bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Further Applications of Advanced Methods to Infer Causes in the Study of Physiologic Childbirth
Authors: Snowden Jonathan M. , Tilden Ellen L. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe causal inference framework and related methods have emerged as vital within epidemiology. This framework and associated analytic approaches facilitate the conduct of valid science using observational data. These approaches have helped catalyze knowledge development using existing data and also have addressed questions for which randomized controlled trials are neither feasible nor ethical. The study of normal childbearing processes and women who are medically low risk may benefit from more direct and deliberate engagement with the process of inferring causes and the use of methods appropriate for this undertaking. This article is the second in a series of 3 that review scientific challenges encountered in researching pregnancy, labor, and birth and approaches for addressing them. This article introduces 2 methods for causal inference (g‐computation and instrumental variable analysis) to an audience of clinician‐scientists, including references with further details. The causal inference framework and associated methods hold promise for generating strong, broadly representative, and actionable science to improve the outcomes of women who are medically low risk and their children.
Impaired sequential and partially compensated probabilistic skill learning in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Kemény Ferenc , Demeter Gyula , Racsmány Mihály , Valálik István , Lukács Ágnes 
Published: June 2018

The striatal dopaminergic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been associated with deficits in skill learning in numerous studies, but some of the findings remain controversial. Our aim was to explore the generality of the learning deficit using two widely reported skill learning tasks in the same group of Parkinson's patients. Thirty‐four patients with PD (mean age: 62.83 years, SD: 7.67) were compared to age‐matched healthy adults. Two tasks were employed: the Serial Reaction Time Task (SRT), testing the learning of motor sequences, and the Weather Prediction (WP) task, testing non‐sequential probabilistic category learning. On the SRT task, patients with PD showed no significant evidence for sequence learning. These results support and also extend previous findings, suggesting that motor skill learning is vulnerable in PD. On the WP task, the PD group showed the same amount of learning as controls, but they exploited qualitatively different strategies in predicting the target categories. While controls typically combined probabilities from multiple predicting cues, patients with PD instead focused on individual cues. We also found moderate to high correlations between the different measures of skill learning. These findings support our hypothesis that skill learning is generally impaired in PD, and can in some cases be compensated by relying on alternative learning strategies.
Emotional Processing in the First 2 Years of Life: A Review of Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy Studies
Authors: Maria Ambika , Shekhar Shashank , Nissilä Ilkka , Kotilahti Kalle , Huotilainen Minna , Karlsson Linnea , Karlsson Hasse , Tuulari Jetro J. 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTEmotional stimuli processing during childhood helps us to detect salient cues in our environment and prepares us for our social life. In early childhood, the emotional valences of auditory and visual input are salient and relevant cues of social aspects of the environment, and it is of special interest to understand how exactly the processing of emotional stimuli develops. Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive neuroimaging tool that has proven valuable in studying emotional processing in children. After conducting a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases, we examined 50 NIRS studies performed to study emotional stimuli processing in children in the first 2 years of age. We found that the majority of these studies are done in infants and the most commonly used stimuli are visual and auditory. Many of the reviewed studies suggest the involvement of bilateral temporal areas in emotional processing of visual and auditory stimuli. It is unclear which neural activation patterns reflect maturation and at what age the emotional encoding reaches those typically seen in adults. Our review provides an overview of the database on emotional processing in children up to 2 years of age. Furthermore, it demonstrates the need to include the less‐studied age range of 1 to 2 years, and suggests the use of combined audio‐visual stimuli and longitudinal studies for future research on emotional processing in children. Thus, NIRS might be a vital tool to study the associations between the early pattern of neural responses and socioemotional development later in life.
Transcription factor DEC1 is required for maximal experimentally induced periodontal inflammation
Authors: Zhang F. , Suzuki M. , Kim I. S. , Kobayashi R. , Hamada N. , Sato F. , Bhawal U. K. 
Published: June 2018

