bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers associated with mortality in patients undergoing dialysis
Authors: Rebollo Rubio Ana , Morales Asencio Jose Miguel , Pons Raventos Mª Eugenia 
Published: May 2017

SUMMARYBackgroundSurvival for patients commencing renal replacement therapy is around 90% in the first year and 83% at two years after starting dialysis. The factors that appear to predict mortality are comorbidity and frailty associated with kidney disease, glomerular filtration rate, age and biochemical factors.ObjectivesTo analyse the condition of patients starting renal replacement therapy, based on biomarkers commonly used in clinical practice and their association with mortality, measured 6 and 12 months after initiating replacement therapy.MethodsA one‐year prospective follow‐up study with 189 patients. Sociodemographic variables, aetiology of renal disease, comorbidities, prior nephrology service monitoring, prior renal transplantation and biochemical parameters at the time of initiating replacement therapy were analysed.ResultsThe overall percentage of death during the one‐year follow‐up was 6.87%, with 64% of deaths occurring during the first six months. The only variable independently associated with mortality was low albumin levels.ConclusionAlthough most patients in this centre are monitored by a nephrologist prior to starting replacement therapy, many nevertheless fail to achieve the biochemical targets recommended. One such parameter is albumin, which proved at the start of replacement therapy to be an independent predictor of mortality. Findings of this study show the need to intervene on certain biochemical parameters during the pre‐dialysis stage and at the start of dialysis, in order to improve survival in this group of patients.
Humidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen in bronchiolitis reduces need for invasive ventilation but not intensive care admission
Authors: Goh Chong Tien , Kirby Lynette J , Schell David N , Egan Jonathan R 
Published: May 2017

AimTo describe the changes to paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission patterns and ventilation requirements for children with bronchiolitis following the introduction of humidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen outside the PICU.MethodsRetrospective study comparing patients <24 months of age with a discharge diagnosis of bronchiolitis admitted to the PICU. A comparison was made between those before humidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen use (year 2008) to those immediately following the introduction of humidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen use (year 2011) and those following further consolidation of humidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen use outside the PICU (year 2013).ResultsHumidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen use up to 1 L/kg/min in the hospital did not reduce PICU admission. Intubation rates were reduced from 22.2% in 2008 to 7.8% in 2013. There was a non‐significant trend towards decreased length of stay in the PICU while hospital length of stay showed a significant decrease following the introduction of humidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen. Age <6 months and respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis were associated with an increased chance of failing humidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy.ConclusionHumidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen utilised outside of the PICU in our institution for children with bronchiolitis did not reduce admission rates or length of stay to the PICU but was associated with a decreasing need for invasive ventilation and reduced hospital length of stay.
Crosstalk between E2F1 and P53 transcription factors in doxorubicin-induced DNA damage: evidence for preventive/protective effects of silymarin
Authors: Shafiei-Roudbari Seyedeh-Khadijeh , Malekinejad Hassan , Janbaz-Aciabar Hamed , Razi Mazdak 
Published: May 2017

Abstract

Objectives
To study the effects of silymarin in various forms of applications on the molecular mechanism(s) of doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity in male rats.

Methods
Following DOX administration with or without SMN in male rats, sperm quality assays were conducted. Moreover, total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide content of testis were determined. Expression profile of p53 and E2F1 was analysed by PCR technique. Ultimately, the rate of DNA fragmentation in the testes was quantitatively measured.

Key findings
P53 and E2F1 expression in DOX-received animals at mRNA level showed a revers profile of an up- and down-regulation, respectively. Administration of SMN in preventive and protective forms resulted in a significant (P &lt; 0.05) reduction in DOX-induced sperm abnormalities, DNA fragmentation, nitric oxide concentration and a marked increase in total antioxidant power, rate of sperm motility and viability. SMN lowered the DOX-up-regulated expression of p53 at mRNA level.

