bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epigenetic status of subtelomere of peripheral leukocytes corresponds to cardiographic parameters with a sex association
Authors: Maeda Toyoki , Horiuchi Takahiko , Makino Naoki 
Published: July 2018

AimThe telomere length of somatic cells is associated with systemic aging. The attrition of somatic telomere length is accelerated in pathological conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases. However, clinical parameters of cardiac function have not been well studied in this regard. The present study examined how cardiac function was affected by telomere length and the subtelomeric methylation of peripheral leukocytes.MethodsTelomere length was assessed by Southern blotting analysis of genomic DNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes. Subtelomeric methylation was assessed by comparison between the Southern blotting results with a restriction enzyme Msp I and those with Hpa II, a methylation‐sensitive isoschizomer of Msp I.ResultsThe following parameters were associated with telomere length and/or the subtelomeric methylation status in a sex‐associated manner: PR interval, the voltage of QRS complex, QRS interval, QT interval and T wave voltage in electrocardiogram; and ejection fraction, the diameter of the left ventricle at the end diastolic phase, aortic root diameter and inferior vena cava diameter in echocardiogram.ConclusionsCardiac function correlates not only with telomere length, but also with the distribution of the telomere length and subtelomeric DNA methylation status. These imply that the loss of young cells, the accumulation of old cells and the acceleration of such changes in the cell population relate to phenotypes of cardiac aging with relative sex specificity. Furthermore, the PR interval showed a very close association with telomeric parameters in both sexes. Hence, PR is the most reliable candidate as an indicator of biological aging in both sexes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1415–1419.
Effective permeation of 2.5 and 5% lidocaine hydrochloride in human skin using iontophoresis technique
Authors: Manjunatha Roopa G. , Sharma Sunil , Narayan Ravi Prakash , Koul Veena 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundLidocaine Hydrochloride (HCL) is one of the commonest topical local anesthetic drugs. The permeation of the lidocaine can be enhanced by iontophoresis (IOP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the permeability of 2.5 and 5% lidocaine permeation in ex vivo human skin using different IOP waveform.MethodsContinuous and modulated IOP at the current density of 0.5 mA/cm2 were applied across human skin (n = 3) in donor chamber of vertical diffusion cell at 2.5 and 5% lidocaine concentration. High Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to determine lidocaine concentration.ResultsFindings revealed that lidocaine concentration increased effectively in a time‐dependent manner in both modulated and continuous IOP at 2.5 and 5% lidocaine concentration. Compared to the passive group, the flux of lidocaine with modulated and continuous IOP were higher of about six and ten‐fold, respectively. However, no significant difference was observed between continuous and modulated IOP groups at both lidocaine concentrations. At 2.5% lidocaine concentration, the permeation time taken by modulated and continuous IOP to attain therapeutic levels of 142 and 164 μg/cm2, respectively, was approximately 10 minutes. At 5% lidocaine, the therapeutic permeation of 129 and 147 μg/cm2, respectively, was achieved at approximately 5 minutes after applying iontophoresis waveform.ConclusionStudy shows that modulated IOP can be a promising alternative method in clinical settings aside from continuous IOP. Based on the clinical requirements, IOP can be used at 2.5 and 5% lidocaine concentration depending on need of relatively short or very short onset action.
Risk aversion, ambiguity aversion and the incentive problem with interim participation constraints
Authors: Wang Hongxia , Wang Jianli , Xia Xinping 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis work focuses on the effect of the principal's aversion toward both risk and ambiguity on the design of incentive contracts with interim participation constraints. We investigate how the second‐best outputs are affected by the strength of the principal's risk aversion and ambiguity aversion, respectively. Our result implies that the principal with more risk aversion is ready to delegate a bigger production quantity to the inefficient agent. We also show how the principal's aversion to ambiguity affects the production quantity allocated to the inefficient agent and clarify whether ambiguity aversion reinforces the effect of risk aversion.
