bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Proximal aorta longitudinal strain predicts aortic root dilation rate and aortic events in Marfan syndrome
Authors: Guala Andrea , Teixidó-Tura Gisela , Rodríguez-Palomares Jose , Ruiz-Muñoz Aroa , Dux-Santoy Lydia , Villalva Nicolas , Granato Chiara , Galian Laura , Gutiérrez Laura , González-Alujas Teresa , Sanchez Violeta , Forteza Alberto , García-Dorado David , Evangelista Artur 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Aims
Life expectancy in Marfan syndrome patients has improved thanks to the early detection of aortic dilation and prophylactic aortic root surgery. Current international clinical guidelines support the use of aortic root diameter as a predictor of complications. However, other imaging markers are needed to improve risk stratification. This study aim to ascertain whether proximal aorta longitudinal and circumferential strain and distensibility assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) predict the aortic root dilation rate and aortic events in Marfan syndrome.

Methods and results
One hundred and seventeen Marfan patients with no previous aortic dissection, cardiac/aortic surgery, or moderate/severe aortic regurgitation were prospectively included in a multicentre protocol of clinical and imaging follow-up. At baseline, CMR was performed and proximal aorta longitudinal strain and ascending aorta circumferential strain and distensibility were obtained. During follow-up (85.7 [75.0–93.2] months), the annual growth rate of aortic root diameter was 0.62 ± 0.65 mm/year. Fifteen patients underwent elective surgical aortic root replacement and four presented aortic dissection. Once corrected for baseline clinical and demographic characteristics and aortic root diameter, proximal aorta longitudinal strain, but not circumferential strain and distensibility, was an independent predictor of the aortic root diameter growth rate (P = 0.001, P = 0.823, and P = 0.997, respectively), z-score growth rate (P = 0.013, P = 0.672, and P = 0.680, respectively), and aortic events (P = 0.023, P = 0.096, and P = 0.237, respectively).

Conclusion
Proximal aorta longitudinal strain is independently related to the aortic root dilation rate and aortic events in addition to aortic root diameter, clinical risk factors, and demographic characteristics in Marfan syndrome patients.
A randomized controlled trial of metformin on left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with coronary artery disease without diabetes: the MET-REMODEL trial
Authors: Mohan Mohapradeep , Al-Talabany Shaween , McKinnie Angela , Mordi Ify R , Singh Jagdeep S S , Gandy Stephen J , Baig Fatima , Hussain Muhammad S , Bhalraam U , Khan Faisel , Choy Anna-Maria , Matthew Shona , Houston John Graeme , Struthers Allan D , George Jacob , Lang Chim C 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Aim
We tested the hypothesis that metformin may regress left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients who have coronary artery disease (CAD), with insulin resistance (IR) and/or pre-diabetes.

Methods and results
We randomly assigned 68 patients (mean age 65 ± 8 years) without diabetes who have CAD with IR and/or pre-diabetes to receive either metformin XL (2000 mg daily dose) or placebo for 12 months. Primary endpoint was change in left ventricular mass indexed to height1.7 (LVMI), assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. In the modified intention-to-treat analysis (n = 63), metformin treatment significantly reduced LVMI compared with placebo group (absolute mean difference −1.37 (95% confidence interval: −2.63 to −0.12, P = 0.033). Metformin also significantly reduced other secondary study endpoints such as: LVM (P = 0.032), body weight (P = 0.001), subcutaneous adipose tissue (P = 0.024), office systolic blood pressure (BP, P = 0.022) and concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, a biomarker for oxidative stress (P = 0.04). The glycated haemoglobin A1C concentration and fasting IR index did not differ between study groups at the end of the study.