Background and ObjectivesDisruption of transcriptional regulation is a confounding factor associated with a wide range of human inflammatory diseases. To investigate mechanistic links between transcription factor DEC1 and pathways underlying inflammation, wild‐type and DEC1 knockout (KO) C57BL/6 mice were treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis (or carboxymethyl cellulose as a control) to induce periodontal inflammation. It provoked an inflammatory response within the oral environment, which showed robust variation in alveolar bone resorption and expression of inflammatory cytokines.Material and MethodsMale DEC1KO mice and their wild‐type littermates were used for the experimental periodontitis model. Measurement of alveolar bone resorption, micro‐computed tomography, isolation of gingival mononuclear cells (GMCs), flow cytometry and immunohistochemical analysis were used in this study. Human gingival fibroblast cells (HGF‐1) were used for DEC1 over‐expression and short interference RNA (siRNA) studies and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed.ResultsMicro‐computed tomography analysis demonstrated that P. gingivalis caused a decrease in bone area of wild‐type mice compared with DEC1KO mice. Expression of inflammatory and immune markers in GMCs was significantly decreased in DEC1KO mice after treatment with P. gingivalis. Conversely, interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐10 mRNAs were significantly increased in GMCs isolated from DEC1KO mice. The results show that treatment of DEC1KO mice with P. gingivalis decreased the numbers of CD11b+F4/80+ and CD4+RANKL+ T cells. Moreover, expression of CD4, F4/80, RANKL and cathepsin K in inflammatory cell infiltrates was significantly reduced in DEC1KO mice treated with P. gingivalis compared with controls. Furthermore, over‐expression of DEC1 in HGF‐1 cells increased the expression of IL‐1β and tumor necrosis factor‐α mRNAs and their expression levels reached a maximum in response to treatment with lipopolysaccharide. Inhibition of DEC1 by short interference RNA interference suppressed the P. gingivalis‐derived lipopolysaccharide‐induced expression of IL‐1β, tumor necrosis factor‐α and toll‐like receptor4.ConclusionThese results suggest that transcription factor DEC1 can modulate P. gingivalis‐induced periodontitis in the oral mucosa.
The causes and consequences of subgenome dominance in hybrids and recent polyploids
Authors: Bird Kevin A. , VanBuren Robert , Puzey Joshua R. , Edger Patrick P. 
Published: June 2018

Contents

Summary
87

I.
Introduction
87

II.
Evolution in action: subgenome dominance within newly formed hybrids and polyploids
88

III.
Summary and future directions
90

Acknowledgements
92

References
92

SummaryThe merger of divergent genomes, via hybridization or allopolyploidization, frequently results in a ‘genomic shock’ that induces a series of rapid genetic and epigenetic modifications as a result of conflicts between parental genomes. This conflict among the subgenomes routinely leads one subgenome to become dominant over the other subgenome(s), resulting in subgenome biases in gene content and expression. Recent advances in methods to analyze hybrid and polyploid genomes with comparisons to extant parental progenitors have allowed for major strides in understanding the mechanistic basis for subgenome dominance. In particular, our understanding of the role that homoeologous exchange might play in subgenome dominance and genome evolution is quickly growing. Here we describe recent discoveries uncovering the underlying mechanisms and provide a framework to predict subgenome dominance in hybrids and allopolyploids with far‐reaching implications for agricultural, ecological, and evolutionary research.
Efficacy of prophylactic dexmedetomidine in preventing postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia in pediatric cardiac surgery patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ghimire Laxmi V. , Chou Fu‐Sheng 
Published: June 2018

