bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A-83 The Applicability of the Word Accentuation Test (WAT) in a Diverse Spanish Speaking Population: A Pilot Study
Authors: Gonzalez D , Facchini R , Marquez C , Masur D , McGinley J , Weiss E , Zwerling J 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Objective
A valid estimate of premorbid ability (PA) is important when attempting to identify cognitive decline. Measures of PA in English have been widely validated, but there is a lack of PA instruments for Spanish speakers. The findings of a pilot study assessing the feasibility of using the Word Accentuation Test (WAT) as a PA measure in a diverse, traditionally underserved, Spanish speaking population are described.

Method
The WAT was administered as part of comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations and neurobehavioral status exams (NBSE) completed with Spanish speaking patients at Montefiore Medical Center (MMC) in a 6-month period. Sixty-one patients completed the WAT- 12 as part of comprehensive testing (mean age 60 (SD 11.05) range 43-80, 67% female) and 49 during NBSEs within the context of multidisciplinary memory disorders clinics (mean age 74.35 (SD 8.60) range 51-93, 80% female). T-tests and correlations with WAT performances were completed.

Results
Overall, our population correctly read an average of 19.67 (SD 7.61) words. There was no statistical difference by gender or age, but years of education predicted WAT performance (p = .004). For those individuals who had comprehensive cognitive evaluations, WAT scores were correlated with performance on the vocabulary subtest of the EIWA-III (p = .003). All patients without severe dementia were able to complete the task.

Conclusions
Analysis of pilot data from our diverse Spanish population demonstrated that the WAT is an PA appropriate task that appears to have good correlation with years of education and vocabulary performance. Additional research is necessary to validate the measure in this cohort and other cohorts.
B-06 Attention and Verbal Memory Declines after Epilepsy Surgery Associated with Restricted Improvements in Cognitive, Energy and Medication Related Aspects of Quality of Life in Latino People with Epilepsy
Authors: Neaves S , Smith J 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Objective
Explore neuropsychological and quality of life outcomes of epilepsy surgery in an underserved, primarily immigrant, Spanish-speaking cohort of people with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods
Pre- and postsurgical Neuropsychological Screening Battery for Hispanics (NeSBHIS) and Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31; Spanish Version) results were compared for 22 adult Latinos (females = 50%), from Mexico (81.8%), El Salvador (9.1%) and Guatemala (9.1%). All participants were part of a comprehensive epilepsy center in Los Angeles. Mean surgical age was 33.5 years (SD = 8.5), while mean education was 8.7 years (SD = 3.1). Seizures were exclusively lateralized to right (59.1%) and left hemispheres (40.9%).

Results
One-tailed, paired t-tests demonstrated statistically significant differences between pre- and postsurgical raw scores for Digit Span, t(21) = -2.52, p = 0.02 (presurgical M = 8.05, SD = 1.70; postsurgical M = 7.32, SD = 1.43), and the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) Delayed Recall, t(21) = -2.99, p < 0.01 (presurgical M=10.00, SD=2.51; postsurgical M = 8.55 SD = 2.61). Respective effect sizes were moderate (d = .54; d = .64). QOLIE-31 scores improved on all subscales, as expected. Significant changes |p < 0.05| were found on most QOLIE-31 subscales, i.e., Seizure Worry, Emotional Well-Being, Social Function and Overall Quality of Life. Remaining subscales did not significantly improve, i.e., Energy/Fatigue, Cognitive and Medication Effects.

Conclusions
Attention and verbal memory declines after epilepsy surgery were associated with limited improvements on QOLIE-31 subscales of Cognitive, Energy/Fatigue and Medication Effects in Latino PWE. Previous studies have not simultaneously examined neuropsychological and QOLIE-31 outcomes after epilepsy surgery in this unique, underserved, Spanish-speaking population. Further investigation is warranted.
Below Chance Performance of p < .05 or p < .20: Frequency of Statistically Below Chance Scores in Dementia
Authors: Olsen D , Schroeder R , Martin P 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Objective
A p-value of < .05 has traditionally been utilized to determine below chance performance on forced-choice performance validity tests (PVT). Recently, Binder and colleagues (2014 & 2018) proposed that the p-value cutoff increase to < .20. To ensure this does not result in frequent false-positive errors in patients who are likely to have significant cognitive impairment, frequency of below chance scores at both p-values were examined within the context of possible dementia.

