bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality and safety in adult epilepsy monitoring units: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sauro Khara M. , Wiebe Natalie , Macrodimitris Sophie , Wiebe Samuel , Lukmanji Sara , Jetté Nathalie 
Published: October 2016

SummaryObjectiveThe epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) is a valuable resource for optimizing management of persons with epilepsy, but may place patients at risk for adverse events due to withdrawal of treatment and induction of symptoms. The purpose of this study was to synthesize data on the safety and quality of care in EMUs to inform the development of quality indicators for EMUs.MethodsA systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting and Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The search strategy, which included broad search terms and synonyms pertaining to the EMU, was run in six medical databases and included conference proceedings. Data abstracted included patient and EMU demographics and quality and safety variables. Study quality was evaluated using a modified 15‐item Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist. Descriptive statistics and meta‐analyses were used to describe and synthesize the evidence.ResultsThe search yielded 7,601 references, of which 604 were reviewed in full text. One‐hundred thirty‐five studies were included. The quality and safety data came from 181,823 patients and reported on 34 different quality and safety variables. Included studies commonly reported the number of patients (108 studies; median number patients, 171.5), age (49 studies; mean age 35.7 years old), and the reason for admission (34 studies). The most common quality and safety data reported were the utility of the EMU admission (38 studies). Thirty‐three studies (24.4%) reported on adverse events, and yielded a pooled proportion of adverse events of 7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5–9%). The mean quality score was 73.3% (standard deviation [SD] 17.2).SignificanceThis study demonstrates that there is a great deal of variation in the reporting of quality and safety measures and in the quality and safety in EMUs. Study quality also varied considerably from one study to the next. These findings highlight the need to develop evidence‐based, consensus‐driven quality indicators for EMUs.
A feasibility trial of an Internet‐delivered and transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy treatment program for anxiety, depression, and disability among adults with epilepsy
Authors: Gandy Milena , Karin Eyal , Fogliati Vincent J. , McDonald Sarah , Titov Nick , Dear Blake F. 
Published: October 2016

SummaryObjectiveAnxiety and depression are highly prevalent in people with epilepsy (PWE) and contribute to increased disability. Unfortunately, there are numerous barriers (e.g., cost, distance, and stigma) and service gaps (e.g., lack of services and trained clinicians) that prevent many PWE from accessing traditional face‐to‐face psychological services. The aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility of a new transdiagnostic Internet‐delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program, the Chronic Conditions Course, to simultaneously treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, and disability.MethodsA single‐group feasibility open trial was employed involving 27 adults with epilepsy. The program comprises five online lessons delivered over 8 weeks and is provided with weekly contact from a mental health professional via e‐mail and telephone.ResultsHigh treatment completion rates and levels of satisfaction were reported. Evidence of significant improvements in our primary outcomes (within‐group Cohen's d [d]; average [avg.] reductions) of anxiety (d ≥ 1.28; avg. reduction ≥ 54%), depression (d ≥ 1.24; avg. reduction ≥ 54%), epilepsy‐specific depression (d ≥ 0.95; avg. reduction ≥ 35%), and disability (d ≥ 0.62; avg. reduction ≥ 33%) were observed at posttreatment, which were sustained at or further improved to 3‐month follow‐up. On our secondary outcomes there were significant improvements for life satisfaction (d ≥ 0.70; avg. improvement ≥ 26%) but not for perceived cognitive difficulties (d ≥ 0.48; avg. reduction ≥ 15%). Highlighting the potential of the approach, relatively little clinician time was required per participant (mean 80.62 min, standard deviation [SD] 54.78), and the trial involved a broad range of geographically dispersed patients.SignificanceThe findings of the current study support the feasibility and potential of transdiagnostic Internet‐delivered treatments for adults with epilepsy. Further large‐scale controlled trials are warranted.
Remembrance and time passed: Memory outcomes 4–11 years after pediatric epilepsy surgery
Authors: Puka Klajdi , Smith Mary Lou 
Published: October 2016