SummaryBackgroundJunctional ectopic tachycardia is a serious tachyarrhythmic complication following pediatric cardiac surgery. It is difficult to manage and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Conventional nonpharmacological and pharmacological measures have shown limited effects. Dexmedetomidine is an α2 agonist which has recently been shown in multiple studies to be effective.AimsThe aim of this systematic review with meta‐analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic dexmedetomidine administration in the prevention of junctional ectopic tachycardia in pediatric patients following cardiac surgeries.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, and relevant references published in English before December 20, 2017 and performed meta‐analysis on the selected studies, with one group receiving prophylactic perioperative dexmedetomidine administration and another group receiving placebo. The primary outcome was the incidence of junctional ectopic tachycardia, secondary outcomes included bradycardia, hypotension, intensive care unit stay, total hospital stay, inotropic scores, and total mechanical ventilation time. Odds ratio or mean difference with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random effect model.ResultsSeven studies (5 prospective randomized studies and 2 retrospective case‐controlled studies) with a total of 1616 patients were analyzed. The incidence of junctional ectopic tachycardia in the dexmedetomidine group was significantly reduced compared to placebo. Similarly, intensive care unit stay, inotropic scores, and total mechanical ventilation time were also significantly decreased in the dexmedetomidine group. No significant increases in adverse events were found. Mortality was low in both groups.ConclusionProphylactic dexmedetomidine is effective in reducing the incidence of postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia without significant increases in adverse events in pediatric patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart diseases.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy vs surgical gastrostomy in infants with congenital heart disease
Authors: Einhorn Lisa M. , Taicher Brad M. , Greene Nathaniel H. , Reinstein Leon J. , Jooste Edmund H. , Campbell Michael J. , Machovec Kelly A. 
Published: June 2018

SummaryBackgroundInfants with congenital heart disease often require feeding tube placement to supplement oral intake. Gastrostomy tubes may be placed by either surgical or percutaneous endoscopic methods, but there is currently no data comparing outcomes of these procedures in this population.AimsThe aim of our retrospective study was to investigate the perioperative outcomes between the 2 groups to determine if there are clinically significant differences.MethodsWe reviewed the charts of all infants with congenital heart disease at a single academic institution having isolated surgical or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement from January 2011 to December 2015. Anesthetic time, defined by cumulative minimum alveolar concentration hours of exposure to volatile anesthetic, was the primary outcome. Operative time, intraoperative complications, and postoperative intensive care admissions were secondary outcomes.ResultsOne hundred and one infants with congenital heart disease were included in this study. Anesthetic exposure was shorter in the endoscopic group than the surgical group (0.20 MAC‐hours vs 0.56 MAC‐hours, 95% confidence interval 0.23, 0.49, P < .001). Average operative times were also shorter in the endoscopic gastrostomy vs the surgical group (8 ± 0.7 minutes vs 35 ± 1.3 minutes, 95% confidence interval 23.7, 31.0, P < .001). Adjusting for prematurity and preoperative risk category, the surgical group was associated with a 3.45 fold increase in the likelihood of a higher level of care postoperatively (95% confidence interval 1.20, 9.90, P = .02).ConclusionIn infants with congenital heart disease, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement is associated with reduced anesthetic exposure and fewer postoperative intensive care unit admissions compared to surgical gastrostomy.
A quartet pollen phenotype identified in a population of Brassica interspecific hybrids shows incomplete penetrance and variable response to temperature
Authors: Gohar M. , Gäbelein R. , Mason A. S. 
Published: June 2018

Abstract

Quartet pollen, where pollen grains remain attached to each other post‐meiosis, is useful for tetrad analysis, crossover assessment and centromere mapping. We observed the quartet pollen phenotype for the first time in the agriculturally significant Brassica genus, in an experimental population of allohexaploid Brassica hybrids derived from the cross (Brassica napus × B. carinata) × B. juncea followed by two self‐pollination generations.

Quartet pollen production was assessed in 144 genotypes under glasshouse conditions, following which a set of 16 genotypes were selected to further investigate the effect of environment (warm: 25 °C and cold: 10 °C temperatures) on quartet pollen production in growth cabinets.

Under glasshouse phenotyping conditions, only 92 out of 144 genotypes produced enough pollen to score: of these, 30 did not produce any observable quartet pollen, while 62 genotypes produced quartet pollen at varying frequencies. Quartet pollen production appeared quantitative and did not clearly fall into phenotypic or qualitative categories indicative of major gene expression. No consistent effect of temperature on quartet pollen production was identified, with some genotypes producing more and some producing less quartet pollen under different temperature treatments.