Conclusions
DOX-induced testicular toxicity was characterized by lowering sperm quality values, induction of oxidative and nitrosative stress and DNA fragmentation. Preventive and protective effects of SMN on DOX-induced testicular toxicity may attribute to its antioxidant property. DOX-induced testicular damages and SMN preventive/protective effects might be mediated via up- and down-regulation of p53 and E2F1 transcription factors.
Modulating nasal mucosal permeation using metabolic saturation and enzyme inhibition techniques
Authors: Dhamankar Varsha , Donovan Maureen D 
Published: May 2017

Abstract

Objective
Presystemic elimination resulting from local enzymatic degradation can play a key role in limiting the bioavailability of intranasally administered drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the transfer of a metabolically susceptible drug across the nasal mucosa to illustrate the relative contributions of drug diffusivity and metabolic susceptibility on overall nasal mucosal permeation and to understand the effects of changes in enzymatic activity on the transfer across nasal epithelial and submucosal tissues.

Methods
The concentration-dependent permeation of melatonin, a CYP450 substrate, across excised bovine nasal olfactory and respiratory explants was studied along with quantifying the extent of melatonin 6-hydroxylation. Microsomal preparations were also used to determine the kinetic parameters for melatonin to 6-hydroxymelatonin biotransformation.

Key findings
Enzyme saturation at higher melatonin concentrations and inclusion of a CYP450 inhibitor both resulted in the significant increase in melatonin permeation across the nasal mucosa.

Conclusions
Metabolic loss of melatonin during nasal permeation demonstrates CYP450 activity in the nasal epithelium and submucosal tissues. The extent of biotransformation of melatonin during its transport across the nasal mucosal explants suggests that, although the nasal route bypasses hepatic first-pass metabolism, nasal bioavailability can be significantly influenced by mucosal enzymatic activity.
Taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of Phaeostigma in the subtribe Artemisiinae (Asteraceae)
Authors: Huang Yuan , An Yi‐Ming , Meng Shi‐Yong , Guo Yan‐Ping , Rao Guang‐Yuan 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTPhaeostigma is a controversial taxon for its taxonomic status and phylogenetic position in the subtribe Artemisiinae, Asteraceae. To address those questions, a phylogenetic evaluation of Phaeostigma and its related genera of subtribe Artemisiinae was carried out based on molecular as well as morphological character data. DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer, the single copy nuclear CDS gene, and five chloroplast DNA loci (psbA‐trnH, rpl16, trnC‐ycf6, trnL‐F, and ycf6‐psbM) were used to construct gene trees, and variation patterns of 20 morphological characters were analyzed. In addition, pollen morphology was examined under scanning electron microscopy for representative species of Phaeostigma and Ajania, from which the former was separated by earlier taxonomists. All the above analyses showed: (i) Ajania tibetica (Hook.f. & Thomson) Tzvelev, A. purpurea C. Shih, and A. ramosa (Chang) C. Shih should be merged into Phaeostigma so that it is a monophyletic genus with six species, P. ramosum (A. ramosa), P. purpureum (A. purpurea), P. tibeticum (A. tibetica), P. quercifolium (W. W. Sm.) Muldashev, P. salicifolium (Mattf.) Muldashev, and P. variifolium (C. C. Chang) Muldashev; (ii) all six Phaeostigma species have the Artemisia‐type (microechinate) of pollen, reflexed leaf margin, and flowering branches with sericeous indumentum; (iii) two controversial species of Ajania, A. pallasiana and A. shiwogiku, have closer relationships with Ajania s.str. than with Phaeostigma, and should be kept in Ajania. Considering all the evidence from present and previous studies, we conclude that geographic and ecological factors as well as secondary contacts play important roles in the divergence and speciation of the genus Phaeostigma.
Assessing the pre‐ and postpeak phases in a swallow using esophageal pressure topography
Authors: Xiao Y. , Carlson D. A. , Lin Z. , Rinella N. , Sifrim D. , Pandolfino J. E. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe current paradigm of measuring esophageal contractile vigor assesses the entirety of a pressure wave using a single measurement, the distal contractile integral (DCI). We hypothesize that an assessment identifying separate phases of the contractile pressure wave before and after the pressure peak may help distinguish abnormalities in patients presenting with chest pain and dysphagia. The aim of the present study was to develop a technique to assess the individual phases and report on the values in healthy controls.MethodsSeventy‐one healthy controls were enrolled. High‐resolution manometry studies of five intact liquid swallows in both supine and upright positions were analyzed using a customized MATLAB program to divide swallows into a prepeak phase and postpeak phase, and compute the contractile integral of both phases. The contractile integrals were also controlled by duration over each phase.Key ResultsThe composite DCI measurement in healthy controls appears to be weighted toward slightly higher contractile activity during postpeak phase based on postpeak to prepeak ratios in both the supine and upright position (1.50 and 1.49, respectively). The contribution of postpeak phase on the composite DCI was weakened when controlled by time (0.92 and 0.96 in both supine and upright position, respectively).Conclusions and InferencesWe developed a novel measurement focused on separating the prepeak and postpeak components of the peristaltic contractile activity during swallowing. Using this technique, it appears that overall contractile activity is higher during postpeak phase and this is related to the longer time component during this phase.
Experimental soil warming shifts the fungal community composition at the alpine treeline
Authors: Solly Emily F. , Lindahl Björn D. , Dawes Melissa A. , Peter Martina , Souza Rômulo C. , Rixen Christian , Hagedorn Frank 
Published: May 2017