Method
Archival data of cognitively impaired inpatient (n = 55; mean RBANS Total Score = 64.67) and outpatient (n = 203; mean RBANS Total Score = 74.15) older adults without external incentives were examined to determine frequency of below chance performances on the Coin-in-the-Hand Test. To supplement this data and examine below chance performance on a second PVT, the authors reviewed empirical literature and extracted data on TOMM performance in individuals with dementia. Four studies (n = 269 patients) provided data that could be extracted.

Results
No patient produced a Coin-in-the-Hand Test score (0/258 individuals) reaching either p value cutoff. Similarly, no patient produced a TOMM Trial 2 (0/121 individuals) or Retention score (0/84 individuals) reaching either p value cutoff. For TOMM Trial 1, no patient (0/44) scored at p < .05 but two patients (2/64) scored at p < .20.

Conclusions
No individual in this study produced scores on either PVT reaching the p < .05 cutoff. At the p < .20 cutoff, there were only 2 out of 527 performances (0.4%) that reached this threshold; both of which were observed on TOMM Trial 1. This data supports the recommendation that p < .20 be used when determining below chance performance.
Impact of Puberty and Age on Adolescent Inhibition Over Time
Authors: Harrison J , Wong M , McManimen S 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Objective
We measured how puberty impacted inhibition over three years. We hypothesized that age and puberty development would predict inhibition at each time point. Results revealed differential effects of puberty and age over time.

Method
Participants from Southern Idaho were 245 adolescents at Time 1 (T1) (M = 10.4, SD = 1.5, 50% female, 64% Caucasian), 196 adolescents at Time 2 (T2) (M = 11.8, SD = 1.5, 50% female, 81% Caucasian), and 87 adolescents at Time 3 (T3) (M = 13, SD = 1.5, 56% female, 82% Caucasian). Participants completed a physical exam with a registered nurse, which included the Tanner Scale (Apter & Hermanson, 2002; Tinggaard et. al., 2012) and the Puberty Development Scale (Petersen et al., 1988). Inhibition was assessed using stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) within the Stop-it Task (Logan, Cowan, & Davis, 1984).

Results
Using structural equation modeling, for T1, the overall model demonstrated a good fit, χ2(3) = 1.23, p = .75, RMSEA = .00, CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.04. Puberty significantly predicted inhibition (β = -.21, p < .05), i.e., higher puberty scores predicted stronger inhibition. However, age was not a significant predictor. At T2, the model demonstrated a good fit, χ2(7) = 7.77, p = .35, RMSEA = .03, CFI = 1.00, TLI = .99. Age significantly predicted inhibition (β=-.39, p < .001). However, puberty was not a significant predictor. In T3, neither age nor puberty predicted inhibition.

Conclusions
Our results indicate that early adolescent increases in inhibition may be due to puberty development rather than age. As one ages, puberty has less effect, and chronological age becomes more significant. Finally, in mid-adolescence, neither age nor puberty significantly affects inhibition. These findings highlight the changing effects of age and puberty on inhibitory control across adolescence.
Normative Data that Does Not Exclude Participants with Mild Cognitive Impairment Results in Lower Than Expected Memory Impairment Rates, Particularly in Females
Authors: Stricker N , Lundt E , Christianson T , Machulda M , Kremers W , Fields J , Mielke M , Knopman D , Petersen R 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Objective
Mayo’s Older Adult Normative Studies (MOANS) have served as an important resource for clinicians for three decades. Data collection was completed prior to the development and widespread use of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) as a construct. Therefore, a portion of individuals included in the MOANS normative studies likely had undetected cognitive impairment.