The genetic heterogeneity and frequent pollen infertility of this population prevents strong conclusions being made. However, it is clear that the quartet phenotype in this Brassica population does not show complete penetrance and shows variable (likely genotype‐specific) response to temperature stress. In future, identification of quartet phenotypes in Brassica would perhaps best be carried out via screening of diploid (e.g. B. rapa) TILLING populations.
Maternal folic acid supplementation for the prevention of preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bulloch Rhodi E. , Lovell Amy L. , Jordan Vanessa M. B. , McCowan Lesley M. E. , Thompson John M. D. , Wall Clare R. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundPreeclampsia is a significant contributor to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Folic acid supplementation is recommended periconceptionally for the prevention of neural tube defects. Epidemiological evidence suggests that maternal folic acid supplementation may play a role in preventing other adverse birth outcomes. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of maternal folic acid supplementation during pregnancy on risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.MethodsMultiple scientific databases and grey literature were searched for relevant studies. Studies were reviewed according to pre‐specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Study characteristics were summarised and study quality was assessed. A meta‐analysis of observational studies was conducted to examine the effect of maternal folic acid supplementation on preeclampsia risk.ResultsMeta‐analysis of eight observational studies showed significantly lower odds of preeclampsia with folic acid supplementation in comparison to no folic acid supplementation: OR = 0.78 (95% CI 0.63, 0.98), with moderately high heterogeneity between studies. Subgroup analysis showed no significant subgroup difference between folic acid supplementation taken by itself, in comparison to folic acid taken in or alongside a multivitamin.ConclusionLow level evidence is available for a modest association between maternal folic acid supplementation and reduction in preeclampsia risk. Future studies should differentiate between early and late onset and mild vs severe preeclampsia, and should control for relevant confounders including the presence of multivitamin supplements.The protocol for this systematic review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015029310).
Exporting to fragile states in Africa: Firm‐level evidence
Authors: Chacha Peter Wankuru , Edwards Lawrence 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThis study analyses the effect of fragility in destination markets on firm export behavior and the role of firm size in mediating adverse outcomes. The analysis is conducted using firm transaction data on Kenyan exports to Africa over the period 2004–2013. The analysis reveals that fragility negatively affects a firm's decision to enter a given destination market, reducing Kenya's bilateral trade flows to African countries. Larger firms are more resilient to destination shocks in fragility and are less likely to exit. These results are robust to alternative measures of destination fragility, and the exclusion of bordering countries and the East African Community partner states. Our analysis reveals that the effect of business fragility (regulatory quality, government effectiveness, and control of corruption) dominates that of political fragility (voice and accountability, rule of law, and political stability), although both effects are negative and significant.
Primary hyperoxaluria: Orthodontic management in a pediatric patient: A case report
Authors: Cazzolla A. P. , Zhurakivska K. , Ciavarella D. , Lacaita M. G. , Favia G. , Testa N. F. , Marzo G. , La Carbonara V. , Troiano G. , Lo Muzio L. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study is to report the case of the orthodontic treatment in a patient affected by primary hyperoxaluria type 1 and subjected to a combinate liver‐kidney transplant.Methods and resultsThe 9‐year patient was admitted to our department for the presence of facial dysmorphism. The patient was affected by primary hyperoxaluria type 1 and has undergone a combined liver‐kidney transplantation. At the time of the visit, he was in treatment with immunosuppressive drugs and received a corticosteroid and an antibiotic therapy monthly. An intraoral and extraoral examination, as well as radiographic and model analysis, was performed in order to define an accurate diagnosis and a proper rehabilitation planning. An orthopedic‐orthodontic treatment was performed and satisfactory final results obtained. A laser gingivectomy was also realized for eliminate the gengival hyperplasia probably induced by cyclosporine assumption. Both skeletal and dental relationships were improved by the treatment, reaching a good dental arches alignment.ConclusionAn early diagnosis, as well as a multidisciplinary approach, is very important in patients with rare diseases. An appropriate treatment allowed us to achieve acceptable results and improve the patient quality of life.
T follicular‐like helper cells in the peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Brokstad K. A. , Fredriksen M. , Zhou F. , Bergum B. , Brun J. G. , Cox R. J. , Skarstein K. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPrimary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by exocrine gland dysfunction, mainly causing sicca symptoms. B cells have a prominent role in SS, and the T follicular helper (TFH) cells provide B cells with survival and specialization signals in germinal centres. Here, we investigate peripheral TFH cells in pSS. Sixteen pSS patients and healthy controls were enrolled in the study, with 13 women and 3 men in each group. Whole blood was collected and separated into PBMC and plasma, followed by cryopreservation. Plasma samples were analysed for Ro52, Ro60 and La48 autoantibodies by indirect ELISA. For flow cytometric analysis, we defined 4 subsets of TFH‐like cells within the CD3+CD4+CXCR5+ population, namely the ICOS−PD‐1−, ICOS−PD‐1+, ICOS+PD‐1− and ICOS+PD‐1+ (“TFH”) cells. We also investigated 4 CD19+ B cell subsets, the CD20+CD27+CD38− memory B cells, CD20+CD27+CD38+ memory B cells, CD20−CD27+CD38++CD138− plasmablasts and CD20−CD27+CD38++CD138+ plasma cells. We observed higher fractions of ICOS+PD‐1− cells, ICOS+PD‐1+ (“TFH”) cells and plasmablasts in pSS patients compared to controls, and lower frequencies of both types of memory B cells. The number of TFH cells correlated positively with the levels of plasmablasts and plasma cells in the pSS patients, but not in the controls. The pSS patients were stratified according to Ro52/Ro60/La48 serology, and a positive association was found between autoantibody levels and increased level of TFH cells, plasmablasts and plasma cells and lowered levels of memory B cells. We observed a higher response to Ro/La stimulation in pSS patients compared to controls of the memory B cells, although only significantly for the CD38− memory B cells. Overall, a pathological relation between the ICOS+ T follicular‐like helper cells and B cells in pSS was observed, but further work should be conducted to explore their overall impact upon disease progression.
Oxalyltransferase, a plant cell‐wall acyltransferase activity, transfers oxalate groups from ascorbate metabolites to carbohydrates
Authors: Dewhirst Rebecca A. , Fry Stephen C. 
Published: June 2018