Summary

Increased CO2 emissions and global warming may alter the composition of fungal communities through the removal of temperature limitation in the plant–soil system, faster nitrogen (N) cycling and changes in the carbon (C) allocation of host plants to the rhizosphere.

At a Swiss treeline featuring Larix decidua and Pinus uncinata, the effects of multiple years of CO2 enrichment and experimental soil warming on the fungal community composition in the organic horizons were analysed using 454‐pyrosequencing of ITS2 amplicons. Sporocarp production and colonization of ectomycorrhizal root tips were investigated in parallel.

Fungal community composition was significantly altered by soil warming, whereas CO2 enrichment had little effect. Tree species influenced fungal community composition and the magnitude of the warming responses. The abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungal taxa was positively correlated with N availability, and ectomycorrhizal taxa specialized for conditions of high N availability proliferated with warming, corresponding to considerable increases in inorganic N in warmed soils.

Traits related to N utilization are important in determining the responses of ectomycorrhizal fungi to warming in N‐poor cold ecosystems. Shifts in the overall fungal community composition in response to higher temperatures may alter fungal‐driven processes with potential feedbacks on ecosystem N cycling and C storage at the alpine treeline.
Soil fungal diversity in natural grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau: associations with plant diversity and productivity
Authors: Yang Teng , Adams Jonathan M. , Shi Yu , He Jin‐sheng , Jing Xin , Chen Litong , Tedersoo Leho , Chu Haiyan 
Published: May 2017

Summary

Previous studies have revealed inconsistent correlations between fungal diversity and plant diversity from local to global scales, and there is a lack of information about the diversity–diversity and productivity–diversity relationships for fungi in alpine regions.

Here we investigated the internal relationships between soil fungal diversity, plant diversity and productivity across 60 grassland sites on the Tibetan Plateau, using Illumina sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region for fungal identification.

Fungal alpha and beta diversities were best explained by plant alpha and beta diversities, respectively, when accounting for environmental drivers and geographic distance. The best ordinary least squares (OLS) multiple regression models, partial least squares regression (PLSR) and variation partitioning analysis (VPA) indicated that plant richness was positively correlated with fungal richness. However, no correlation between plant richness and fungal richness was evident for fungal functional guilds when analyzed individually.