SummaryObjectiveLittle is known about the long‐term cognitive outcomes following pediatric epilepsy surgery. Although the evidence for change within the first 2 years is not compelling, the plasticity of the immature brain may allow for improvements in the long term. This study examined memory function in a cohort of surgical and nonsurgical patients at baseline and 4–11 years after.MethodParticipants were 88 patients (mean age 20.05, standard deviation [SD] 4.21 years) with childhood‐onset intractable epilepsy; 53 had undergone resective epilepsy surgery. Verbal and visual memory were assessed at baseline and follow‐up using standardized tests of recall of stories, faces, word pairs, and word lists.ResultsImprovements over time were not found; outcomes were largely independent of surgical status. Those who were seizure‐free at follow‐up had better story recall at both times (p = 0.028), and did not show improvement. Among patients with extratemporal lobe epilepsy, significant declines in word list recall were found over time irrespective of surgical or seizure status (p = 0.010). Effects of laterality of seizure focus were evident only when examining patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE); patients with left TLE had lower story recall scores compared to patients with right TLE at long‐term follow‐up (p = 0.043).SignificancePatients who became seizure‐free had some advantages in memory, but did not show improvements over time. These findings have important implications for understanding potential outcomes from surgery or continued use of antiepileptic medications.
Activin A‐induced signalling controls hair follicle neogenesis
Authors: Seo Chang H. , Kwack Mi H. , Kim Moon K. , Kim Jung C. , Sung Young K. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAcquisition of potent human dermal papilla (DP) cells that can induce hair follicle neogenesis is an overarching concern, and various approaches have been tried. In an attempt to solve the problem, we previously introduced the three‐dimensional (3D) culture of human DP cells and observed de novo formation of hair follicles when conducting a patch hair reconstitution assay using 3D cultured DP spheres with mouse epidermal cells. In this study, we have subsequently focused our attention on activin A, one of the notably upregulated proteins in DP spheres compared with 2D cultured DP cells. We then adopted a small interfering RNA‐mediated gene knock‐down approach and hair reconstitution assay to investigate the role of activin A. We observed that human DP spheres with activin A knock‐down are severely impaired in hair follicle neogenesis when combined with mouse epidermal cells. In addition, activin receptor 2B (ActvR2B) knock‐down mouse epidermal cells showed severe impairment of hair follicle neogenesis when combined with human DP spheres. Moreover, recombinant activin A treatment of mouse epidermal cells increased the expression of downstream genes of the activin pathway. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that activin A‐induced signalling plays a critical role in hair follicle neogenesis, which has not been previously reported.
The Effectiveness of Functional Family Therapy for Adolescent Behavioral and Substance Misuse Problems: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Hartnett Dan , Carr Alan , Hamilton Elena , O'Reilly Gary 
Published: October 2016

A systematic review of published and unpublished English language articles identified 14 studies containing 18 comparisons between functional family therapy (FFT) and another condition in the treatment of adolescent disruptive behavior and substance use disorders. In 11 of these comparisons, assignment to conditions was random, while nonrandom assignment occurred in seven studies. For both random and nonrandom comparisons, separate meta‐analyses were conducted for subgroups of studies depending on the type of comparison group used. Data from studies of untreated control groups (CTL), treatment as usual (TAU), and well‐defined alternative treatments (ALTs) were analyzed separately. Effect sizes from these six meta‐analyses were as follows: random assignment FFT versus CTL (k = 3,d = 0.48,p < .01); random assignment FFT versus TAU (k = 3,d = .20, ns); random assignment FFT versus ALT (k = 5,d = .35,p < .05); nonrandom assignment FFT versus CTL (k = 2,d = .90, ns); nonrandom assignment FFT versus TAU (k = 2,d = .08, ns); and nonrandom assignment FFT versus ALT (k = 3,d = .75,p < .001). These results provide support for the effectiveness of FFT compared with untreated controls and well‐defined ALTs, such as cognitive behavior therapy, other models of family therapy, and individual and group therapy for adolescents.
Living in the city: urban environments shape the evolution of a native annual plant
Authors: Yakub Mohamed , Tiffin Peter 
Published: October 2016

