differences in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes between SARI patients, with Streptococcus being enriched and Pseudomonas underrepresented in IAV patients compared with patients who were not infected with IAV.ConclusionPseudomonas taxon seems to be in high frequency on the nasopharynx of SARI patients with non‐IAV infection and might present a negative association with Streptococcus taxon. Microbial profile appears to be different between SARI patients infected or not infected with IAV.
Circadian nutritional behaviours and cancer risk: New insights from the NutriNet‐santé prospective cohort study: Disclaimers
Authors: Srour Bernard , Plancoulaine Sabine , Andreeva Valentina A , Fassier Philippine , Julia Chantal , Galan Pilar , Hercberg Serge , Deschasaux Mélanie , Latino‐Martel Paule , Touvier Mathilde 
Published: May 2018

Circadian disruption has been classified as probably carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. The circadian clock is subject to environmental factors, particularly light exposure and food intake rhythms. However, the association between nutritional circadian behaviours and cancer is not well understood. We investigated the longitudinal associations between number of eating episodes, night‐time fasting duration, time of first and last eating episodes, as well as nutritional quality of last eating episode, respectively, with breast and prostate cancer risks, the two main cancer locations in women and men respectively. This prospective study included 41,389 day‐working adults in the French NutriNet‐Santé cohort (2009–2016) who completed at least three 24 h dietary records during the first 2 years of follow‐up. Multivariable Cox models were computed. 1,732 first primary incident cancer cases were diagnosed during the follow‐up, among which 428 breast and 179 prostate cancers. After adjustment for covariates including sleep duration, late eaters (last eating episode after 9:30 pm) had an increased risk of breast (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48 [1.02–2.17], p = 0.03) and prostate (HR = 2.20 [1.28–3.78], p = 0.004) cancers. However, no association was observed between cancer risk and number of eating episodes, night‐time fasting duration, time of first eating episode or macronutrient composition of the last eating episode. This large cohort study suggests that circadian perturbations resulting from late time of last food intake may be involved in carcinogenesis at different locations. Beyond nutritional quality of food intake, nutritional circadian regulation should be further investigated in the context of cancer prevention.
Evaluation of biochemical, endocrine, and metabolic biomarkers for the early diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome among non‐obese Saudi women
Authors: Daghestani Maha H. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the potential of selected biochemical, endocrine, and metabolic biomarkers for early diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among non‐obese women.MethodsA prospective observational cross‐sectional study was conducted at three medical centers in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, between July 15 and September 20, 2017. Eligible participants were non‐obese women diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria (n=44) and non‐obese normo‐ovulatory women without signs of PCOS (control group; n=44). Anthropometric variables related to metabolic profile were determined. Laboratory measures were assessed using fasting blood samples.ResultsWaist circumference and waist‐to‐hip ratio were increased among women with PCOS (both P˂0.001). When compared with the control group, patients in the PCOS group exhibited increases in cholesterol (13.8%), triglycerides (36.6%), low‐density lipoprotein (73.2%), fasting glucose (9.2%), fasting insulin (49.4%), luteinizing‐hormone/follicle‐stimulating‐hormone ratio (205.3%), 17β‐estradiol (39.2%), testosterone (202.3%), and vascular endothelial growth factor (241.7%) (all P<0.001); and decreases in high‐density lipoprotein (−25.3%), progesterone (−7.4%), and sex hormone‐binding globulin (−54.0%) (all P<0.001). Vitamin D (P=0.095) and Kisspeptin (P=0.944) levels did not differ between the groups.ConclusionVarious parameters could potentially be used as biomarkers to assess risk of PCOS, even among symptom‐free non‐obese women.
Half‐panel jackknife fixed‐effects estimation of linear panels with weakly exogenous regressors
Authors: Chudik Alexander , Pesaran M. Hashem , Yang Jui‐Chung 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThis paper considers estimation and inference in linear panel regression models with lagged dependent variables and/or other weakly exogenous regressors when N (the cross‐section dimension) is large relative to T (the time series dimension). It allows for fixed and time effects (FE‐TE) and derives a general formula for the bias of the FE‐TE estimator which generalizes the well‐known Nickell bias formula derived for the pure autoregressive dynamic panel data models. It shows that in the presence of weakly exogenous regressors inference based on the FE‐TE estimator will result in size distortions unless N/T is sufficiently small. To deal with the bias and size distortion of the FE‐TE estimator the use of a half‐panel jackknife FE‐TE estimator is considered and its asymptotic distribution is derived. It is shown that the bias of the half‐panel jackknife FE‐TE estimator is of order T−2, and for valid inference it is only required that N/T3→0, as N,T→∞ jointly. Extension to unbalanced panel data models is also provided. The theoretical results are illustrated with Monte Carlo evidence. It is shown that the FE‐TE estimator can suffer from large size distortions when N>T, with the half‐panel jackknife FE‐TE estimator showing little size distortions. The use of half‐panel jackknife FE‐TE estimator is illustrated with two empirical applications from the literature.
Inside Cover: Optimized perfusion‐based CUBIC protocol for the efficient whole‐body clearing and imaging of rat organs (J. Biophotonics 5/2018)
Authors: Matryba Paweł , Bozycki Lukasz , Pawłowska Monika , Kaczmarek Leszek , Stefaniuk Marzena 
Published: May 2018

Optical tissue clearing is a method allowing post‐mortem deep imaging of organs in three dimensions. By optimizing the CUBIC clearing protocol, the authors provide rapid and simple approach to clear the entire adult rat organism within as little as four days, which is accompanied by the variety of its staining and imaging techniques. The image was captured with polarizers and demonstrates transparent rodent heart with thread‐like crystals of clearing reagent.Further details can be found in the article by Paweł Matryba et al. (e201700248).
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