Conclusion
Metformin treatment significantly reduced LVMI, LVM, office systolic BP, body weight, and oxidative stress. Although LVH is a good surrogate marker of cardiovascular (CV) outcome, conclusive evidence for the cardio-protective role of metformin is required from large CV outcomes trials.
MYRF haploinsufficiency causes 46,XY and 46,XX disorders of sex development: bioinformatics consideration
Authors: Hamanaka Kohei , Takata Atsushi , Uchiyama Yuri , Miyatake Satoko , Miyake Noriko , Mitsuhashi Satomi , Iwama Kazuhiro , Fujita Atsushi , Imagawa Eri , Alkanaq Ahmed N , Koshimizu Eriko , Azuma Yoshiki , Nakashima Mitsuko , Mizuguchi Takeshi , Saitsu Hirotomo , Wada Yuka , Minami Sawako , Katoh-Fukui Yuko , Masunaga Yohei , Fukami Maki , Hasegawa Tomonobu , Ogata Tsutomu , Matsumoto Naomichi 
Published: March 2019

AbstractDisorders of sex development (DSDs) are defined as congenital conditions in which chromosomal, gonadal or anatomical sex is atypical. In many DSD cases, genetic causes remain to be elucidated. Here, we performed a case–control exome sequencing study comparing gene-based burdens of rare damaging variants between 26 DSD cases and 2625 controls. We found exome-wide significant enrichment of rare heterozygous truncating variants in the MYRF gene encoding myelin regulatory factor, a transcription factor essential for oligodendrocyte development. All three variants occurred de novo. We identified an additional 46,XY DSD case of a de novo damaging missense variant in an independent cohort. The clinical symptoms included hypoplasia of Müllerian derivatives and ovaries in 46,XX DSD patients, defective development of Sertoli and Leydig cells in 46,XY DSD patients and congenital diaphragmatic hernia in one 46,XY DSD patient. As all of these cells and tissues are or partly consist of coelomic epithelium (CE)-derived cells (CEDC) and CEDC developed from CE via proliferaiton and migration, MYRF might be related to these processes. Consistent with this hypothesis, single-cell RNA sequencing of foetal gonads revealed high expression of MYRF in CE and CEDC. Reanalysis of public chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data for rat Myrf showed that genes regulating proliferation and migration were enriched among putative target genes of Myrf. These results suggested that MYRF is a novel causative gene of 46,XY and 46,XX DSD and MYRF is a transcription factor regulating CD and/or CEDC proliferation and migration, which is essential for development of multiple organs.
Going Out on a Limb: How Investigation of the Anoline Adhesive System Can Enhance Our Understanding of Fibrillar Adhesion
Authors: Garner Austin M , Wilson Michael C , Russell Anthony P , Dhinojwala Ali , Niewiarowski Peter H 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe remarkable ability of geckos to adhere to a wide-variety of surfaces has served as an inspiration for hundreds of studies spanning the disciplines of biomechanics, functional morphology, ecology, evolution, materials science, chemistry, and physics. The multifunctional properties (e.g., self-cleaning, controlled releasability, reversibility) and adhesive performance of the gekkotan adhesive system have motivated researchers to design and fabricate gecko-inspired synthetic adhesives of various materials and properties. However, many challenges remain in our attempts to replicate the properties and performance of this complex, hierarchical fibrillar adhesive system, stemming from fundamental, but unanswered, questions about how fibrillar adhesion operates. Such questions involve the role of fibril morphology in adhesive performance and how the gekkotan adhesive apparatus is utilized in nature. Similar fibrillar adhesive systems have, however, evolved independently in two other lineages of lizards (anoles and skinks) and potentially provide alternate avenues for addressing these fundamental questions. Anoles are the most promising group because they have been the subject of intensive ecological and evolutionary study for several decades, are highly speciose, and indeed are advocated as squamate model organisms. Surprisingly, however, comparatively little is known about the morphology, performance, and properties of their convergently-evolved adhesive arrays. Although many researchers consider the performance of the adhesive system of Anolis lizards to be less accomplished than its gekkotan counterpart, we argue here that Anolis lizards are prime candidates for exploring the fundamentals of fibrillar adhesion. Studying the less complex morphology of the anoline adhesive system has the potential to enhance our understanding of fibril morphology and its relationship to the multifunctional performance of fibrillar adhesive systems. Furthermore, the abundance of existing data on the ecology and evolution of anoles provides an excellent framework for testing hypotheses about the influence of habitat microstructure on the performance, behavior, and evolution of lizards with subdigital adhesive pads.
Richardson extrapolation allows truncation of higher-order digital nets and sequences
Authors: Goda Takashi 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
We study numerical integration of smooth functions defined over the $s$-dimensional unit cube. A recent work by Dick et al. (2019, Richardson extrapolation of polynomial lattice rules. SIAM J. Numer. Anal., 57, 44–69) has introduced so-called extrapolated polynomial lattice rules, which achieve the almost optimal rate of convergence for numerical integration, and can be constructed by the fast component-by-component search algorithm with smaller computational costs as compared to interlaced polynomial lattice rules. In this paper we prove that, instead of polynomial lattice point sets, truncated higher-order digital nets and sequences can be used within the same algorithmic framework to explicitly construct good quadrature rules achieving the almost optimal rate of convergence. The major advantage of our new approach compared to original higher-order digital nets is that we can significantly reduce the precision of points, i.e., the number of digits necessary to describe each quadrature node. This finding has a practically useful implication when either the number of points or the smoothness parameter is so large that original higher-order digital nets require more than the available finite-precision floating-point representations.
Comparative Prey Spectra Analyses on the Endangered Aquatic Carnivorous Waterwheel Plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Droseraceae) at Several Naturalized Microsites in the Czech Republic and Germany
Authors: Horstmann M , Heier L , Kruppert S , Weiss L C , Tollrian R , Adamec L , Westermeier A , Speck T , Poppinga S 
Published: March 2019