Physiolytics at the workplace: Affordances and constraints of wearables use from an employee's perspective
Authors: Mettler Tobias , Wulf Jochen 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWearables paired with data analytics and machine learning algorithms that measure physiological (and other) parameters are slowly finding their way into our workplace. Several studies have reported positive effects from using such “physiolytics” devices and purported the notion that it may lead to significant workplace safety improvements or to increased awareness among employees concerning unhealthy work practices and other job‐related health and well‐being issues. At the same time, physiolytics may cause an overdependency on technology and create new constraints on privacy, individuality, and personal freedom. While it is easy to understand why organizations are implementing physiolytics, it remains unclear what employees think about using wearables at their workplace. Using an affordance theory lens, we, therefore, explore the mental models of employees who are faced with the introduction of physiolytics as part of corporate wellness or security programs. We identify five distinct user types each of which characterizes a specific viewpoint on physiolytics at the workplace: the freedom loving, the individualist, the cynical, the tech independent, and the balancer. Our findings allow for better understanding the wider implications and possible user responses to the introduction of wearable technologies in occupational settings and address the need for opening up the “user black box” in IS use research.
The importance of using 24‐hour and nighttime blood pressure for the identification of white coat hypertension: Data from the Jackson Heart Study
Authors: Anstey D. Edmund , Colantonio Lisandro D. , Yano Yuichiro , Booth John N. , Muntner Paul 
Published: July 2018

We calculated the prevalence of white coat hypertension (WCH) using out‐of‐clinic blood pressure (BP) in the daytime period; daytime and 24‐hour periods; and daytime, 24‐hour, and nighttime periods among 199 African Americans with clinic‐measured systolic/diastolic BP ≥140/90 mm Hg in the Jackson Heart Study. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was measured among participants with WCH and 374 participants with sustained normotension (ie, non‐hypertensive clinic, daytime, 24‐hour, and nighttime BP). The prevalence of WCH was 29.6%, 21.1%, and 10.6% using daytime BP; daytime and 24‐hour BP; and daytime, 24‐hour, and nighttime BP, respectively. Compared with sustained normotension, LVMI was higher when WCH was defined using daytime BP (adjusted mean difference [95% CI] 5.0 [−0.2, 10.1] g/m2), but not when defined using daytime and 24‐hour BP or daytime, 24‐hour, and nighttime BP (adjusted mean difference [95% CI] 3.9 [−1.9, 9.7] and 0.4 [−7.3,8.2] g/m2, respectively). Using only daytime BP overestimates the prevalence of WCH among African Americans.
Brown rice‐specific γ‐oryzanol as a promising prophylactic avenue to protect against diabetes mellitus and obesity in humans
Authors: Masuzaki Hiroaki , Kozuka Chisayo , Okamoto Shiki , Yonamine Masato , Tanaka Hideaki , Shimabukuro Michio 
Published: July 2018

AbstractChronic overconsumption of animal fats causes a variety of health problems, including diabetes mellitus and obesity. Underlying molecular mechanisms encompass leptin resistance, a decrease in rewarding effects of physical activities, xanthine oxidase‐induced oxidative stress in vasculature and peripheral tissue, impaired activation of incretin signaling, deviation in food preference, and dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Based on our clinical observation that daily intake of brown rice effectively ameliorates bodyweight gain, impaired glucose tolerance/insulin resistance and dependence on fatty foods in obese, prediabetes men, a line of research on brown rice (rice bran)‐derived γ‐oryzanol in mice experiments, cultured cells and human clinical trials is underway in our laboratory. Our works in mice showed that γ‐oryzanol, an ester mixture of ferulic acid and several kinds of phytosterols, acts as a molecular chaperone, thereby attenuating the strong preference for animal fats through suppression of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the hypothalamus. In pancreatic islets from both high‐fat diet‐induced and streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice, γ‐oryzanol ameliorates endoplasmic reticulum stress and protects β‐cells against apoptosis. Noticeably, γ‐oryzanol also acts as a potent inhibitor against deoxyribonucleic acid methyltransferases in the brain reward system (striatum) in mice, thereby attenuating, at least partly, the preference for a high‐fat diet through the epigenetic modulation of striatal dopamine D2 receptor. Because dopamine D2 receptor signaling in the brain reward system is considerably attenuated in obese humans and rodents, γ‐oryzanol might represent a unique property to ameliorate both hedonic and metabolic dysregulation of feeding behavior, highlighting a promising prophylactic avenue to protect against metabolic derangement.