SummaryIn the plant apoplast, ascorbate is oxidised, via dehydroascorbic acid, to O‐oxalyl esters [oxalyl‐l‐threonate (OxT) and cyclic oxalyl‐l‐threonate (cOxT)]. We tested whether OxT and cOxT can donate the oxalyl group in transacylation reactions to form oxalyl‐polysaccharides, potentially modifying the cell wall. [oxalyl‐14C]OxT was incubated with living spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and Arabidopsis cell‐suspension cultures in the presence or absence of proposed acceptor substrates (carbohydrates). In addition, [14C]OxT and [14C]cOxT were incubated in vitro with cell‐wall enzyme preparations plus proposed acceptor substrates. Radioactive products were monitored electrophoretically. Oxalyltransferase activity was detected. Living cells incorporated oxalate groups from OxT into cell‐wall polymers via ester bonds. When sugars were added, [14C]oxalyl‐sugars were formed, in competition with OxT hydrolysis. Preferred acceptor substrates were carbohydrates possessing primary alcohols e.g. glucose. A model transacylation product, [14C]oxalyl‐glucose, was relatively stable in vivo (half‐life >24 h), whereas [14C]OxT underwent rapid turnover (half‐life ~6 h). Ionically wall‐bound enzymes catalysed similar transacylation reactions in vitro with OxT or cOxT as oxalyl donor substrates and any of a range of sugars or hemicelluloses as acceptor substrates. Glucosamine was O‐oxalylated, not N‐oxalylated. We conclude that plants possess apoplastic acyltransferase (oxalyltransferase) activity that transfers oxalyl groups from ascorbate catabolites to carbohydrates, forming relatively long‐lived O‐oxalyl‐carbohydrates. The findings increase the range of known metabolites whose accumulation in vivo indicates vitamin C catabolism. Possible signalling roles of the resulting oxalyl‐sugars can now be investigated, as can the potential ability of polysaccharide oxalylation to modify the wall's physical properties.