Plant productivity showed a weaker relationship to fungal diversity which was intercorrelated with other factors such as plant diversity, and was thus excluded as a main driver. Our study points to a predominant effect of plant diversity, along with other factors such as carbon : nitrogen (C : N) ratio, soil phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon, on soil fungal richness.
Stricter criteria for left bundle branch block diagnosis do not improve response to CRT
Authors: Bertaglia Emanuele , Migliore Federico , Baritussio Anna , De Simone Antonio , Reggiani Albino , Pecora Domenico , D'Onofrio Antonio , Rapacciuolo Antonio , Savarese Gianluca , Pierantozzi Attilio , Marenna Biondino , Ruffa Franco , Campari Monica , Malacrida Maurizio , Stabile Giuseppe 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundCardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has proved to be effective in patients with heart failure and left bundle branch block (LBBB). Recently, new electrocardiography criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of LBBB. These criteria are stricter than the current American Heart Association (AHA) criteria. We assessed the rate of echocardiographic response to CRT in patients with traditional LBBB versus patients who met the new criteria (strict LBBB).MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing CRT were enrolled in the CRT MORE registry. Patients with no‐LBBB QRS morphology according to AHA criteria, atrial fibrillation, right bundle branch block, and right ventricular pacing were excluded. Strict LBBB was defined as: QRS ≥ 140 ms for men and ≥130 ms for women, QS or rS in V1–V2, mid‐QRS notching or slurring in ≥2 contiguous leads. Patients showing a relative decrease of ≥15% in left ventricular end‐systolic volume (LVESV) at 12 months were defined as responders.ResultsAmong 335 patients with LBBB, 131 (39%) had strict LBBB. Patients with and without strict LBBB showed comparable baseline characteristics, except for QRS duration (166 ± 20 ms vs 152 ± 25 ms, P < 0.001). On 12‐month evaluation, 205 patients (61%) were responders; 85 of 131 (65%) had strict LBBB and 120 of 204 (59%) had traditional LBBB (P = 0.267). On multivariate analysis, a history of atrial fibrillation, larger LVESV, and the presence of mid‐QRS notching in ≥1 lead (odds ratio 2.099; 95% confidence interval 1.061–4.152, P = 0.033) were independently associated with echocardiographic response.ConclusionStricter definition of LBBB did not improve response to CRT in comparison to the current AHA definition.
Lichenoid Drug Eruption with Prominent Nail Changes Due to Leflunomide in a 12‐Year‐Old Child
Authors: May Caitlin , Fleckman Philip , Brandling‐Bennett Heather A. , Cole Bonnie , Sidbury Robert 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe present the case of a 12‐year‐old‐girl who developed lichenoid dermatitis approximately 1 year after starting leflunomide for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The eruption resolved promptly with discontinuation of the suspected culprit agent, supportive of a lichenoid drug eruption, but she subsequently developed markedly dystrophic nails with lichen planus–like features. A biopsy of her cutaneous findings at the time of initial presentation demonstrated lichenoid dermatitis, and a nail matrix biopsy was deferred given clinical correlation. Prominent nail changes in lichenoid drug eruptions, particularly in children, are rare but should be considered in children with new‐onset nail dystrophy.
Panchromatic Osmium Complexes for Photodynamic Therapy: Solutions to Existing Problems and New Questions
Authors: Glazer Edith C. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThis article is a highlight of the paper by Lazic et al. in this issue of Photochemistry and Photobiology, https://doi.org/10.1111/php.12767. It describes the validation of osmium coordination complexes as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy, with very promising in vivo results that demonstrate radical improvements in survival following irradiation with visible (635 nm) or near‐IR (NIR; 808 nm) light. An unusual feature in the study is that the different complexes exhibit disparate photophysical and photobiological characteristics, despite sharing common structural motifs. These findings raise hopes for the development of novel photosensitizers that overcome the limitations of current commercially available systems for PDT, but also raise questions regarding the most efficacious biological mechanisms of action for this treatment modality.
Interest group representation in the formal design of European Union agencies
Authors: Pérez Durán Ixchel 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThis article examines the decision to include interest group representation (IGR) in the most important decisionmaking bodies of European Union agencies (EAs). The study shows that there is considerable variation among agencies: some agencies have no IGR, others have formal rules that establish a clear distribution of the number of representatives among stakeholders, while other agencies are ambiguous with regard to the number of representatives that each group should have. In addition, interest group representatives have the right to vote in some of the agencies with IGR, while in others they only have an advisory role. This article identifies three broad types of groups normally represented: representatives of capital (e.g. industry), representatives of labor (e.g. trade unions), and citizens' representatives (e.g. non‐governmental organizations, consumer groups). The findings suggest that informative agencies are more likely to have IGR than agencies performing operational/management tasks. The findings also suggest that the involvement of the European Parliament in the design of EAs is more likely to lead to a provision for the representation of stakeholders. Finally, case studies of the European Food Safety Agency and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work demonstrate that interest groups could play an important role by pushing European Union institutions to include stakeholder representatives in EAs.
Exact Bayesian Inference in Spatiotemporal Cox Processes Driven by Multivariate Gaussian Processes
Authors: Gonçalves Flávio B. , Gamerman Dani 
Published: May 2017