Low serum vitamin D level is associated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
Authors: Gençosmanoğlu Türkmen Gulenay , Vural Yilmaz Zehra , Dağlar Korkut , Kara Özgür , Sanhal Cem Yaşar , Yücel Aykan , Uygur Dilek 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAimIntrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a unique hepatic disorder of pregnancy and is related to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. The pathogenesis of the disease is not clear and appears to be multifactorial. There is increasing evidence that vitamin D (Vit D) plays a role in hepatobiliary homeostasis and in various liver diseases. We aimed to investigate the association between serum Vit D level and ICP.MethodsA total of 40 pregnant women with ICP and 40 healthy pregnant women were included in this controlled cross‐sectional study. Their demographic characteristics, including age, body mass index (BMI), gestational week, gravidity and parity, and laboratory parameters, including 25(OH) Vit D3levels, liver function tests, fasting and postprandial bile acid concentrations, were recorded. Gestational age at delivery, birth weight (BW), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, meconium staining of amniotic fluid and appearance pulse grimace activity respiration (APGAR) score at 5 min were obtained from medical records for assessment of perinatal outcomes.ResultsThere was no significant difference between groups in terms of demographic characteristics. The mean serum 25(OH) Vit D3level was significantly lower in pregnant women with ICP compared to control pregnant women (8.6 ± 4.9, 11.3 ± 6.1;P=0.033), and it was significantly lower in severe disease than mild disease (6.9 ± 2.1, 10.3 ± 6.2, respectively;P=0.029). We also found that lower serum 25(OH) Vit D3levels were significantly and inversely correlated with fasting and postprandial bile acid levels. However, in subgroup analyses in ICP pregnant women, there was no difference in mean 25(OH) Vit D3levels for women with or without perinatal complications.ConclusionOur study suggests that low levels of 25(OH) Vit D3were associated with ICP disease and its severity. However, further larger studies are needed to evaluate the effect of Vit D in the pathogenesis and outcome of the disease.
Livestock grazing and forest structure regulate the assembly of ecological clusters within plant networks in eastern Australia
Authors: Eldridge David J. , Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Travers Samantha K. , Val James , Oliver Ian 
Published: July 2018

AbstractQuestionsHow do changes in grazing intensity by different herbivores and differences in forest structure affect the assembly of ecological clusters within plant ecological networks in dryland plant communities?LocationEastern Australia across an area of 0.4 million km2.MethodsWe used correlation network analysis and structural equation modelling to examine how changes in grazing intensity, by different herbivores, and differences in forest structure (tree canopy cover, basal area and density) and soil fertility influenced the assembly of ecological clusters of plant communities (i.e. relative abundance of ecological clusters formed by co‐occurring plant species within an ecological network) in three forested communities from eastern Australia.ResultsLivestock grazing and forest structure regulated the relative abundance of ecological clusters within plant networks, but their effects on these plant assemblies were highly dependent on the ecological cluster and forest community type, with no single winner or loser across forest types, conditions or grazing intensities. Thus, the relative abundance of some ecological clusters increased under grazing while others declined, a response that was maintained across different forest structures. The relative importance of grazing, forest structure and soil fertility varied across forest community type. The two eucalypt communities exhibited mixed effects of grazing and forest structure (Eucalyptus largiflorens) or forest structure only (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). In the third (Callitris glaucophylla) community, grazing played a larger role in controlling the plant community assembly. Soil fertility (soil C and P) effects were of a similar magnitude to grazing and forest structure, but the effects differed among clusters.ConclusionsLivestock grazing and forest structure regulated the relative abundance of ecological clusters within networks of plant communities in forests in eastern Australia. Our study uses a novel approach of ecological clusters to show that differences in grazing and forest structure will always disadvantage some plant ecological clusters. Furthermore, changes in one cluster will ultimately affect other clusters. Any changes in management therefore will have varied effects on different ecological plant clusters.