SynopsisThe critically endangered carnivorous waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Droseraceae) possesses underwater snap traps for capturing small aquatic animals, but knowledge on the exact prey species is limited. Such information would be essential for continuing ecological research, drawing conclusions regarding trapping efficiency and trap evolution, and eventually, for conservation. Therefore, we performed comparative trap size measurements and snapshot prey analyses at seven Czech and one German naturalized microsites on plants originating from at least two different populations. One Czech site was sampled twice during 2017. We recorded seven main prey taxonomic groups, that is, Cladocera, Copepoda, Ostracoda, Ephemeroptera, Nematocera, Hydrachnidia, and Pulmonata. In total, we recorded 43 different prey taxa in 445 prey-filled traps, containing in sum 461 prey items. With one exception, prey spectra did not correlate with site conditions (e.g. water depth) or trap size. Our data indicate that A. vesiculosa shows no prey specificity but catches opportunistically, independent of prey species, prey mobility mode (swimming or substrate-bound), and speed of movement. Even in cases where the prey size exceeded trap size, successful capture was accomplished by clamping the animal between the traps’ lobes. As we found a wide prey range that was attracted, it appears unlikely that the capture is enhanced by specialized chemical- or mimicry-based attraction mechanisms. However, for animals seeking shelter, a place to rest, or a substrate to graze on, A. vesiculosa may indirectly attract prey organisms in the vicinity, whereas other prey capture events (like that of comparably large notonectids) may also be purely coincidental.
Changes in liver stiffness after ART initiation in HIV-infected Nigerian adults with and without chronic HBV
Authors: Grant Jennifer L , Agaba Patricia , Ugoagwu Placid , Muazu Auwal , Okpokwu Jonathan , Akpa Samuel , Machenry Stephen , Imade Godwin , Agbaji Oche , Thio Chloe L , Murphy Robert , Hawkins Claudia 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundThere are limited data from sub-Saharan Africa on long-term liver fibrosis changes in HIV- and HIV/HBV-infected individuals.ObjectivesTo assess the effects of ART on liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using transient elastography (TE) in HIV- and HIV/HBV-infected Nigerian adults and examine factors associated with fibrosis regression.MethodsWe included ART-naive HIV- and HIV/HBV-infected adults (≥18 years) enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal study of liver disease between July 2011 and February 2015 at Jos University Teaching Hospital HIV Care and Treatment Centre in Nigeria. Patients initiated ART and had TE at baseline and follow-up (year 3). LSM cut-offs for Metavir scores were 5.9, 7.6 and 9.4 kPa for moderate fibrosis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively. We used multivariable regression to identify factors associated with TE (≥1 Metavir) stage decline.ResultsA total of 106 HIV- and 71 HIV/HBV-infected patients [70.5% female and median age = 34 years (IQR = 29–42 years)] were studied. Baseline LSM and median LSM decline were significantly higher in HIV/HBV- versus HIV-infected patients; 41% of HIV/HBV-infected patients regressed ≥1 Metavir stage versus 17% of HIV-infected patients (P < 0.01); LSM scores at year 3 were not significantly different between HIV- and HIV/HBV-infected patients. In multivariable analyses, patients with baseline CD4+ T cells ≥200 (versus <200) cells/mm3 and lower BMIs were more likely to experience LSM stage decline.ConclusionsHBV coinfection does not attenuate LSM declines in HIV-infected patients after ART initiation despite being a risk factor for more advanced liver disease prior to therapy. The inverse association between BMI and TE stage decline needs further investigation.
Factors associated with antibiotic prescribing for adults with acute conditions: an umbrella review across primary care and a systematic review focusing on primary dental care
Authors: Thompson W , Tonkin-Crine S , Pavitt S H , McEachan R R C , Douglas G V A , Aggarwal V R , Sandoe J A T 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Introduction
One way to slow the spread of resistant bacteria is by improved stewardship of antibiotics: using them more carefully and reducing the number of prescriptions. With an estimated 7%–10% of antibiotic prescriptions globally originating from dental practices and up to 80% prescribed unnecessarily, dentistry has an important role to play. To support the design of new stewardship interventions through knowledge transfer between contexts, this study aimed to identify factors associated with the decision to prescribe antibiotics to adults presenting with acute conditions across primary care (including dentistry).