AbstractUrban environments are warmer, have higher levels of atmospheric CO2 and have altered patterns of disturbance and precipitation than nearby rural areas. These differences can be important for plant growth and are likely to create distinct selective environments. We planted a common garden experiment with seeds collected from natural populations of the native annual plant Lepidium virginicum, growing in five urban and nearby rural areas in the northern United States to determine whether and how urban populations differ from those from surrounding rural areas. When grown in a common environment, plants grown from seeds collected from urban areas bolted sooner, grew larger, had fewer leaves, had an extended time between bolting and flowering, and produced more seeds than plants grown from seeds collected from rural areas. Interestingly, the rural populations exhibited larger phenotypic differences from one another than urban populations. Surprisingly, genomic data revealed that the majority of individuals in each of the urban populations were more closely related to individuals from other urban populations than they were to geographically proximate rural areas – the one exception being urban and rural populations from New York which were nearly identical. Taken together, our results suggest that selection in urban environments favors different traits than selection in rural environments and that these differences can drive adaptation and shape population structure.
RNA decay systems enhance reciprocal switching of sense and antisense transcripts in response to glucose starvation
Authors: Miki Atsuko , Galipon Josephine , Sawai Satoshi , Inada Toshifumi , Ohta Kunihiro 
Published: October 2016

Antisense RNA has emerged as a crucial regulator of opposite‐strand protein‐coding genes in the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) category, but little is known about their dynamics and decay process in the context of a stress response. Antisense transcripts from the fission yeast fbp1 locus (fbp1‐as) are expressed in glucose‐rich conditions and anticorrelated with transcription of metabolic stress‐induced lncRNA (mlonRNA) and mRNA on the sense strand during glucose starvation. Here, we investigate the localization and decay of antisense RNAs at fbp1 and other loci, and propose a model to explain the rapid switch between antisense and sense mlonRNA/mRNA transcription triggered by glucose starvation. We show that fbp1‐as shares many features with mRNAs, such as a 5′‐cap and poly(A)‐tail, and that its decay partially depends upon Rrp6, a cofactor of the nuclear exosome complex involved in 3′–5′ degradation of RNA. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and polysome fractionation show that the majority of remaining fbp1‐as localizes to the cytoplasm and binds to polyribosomes in glucose‐rich conditions. Furthermore, fbp1‐as and antisense RNA at other stress‐responsive loci are promptly degraded via the cotranslational nonsense‐mediated decay (NMD) pathway. These results suggest NMD may potentiate the swift disappearance of antisense RNAs in response to cellular stress.
A combination of corticosteroid, sirolimus, and intradialytic parenteral nutrition in encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis: Case report and literature review
Authors: Minetto Brabo Alexandre , Soares Do Carmo Reis Nayrana , Barretti Pasqual , Ponce Daniela 
Published: October 2016

AbstractEncapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare complication of peritoneal dialysis that carries a high morbidity and mortality. Although its pathogenesis is still not clear, the “two hit theory” suggests that long term deterioration of the peritoneum combined with intraperitoneal inflammation is needed in the pathogenesis of EPS. To date, there is no proven effective therapy with an absence of randomized controlled trials. Individual case reports and small case series have reported on the use of tamoxifen and corticosteroids for medical management of EPS. Here, we present the first case of EPS treated successfully with a combination of sirolimus, low dose corticosteroid and intradialytic parenteral nutrition. A critical review of the relevant literature on this subject is also presented to determine the best approach.
Ageing with HIV: do comorbidities and polymedication drive treatment optimization?
Authors: Cuzin L , Katlama C , Cotte L , Pugliese P , Cheret A , Bernaud C , Rey D , Poizot‐Martin I , Chirouze C , Bani‐Sadr F , Cabié A ,   the Dat'AIDS Study Group
Published: October 2016