A marketization process in dispute: An analysis of serviced housing for the elderly in Finland, 2000–14
Authors: Toikko Timo , Rantanen Teemu 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMarketization can be viewed as a potential response to the economic challenges of the public sector. The present study is focused on the development of marketization in serviced housing for the elderly in municipalities within Finland. Marketization is approached by asking the question: What kind of municipality‐level factors are associated with marketization and its development? The data consist of 290 municipalities and cover the years 2000–14. According to the study, the size of the municipality, the political distribution of the municipality council, and the economic situation of the municipality are found to be associated with marketization. More preciesly, the municipality size was found to be a kind of prism, which creates two different realities when it is linked with political distribution and transfers. In the case of big municipalities, the big share of Green‐Left council members on municipality councils has been associated with a low level of marketization. However, in the case of small‐ and medium‐sized municipalities, the low level of marketization has been associated with the government statutory transfers between the state and municipalities, which has helped smaller municipalities to avoid fiscal stress. In a policy context, the present study suggests that the marketization process can be slowed down by supporting the economically weakest municipalities to avoid fiscal stress. On the other hand, the marketization process can be supported by creating bigger municipalities which are then attractive enough to create an effective market mechanism.
River functioning prior to the rise of land plants: A uniformitarian outlook
Authors: Ielpi Alessandro 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe study of geomorphic processes in barren landscapes, Precambrian and modern, has wide implications for planetary science. A long‐held status quo has been that, prior to the Palaeozoic evolution of vegetation, fluvial channels would have been invariably shallow, wide, braided in planform and flashier in discharge than vegetated ones. These assumptions are challenged through a threefold analysis of channel morphometry, discharge regimes and planform style. Measurements of modern and Proterozoic channel sections reveal overlapping morphometric ranges irrespective of climate and vegetation, pointing to shared scalar properties. Discharge regimes and planform styles inferred from Proterozoic records are akin to the spectrum observed in modern systems. Current criteria employed to identify meandering planforms are biased towards mud‐prone systems, and fail to address the sand‐rich nature of prevegetation alluvium. Vegetation forcing on river functioning cannot be entirely downplayed, although available data are construed towards an uniformitarian appraisal of pre‐Silurian fluvial dynamics.
Faecal microbiota transplantation alters gut microbiota in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: results from a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled study
Authors: Halkjær Sofie Ingdam , Christensen Alice Højer , Lo Bobby Zhao Sheng , Browne Patrick Denis , Günther Stig , Hansen Lars Hestbjerg , Petersen Andreas Munk 
Published: July 2018

ObjectiveIBS is associated with an intestinal dysbiosis and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been hypothesised to have a positive effect in patients with IBS. We performed a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial to investigate if FMT resulted in an altered gut microbiota and improvement in clinical outcome in patients with IBS.DesignWe performed this study in 52 adult patients with moderate-to-severe IBS. At the screening visit, clinical history and symptoms were assessed and faecal samples were collected. Patients were randomised to FMT or placebo capsules for 12 days and followed for 6 months. Study visits were performed at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months, where patients were asked to register their symptoms using the IBS-severity scoring system (IBS-SSS) and IBS-specific quality of life (IBS-QoL). Prior to each visit, faecal samples were collected.ResultsA significant difference in improvement in IBS-SSS score was observed 3 months after treatment (p=0.012) favouring placebo. This was similar for IBS-QoL data after 3 months (p=0.003) favouring placebo. Patients receiving FMT capsules had an increase in faecal microbial biodiversity while placebos did not.ConclusionIn this randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled study, we found that FMT changed gut microbiota in patients with IBS. But patients in the placebo group experienced greater symptom relief compared with the FMT group after 3 months. Altering the gut microbiota is not enough to obtain clinical improvement in IBS. However, different study designs and larger studies are required to examine the role of FMT in IBS.Trial registration numberNCT02788071.