SummaryWe present a novel inference methodology to perform Bayesian inference for spatiotemporal Cox processes where the intensity function depends on a multivariate Gaussian process. Dynamic Gaussian processes are introduced to enable evolution of the intensity function over discrete time. The novelty of the method lies on the fact that no discretization error is involved despite the non-tractability of the likelihood function and infinite dimensionality of the problem. The method is based on a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm that samples from the joint posterior distribution of the parameters and latent variables of the model. A particular choice of the dominating measure to obtain the likelihood function is shown to be crucial to devise a valid Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. The models are defined in a general and flexible way but they are amenable to direct sampling from the relevant distributions because of careful characterization of its components. The models also enable the inclusion of regression covariates and/or temporal components to explain the variability of the intensity function. These components may be subject to relevant interaction with space and/or time. Real and simulated examples illustrate the methodology, followed by concluding remarks.
Comparison of histologic margin status in low‐grade cutaneous and subcutaneous canine mast cell tumours examined by radial and tangential sections
Authors: Dores C.B. , Milovancev M. , Russell D.S. 
Published: May 2017

BackgroundRadial sections are widely used to estimate adequacy of excision in canine cutaneous mast cell tumours (MCTs); however, this sectioning technique estimates only a small fraction of total margin circumference. This study aimed to compare histologic margin status in grade II/low grade MCTs sectioned using both radial and tangential sectioning techniques.Materials and MethodsA total of 43 circumferential margins were evaluated from 21 different tumours. Margins were first sectioned radially, followed by tangential sections. Tissues were examined by routine histopathology.ResultsTangential margin status differed in 10 of 43 (23.3%) margins compared with their initial status on radial section. Of 39 margins, 9 (23.1%) categorized as histologic tumour‐free margin (HTFM) >0 mm were positive on tangential sectioning. Tangential sections detected a significantly higher proportion of positive margins relative to radial sections (exact 2‐tailed P‐value = .0215). The HTFM was significantly longer in negative tangential margins than positive tangential margins (mean 10.1 vs 3.2 mm; P = .0008). A receiver operating characteristic curve comparing HTFM and tangentially negative margins found an area under the curve of 0.83 (95% confidence interval: 0.71−0.96). Although correct classification peaked at the sixth cut‐point of HTFM ≥1 mm, radial sections still incorrectly classified 50% of margins as lacking tumour cells. Radial sections had 100% specificity for predicting negative tangential margins at a cut‐point of 10.9 mm.ConclusionThese data indicate that for low grade MCTs, HTFMs >0 mm should not be considered completely excised, particularly when HTFM is <10.9 mm. This will inform future studies that use HTFM and overall excisional status as dependent variables in multivariable prognostic models.