Method
The Mayo Clinic Study of Aging (MCSA) is a population-based study of cognitive aging among Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents that began in October 2004. We applied age-adjusted MOANS norms (Ivnik et al., 1992) for the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) long delay recall to cognitively unimpaired participants age 56 or older in the MCSA (N = 3,603). We used 1-sample tests of proportions comparing observed impairment rates to impairment rates expected based on a normal distribution of performance.

Results
Results showed that a significantly lower than expected number of participants demonstrated impaired delayed recall based on MOANS norms (all p’s < .001). Using a lenient cut-off (< -1 SD), only 7.3% of participants demonstrated impaired performance (vs. 15.9% expected), and this was more pronounced for females (3.5% impaired) relative to males (11.1% impaired). Further, only 0.6% of participants demonstrated impaired performance at a cut-off of < -2 SD, and no participants aged 80-91 reached this cut-off (2.3% expected).

Conclusions
Results suggest that the sensitivity of the original MOANS norms is lowered by likely inclusion of individuals with MCI, particularly in females. Updated normative data for the AVLT that exclude individuals with MCI and adjust for sex are needed.
Does city life reduce neophobia? A study on wild black-capped chickadees.
Authors: Jarjour Catherine , Evans Julian C , Routh Mélanie , Morand-Ferron Julie 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAs human populations increase and city borders grow, many animals have to modify foraging behaviors in order to exploit evolutionarily novel urban food sources that could aid their survival. Neophobia, the fear of novelty, can lead to missed opportunities in these cases. Here, we studied the novelty response of wild animals in ecologically relevant conditions while controlling for individual characteristics and potential differences in foraging group size. We predicted that urban black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) would be more likely to initially contact novelty than rural chickadees and that subordinates and juveniles would be more likely to first contact novelty than dominants and adults, respectively. We ran replicated experiments using three novelty types (object, color, or food) on six sites, during which we registered feeder choice of 71 tagged individuals. We found that urban chickadees showed less neophobia than their rural counterparts, the latter having a higher probability of initially contacting the familiar feeder before approaching the novel feeder. There was no significant effect of an individual’s dominance, age, or sex on its first choice of feeder, nor was there any effect of novelty type. Overall, our results suggest that urban chickadees exhibit less neophobia than their rural counterparts because they have generally learned to tolerate novelty in their habitat, they have adapted to live in an environment that rewards low neophobia, and/or they are less reluctant to use feeders at new locations.
Doxycycline Prophylaxis for Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections
Authors: Grant Juliana S , Stafylis Chrysovalantis , Celum Connie , Grennan Troy , Haire Bridget , Kaldor John , Luetkemeyer Anne F , Saunders John M , Molina Jean-Michel , Klausner Jeffrey D 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been increasing over the past 2 decades in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. With the widespread use of early human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, which virtually eliminates transmission risk, and the availability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, there have been attitudinal changes regarding HIV infection with resultant increases in sexual contact and declines in condom use. Doxycycline is used for primary prophylaxis in a number of infectious diseases. We conducted a state-of-the-art review to examine the current state of research, knowledge gaps, and challenges around the use of doxycycline prophylaxis to prevent syphilis and other STIs. International academic and government experts met in March 2019 to frame the initial inquiry, which was supplemented by focused literature searches. Two small short-term randomized controlled trials examining doxycycline prophylaxis found high efficacy. Five additional clinical studies are underway or in development. Studies differed in design, population, outcomes, and safety measures. Doxycycline prophylaxis for bacterial STIs shows promise. Better and more robust data are needed on efficacy; target population; community acceptability; behavioral risk compensation; doxycycline dose, regimen, and formulation; long-term safety; antimicrobial resistance; cost-effectiveness; and risk–benefit.
Endothelial microvesicles carrying Src-rich cargo impair adherens junction integrity and cytoskeleton homeostasis
Authors: Chatterjee Victor , Yang Xiaoyuan , Ma Yonggang , Cha Byeong , Meegan Jamie E , Wu Mack , Yuan Sarah Y 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAimsMicrovesicles (MVs) conduct intercellular communication and impact diverse biological processes by transferring bioactive cargos to other cells. We investigated whether and how endothelial production of MVs contribute to vascular dysfunction during inflammation.Methods and resultsWe measured the levels and molecular properties of endothelial-derived MVs (EC-MVs) from mouse plasma following a septic injury elicited by cecal ligation and puncture, as well as those from supernatants of cultured endothelial cells stimulated by inflammatory agents including cytokines, thrombin, and complement 5a. The mouse studies showed that sepsis caused a significant increase in total plasma vesicles and VE-cadherin+ EC-MVs compared to sham control. In cultured ECs, different inflammatory agents caused diverse patterns of EC-MV production and cargo contents. When topically applied to endothelial cells, EC-MVs induced a cytoskeleton-junction response characterized by myosin light chain phosphorylation, contractile fibre reorganization, VE-cadherin phosphorylation, and adherens junction dissociation, functionally measured as increased albumin transendothelial flux and decreased barrier resistance. The endothelial response was coupled with protein tyrosine phosphorylation promoted by MV cargo containing c-Src kinase, whereas MVs produced from c-Src deficient cells did not exert barrier-disrupting effects. Additionally, EC-MVs contribute to endothelial inflammatory injury by promoting neutrophil-endothelium adhesion and release of neutrophil extracellular traps containing citrullinated histones and myeloperoxidase, a response unaltered by c-Src knockdown.ConclusionEndothelial-derived microparticles cause endothelial barrier dysfunction by impairing adherens junctions and activating neutrophils. The signalling mechanisms underlying the endothelial cytoskeleton-junction response to EC-MVs involve protein phosphorylation promoted by MV cargo carrying c-Src. However, EC-MV-induced neutrophil activation was not dependent on c-Src.
Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of testis pathology and Sertoli cell epimutations: generational origins of male infertility
Authors: Sadler-Riggleman Ingrid , Klukovich Rachel , Nilsson Eric , Beck Daniel , Xie Yeming , Yan Wei , Skinner Michael K 
Published: August 2019