Methods
Two reviews were undertaken: an umbrella review across primary healthcare and a systematic review in dentistry. Two authors independently selected and quality assessed the included studies. Factors were identified using an inductive thematic approach and mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Comparisons between dental and other settings were explored. Registration number: PROSPERO_CRD42016037174.

Results
Searches identified 689 publications across primary care and 432 across dental care. Included studies (nine and seven, respectively) were assessed as of variable quality. They covered 46 countries, of which 12 were low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Across the two reviews, 30 factors were identified, with ‘patient/condition characteristics’, ‘patient influence’ and ‘guidelines & information’ the most frequent. Two factors were unique to dental studies: ‘procedure possible’ and ‘treatment skills’. No factor related only to LMICs.

Conclusions
A comprehensive list of factors associated with antibiotic prescribing to adults with acute conditions in primary care settings around the world has been collated and should assist theory-informed design of new context-specific stewardship interventions.
Gamma-Ray Irradiation Control of Whiteflies Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum in the Exportation of Fresh Strawberries
Authors: Cho Sun-Ran , Koo Hyun-Na , Shin Soeun , Kim Hyun Kyung , Park Jong-Heum , Yoon Yeong Seok , Kim Gil-Hah 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Whitefly pests, including the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), and the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), are economically important in agriculture. With the annual growth of the domestic fresh fruit export market, various quarantine treatment methods are being used to export strawberries of better quality. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of gamma rays on the development and reproductive sterility of B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum. In both species, the eggs were completely inhibited from hatching at 50 Gy, and the emergence of third-instar nymphs was completely suppressed at 150 Gy. Some adult B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum spawning occurred at 100 and 70 Gy, respectively; however, at these irradiation levels, F1 hatchability was completely inhibited. Dosimetry results showed that the penetrating power of gamma ray in the strawberry-filled box was the lowest at the mid-box position. Therefore, B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum were placed in the middle of the strawberry-filled box and irradiated. A gamma-ray irradiation of 100 Gy suppressed the development and reproduction of eggs and adults in both B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum. Our data suggest that at least 100 Gy should be used for the control of these two species of whitefly for strawberry export.
Treatment Patterns Among De Novo Metastatic Cancer Patients Who Died Within 1 Month of Diagnosis
Authors: Sineshaw Helmneh M , Jemal Ahmedin , Ng Kimmie , Osarogiagbon Raymond U , Robin Yabroff K , Ruddy Kathryn J , Freedman Rachel A 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
Little is known about patterns of and factors associated with treatment for de novo metastatic cancer patients who die soon after diagnosis. In this study, we examine treatment patterns for patients newly diagnosed with metastatic lung, colorectal, breast, or pancreatic cancer who died within 1 month of diagnosis.