Metabolic phenotype of skeletal muscle in early critical illness
Authors: Puthucheary Zudin A , Astin Ronan , Mcphail Mark J W , Saeed Saima , Pasha Yasmin , Bear Danielle E , Constantin Despina , Velloso Cristiana , Manning Sean , Calvert Lori , Singer Mervyn , Batterham Rachel L , Gomez-Romero Maria , Holmes Elaine , Steiner Michael C , Atherton Philip J , Greenhaff Paul , Edwards Lindsay M , Smith Kenneth , Harridge Stephen D , Hart Nicholas , Montgomery Hugh E 
Published: July 2018

ObjectivesTo characterise the sketetal muscle metabolic phenotype during early critical illness.MethodsVastus lateralis muscle biopsies and serum samples (days 1 and 7) were obtained from 63 intensive care patients (59% male, 54.7±18.0 years, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score 23.5±6.5).Measurements and main resultsFrom day 1 to 7, there was a reduction in mitochondrial beta-oxidation enzyme concentrations, mitochondrial biogenesis markers (PGC1α messenger mRNA expression (−27.4CN (95% CI −123.9 to 14.3); n=23; p=0.025) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (−1859CN (IQR −5557–1325); n=35; p=0.032). Intramuscular ATP content was reduced compared tocompared with controls on day 1 (17.7mmol/kg /dry weight (dw) (95% CI 15.3 to 20.0) vs. 21.7 mmol/kg /dw (95% CI 20.4 to 22.9); p<0.001) and decreased over 7 days (−4.8 mmol/kg dw (IQR −8.0–1.2); n=33; p=0.001). In addition, the ratio of phosphorylated:total AMP-K (the bioenergetic sensor) increased (0.52 (IQR −0.09–2.6); n=31; p<0.001). There was an increase in intramuscular phosphocholine (847.2AU (IQR 232.5–1672); n=15; p=0.022), intramuscular tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (0.66 µg (IQR −0.44–3.33); n=29; p=0.041) and IL-10 (13.6 ng (IQR 3.4–39.0); n=29; p=0.004). Serum adiponectin (10.3 µg (95% CI 6.8 to 13.7); p<0.001) and ghrelin (16.0 ng/mL (IQR −7–100); p=0.028) increased. Network analysis revealed a close and direct relationship between bioenergetic impairment and reduction in muscle mass and between intramuscular inflammation and impaired anabolic signaling. ATP content and muscle mass were unrelated to lipids delivered.ConclusionsDecreased mitochondrial biogenesis and dysregulated lipid oxidation contribute to compromised skeletal muscle bioenergetic status. In addition, intramuscular inflammation was associated with impaired anabolic recovery with lipid delivery observed as bioenergetically inert. Future clinical work will focus on these key areas to ameliorate acute skeletal muscle wasting.Trial registration numberNCT01106300.
ERCC2Helicase Domain Mutations Confer Nucleotide Excision Repair Deficiency and Drive Cisplatin Sensitivity in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Li Qiang , Damish Alexis W. , Frazier Zoë , Liu David , Reznichenko Elizaveta , Kamburov Atanas , Bell Andrew , Zhao Huiyong , Jordan Emmet J. , Gao S. Paul , Ma Jennifer , Abbosh Philip H. , Bellmunt Joaquim , Plimack Elizabeth R. , Lazaro Jean-Bernard , Solit David B. , Bajorin Dean , Rosenberg Jonathan E. , D'Andrea Alan D. , Riaz Nadeem , Van Allen Eliezer M. , Iyer Gopa , Mouw Kent W. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPurpose:DNA-damaging agents comprise the backbone of systemic treatment for many tumor types; however, few reliable predictive biomarkers are available to guide use of these agents. In muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), cisplatin-based chemotherapy improves survival, yet response varies widely among patients. Here, we sought to define the role of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) gene ERCC2 as a biomarker predictive of response to cisplatin in MIBC.Experimental Design:Somatic missense mutations in ERCC2 are associated with improved response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy; however, clinically identified ERCC2 mutations are distributed throughout the gene, and the impact of individual ERCC2 variants on NER capacity and cisplatin sensitivity is unknown. We developed a microscopy-based NER assay to profile ERCC2 mutations observed retrospectively in prior studies and prospectively within the context of an institution-wide tumor profiling initiative. In addition, we created the first ERCC2-deficient bladder cancer preclinical model for studying the impact of ERCC2 loss of function.Results:We used our functional assay to test the NER capacity of clinically observed ERCC2 mutations and found that most ERCC2 helicase domain mutations cannot support NER. Furthermore, we show that introducing an ERCC2 mutation into a bladder cancer cell line abrogates NER activity and is sufficient to drive cisplatin sensitivity in an orthotopic xenograft model.Conclusions:Our data support a direct role for ERCC2 mutations in driving cisplatin response, define the functional landscape of ERCC2 mutations in bladder cancer, and provide an opportunity to apply combined genomic and functional approaches to prospectively guide therapy decisions in bladder cancer.See related commentary by Grivas, p. 907