AbstractMale reproductive health has been in decline for decades with dropping sperm counts and increasing infertility, which has created a significant societal and economic burden. Between the 1970s and now, a general decline of over 50% in sperm concentration has been observed in the population. Environmental toxicant-induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance has been shown to affect testis pathology and sperm count. Sertoli cells have an essential role in spermatogenesis by providing physical and nutritional support for developing germ cells. The current study was designed to further investigate the transgenerational epigenetic changes in the rat Sertoli cell epigenome and transcriptome that are associated with the onset of testis disease. Gestating female F0 generation rats were transiently exposed during the period of fetal gonadal sex determination to the environmental toxicants, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) or vinclozolin. The F1 generation offspring were bred (i.e. intercross within the lineage) to produce the F2 generation grand-offspring that were then bred to produce the transgenerational F3 generation (i.e. great-grand-offspring) with no sibling or cousin breeding used. The focus of the current study was to investigate the transgenerational testis disease etiology, so F3 generation rats were utilized. The DNA and RNA were obtained from purified Sertoli cells isolated from postnatal 20-day-old male testis of F3 generation rats. Transgenerational alterations in DNA methylation, noncoding RNA, and gene expression were observed in the Sertoli cells from vinclozolin and DDT lineages when compared to the control (vehicle exposed) lineage. Genes associated with abnormal Sertoli cell function and testis pathology were identified, and the transgenerational impacts of vinclozolin and DDT were determined. Alterations in critical gene pathways, such as the pyruvate metabolism pathway, were identified. Observations suggest that ancestral exposures to environmental toxicants promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of Sertoli cell epigenetic and transcriptome alterations that associate with testis abnormalities. These epigenetic alterations appear to be critical factors in the developmental and generational origins of testis pathologies and male infertility.
Evaluation of the Epidemiologic Efficacy of EradicatingHelicobacter pylorion Development of Gastric Cancer
Authors: Duan Fujiao , Song Chunhua , Zhang Jintao , Wang Peng , Ye Hua , Dai Liping , Zhang Jianying , Wang Kaijuan 
Published: August 2019