Methods
We identified 100 848 adult patients in the National Cancer Database with de novo metastatic lung, colorectal, breast, and pancreatic cancer, diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 and who died within 1 month. We performed descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine receipt of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy by cancer type, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Results
Treatment substantially varied by cancer type, over time, age, insurance, and facility type. Surgery ranged from 0.4% in pancreatic to 28.3% in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, chemotherapy from 5.8% among CRC to 11% in lung and breast cancer patients, and radiotherapy from 1.3% in pancreatic to 18.7% in lung cancer patients. Use of some treatments (eg, surgery for CRC and breast cancer) progressively declined between 2004 and 2014. Compared with lung cancer patients treated at National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers, those treated at community cancer centers had 48% lower odds of radiation.

Conclusions
Treatment of patients diagnosed with imminently fatal de novo metastatic cancer varied markedly by cancer type and patient/facility characteristics. These variations warrant more research to better identify patients with imminently fatal de novo metastatic cancer who may not benefit from aggressive and expensive therapies.
La Formation Des Conjugaisons Passives En Syriaque
Authors: Aïm Emmanuel 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
The present study provides a synchronic morphophonological analysis of the passive verbal stems in Syriac. As is well known, Syriac passive stems are directly derived from their corresponding active stems by addition of the preformative ’et- and ablaut (vowel mutation). Oddly enough, ablaut always involves the final-stem vowel but never the first one, e.g. pa “el &gt; ’etpa “al. We aim to show that the concept of Prosodic Circumscription developed by John McCarthy and his colleagues explains not only the asymmetry between the two vowels but also how the various internal modes of formation (gemination, infixation, ablaut) are distributed within the syllabic structure of the patterns, both active and passive.
The Short-Form of the Phoenician First-Person, Independent Pronoun Reassessed
Authors: Loder Charles W 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
The majority consensus concerning the first-person, singular, independent pronoun in Phoenician-Punic is that the language/s possessed only one form of the pronoun - 'nk. Krahmalkov in his dictionary of Phoenician-Punic lists two instances of a short-form of the pronoun and in his grammar adds two more instances. He regards the existence of the short-form as a dialectal variant of ‘Western Phoenician’ (i.e. Punic). Although this proposal is attractive, especially since it gives greater consideration to dialectal variation, the evidence is not convincing on the basis of epigraphic and phonological considerations.
A Pitfall in HbA1c Testing Caused by Hb Long Island Hemoglobin Variant
Authors: Wei Luo , Nan Yao , Ying Bian , Zuoliang Dong 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
Although many factors may interfere with hemoglobin (Hb)A1c measurement, Hb variants are among the most important factors.

Methods
We tested the HbA1c levels of the patient, a 32 year old Manchu Chinese woman, during a routine health check. We used different methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis, to test specimens from the patient. Next, we tested the specimen further using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.

Results
We discovered that our patient, who had an HbA1c value of 0, also has an Hb variant, Hb Long Island, which we found during the HbA1c analysis as part of her routine health check at the Health Management Center in the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. Also, we discovered that the exon 1 of β gene contained transversion mutations, with 1 heterozygous and 1 homozygous variant (HBB:c.8A &gt; C, 9T &gt; C). These gene mutations resulted in an amino-acid change (His to Pro) and a decrease in HbA1c value.

Conclusions
When there is no correlation between the clinical signs, glycemic status, and glycated Hb levels of the patient, the chromatogram of HbA1c should be carefully checked to detect possible variants that cause interference in the measurement.