AbstractEradication of Helicobacter pylori colonization has been reported to affect the progression of gastric cancer. A comprehensive literature search was performed from 1997 to 2017 using electronic databases. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized controlled trials (non-RCT) evaluated the effect of H. pylori eradication on development of gastric cancer. Four RCTs and 9 non-RCTs were included (n = 40,740 participants; 321,269 person-years). Overall, H. pylori eradication therapy was associated with a significantly reduced risk of gastric cancer (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.41, 0.65). Results of mixed-effect Poisson regression meta-analysis were similar to those of traditional meta-analyses. In stratified analyses, the IRRs were 0.59 (95% CI: 0.41, 0.86) in RCTs and 0.48 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.64) in non-RCTs. The IRRs were 0.45 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.61) in patients and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.44, 0.90) in the general population. Moreover, the relative risk reduction was approximately 77% on the development of noncardiac gastric cancer with H. pylori eradication therapy in China. Attributable risk percentage and population attributable risk percentage for Chinese patients were 77.08% and 75.33%, respectively, and for Japanese patients were 57.80% and 45.99%, respectively. H. pylori eradication therapy reduces the risk of noncardiac gastric cancer development. The findings indicate the importance of early intervention with H. pylori eradication therapy from the perspective of epidemiology.
Need for pacemaker implantation in patients with normal QRS duration immediately after transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Schoechlin Simon , Jalil Fares , Blum Thomas , Ruile Philipp , Hein Manuel , Nührenberg Thomas G , Arentz Thomas , Neumann Franz-Josef 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Aims
We sought to assess the need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) in patients with QRS <120 ms in electrocardiogram (ECG) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods and results
We retrospectively analysed 1139 consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVI between 2008 and 2016, receiving different valve types. All patients were surveyed by continuous ECG monitoring for 48 h, 12-lead ECGs starting immediately after procedure, as well as 24-h Holter recording the day before discharge. Indication for PPI was at the discretion of the attending physician. Among 760 patients with QRS <120 ms prior to the TAVI procedure, 400 patients showed QRS <120 ms immediately after procedure, whereas 360 patients had QRS ≥120 ms. In the group with QRS <120 ms, PPI was performed in 34 patients [8.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.6–11.2%] during the first week. Eight of the PPIs in the group with QRS <120 ms (2%; CI 0.8–3.5%) fulfilled Class I indications for PPI after TAVI, whereas 26 PPIs had different indications [left bundle branch block, sick sinus, low-grade atrioventricular (AV) block]. Complete AV block developed in three patients of the group of QRS <120 ms (0.75%; CI 0.0–1.7%), which in all cases occurred after the 48 h-surveillance period. During 1-year follow-up, 11 PPIs were performed (2.8%; CI 1.2–4.5%), thereof three PPI for Class I indications including one complete AV block.

Conclusion
In patients with QRS duration <120 ms immediately after TAVI, the risk for complete AV block was low during the first week after TAVI and 1-year follow-up.
Balancing Selection Drives the Maintenance of Genetic Variation in Drosophila Antimicrobial Peptides
Authors: Chapman Joanne R , Hill Tom , Unckless Robert L 
Published: August 2019

AbstractGenes involved in immune defense against pathogens provide some of the most well-known examples of both directional and balancing selection. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are innate immune effector genes, playing a key role in pathogen clearance in many species, including Drosophila. Conflicting lines of evidence have suggested that AMPs may be under directional, balancing, or purifying selection. Here, we use both a linear model and control-gene-based approach to show that balancing selection is an important force shaping AMP diversity in Drosophila. In Drosophila melanogaster, this is most clearly observed in ancestral African populations. Furthermore, the signature of balancing selection is even more striking once background selection has been accounted for. Balancing selection also acts on AMPs in Drosophila mauritiana, an isolated island endemic separated from D. melanogaster by about 4 Myr of evolution. This suggests that balancing selection may be broadly acting to maintain adaptive diversity in Drosophila AMPs, as has been found in other taxa.