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to describe the ageing HIV‐infected population (> 50 years old) and their current antiretroviral therapy (ART), comorbidities and coprescriptions in France in 2013 and to compare them to the younger population.MethodsA retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database was performed. The characteristics of patients receiving ART as well as their current ART and their numbers of comorbidities and comedications at the censoring date (1 July 2013) were compared between patients ageing with HIV infection, patients who seroconverted while ageing, and younger patients.ResultsWe compared 10 318 ageing patients [median age 56 years; 25% interquartile range (IQR) 53–62 years] with 13 302 younger patients (median age 42 years; 25% IQR 36–47 years). The ageing patients were more frequently male than the younger patients (77 vs. 65%). Among the ageing patients, 7025 were diagnosed with HIV infection before 2000 and represented a distinct group, the ‘experienced ageing’ group, by comparison with the ‘recently diagnosed ageing’ group. Triple therapy containing a boosted protease inhibitor was used in 28.2% of the patients (vs. 39% and 36% of the younger and “recently diagnosed ageing” groups, respectively); a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in 27% (vs. 33% and 38%, respectively), an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) in 9% (vs. 7% and 9%, respectively), and another regimen (fewer or more than three drugs) in 35.8% (vs. 21% and 16.5%, respectively). “Experienced ageing” patients typically had one or more comorbidities (62.1%) and were receiving at least one comedication (71%). Central nervous system (CNS) agents (prescribed in 44.6% of the “experienced ageing” patients) and antilipidaemics (in 44.2%) were the most frequently prescribed comedications. INSTIs were used in 23% of the population and were used significantly more often in patients with comorbidities and coprescriptions. For all comparisons, P < 0.0001.ConclusionsIn ageing HIV‐infected patients, especially those with a long history of HIV infection, comorbidities and coprescriptions are highly prevalent.
Computer‐aided photographic identification of Rosalia alpina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) applied to a mark‐recapture study
Authors: Rossi de Gasperis Sarah , Carpaneto Giuseppe M. , Nigro Giulio , Antonini Gloria , Chiari Stefano , Cini Alessandro , Mancini Emiliano , Mason Franco , Mosconi Fabio , Redolfi De Zan Lara , Roversi Pio Federico , Sabbatini Peverieri Giuseppino , Solano Emanuela , Campanaro Alessandro 
Published: October 2016

Abstract

Assessing the conservation status of protected species needs quantitative population data, generally obtained using Capture‐Mark‐Recapture methods (CMR). The exploitation of natural marking (e.g. individual morphological traits) offers an interesting alternative, based on image analyses, which may result in a less manipulation of protected species compared to the typical artificial marking method.

In our 2‐year CMR study, we tested for the first time in the natural setting the feasibility and the application of the computer‐aided photographic identification method of Rosalia alpina using the individual elytral spots as the natural marking. The I3SC software was used for the photographic analysis.

Data were collected from populations of two National Parks of central Italy during July–August in 2014 and 2015. We developed a standard procedure in order to optimise the image acquisition in the field and to acquire clear and comparable images, facilitating the I3SC screening process.

The results demonstrated that the computer‐aided photographic identification of natural markings can be implemented in a CMR population study of R. alpina. Our image processing approach showed that using only the elytral central spot contours made the tracing contour process less time‐consuming obtaining reliable results. Furthermore, I3SC output scores were used to identify a threshold value for the identification of new individuals or recaptures, facilitating the final identification proposed by operators.

Finally, we assessed the possibility of performing the methodology using a Citizen Science approach.
Relationships between transepidermal water loss, cutaneous microcirculatory function and autonomic nervous activity
Authors: Nomura T. , Yoshida‐Amano Y. , Yoshida K. , Fujii A. , Tanahashi M. , Sugiyama Y. , Iwata K. , Murase T. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractObjectiveSeveral studies have shown that a deterioration of skin properties, an impaired cutaneous microcirculatory function and an imbalance of autonomic nervous activity are observed in smokers and in patients with diabetes mellitus or Raynaud's phenomenon. These observations suggest that skin properties are associated with cutaneous microcirculatory function and autonomic nervous activity in pathological conditions. However, there is no published evidence to support the concept that these two functions have any relationship with skin properties even in healthy subjects. To investigate the hypothesis that these properties are related, we conducted a survey of healthy adult subjects to investigate the relationships between cutaneous microcirculatory function and autonomic nervous activity and skin properties.MethodsThe hydration of the stratum corneum and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were investigated as skin properties, and the responsiveness of skin blood flow (SkBF) to local warming was examined as an index of cutaneous microcirculatory function in 19 healthy adult male subjects. Electrocardiograms were monitored for 24 h and heart rate variability was analysed considering low‐frequency power (LF: 0.04–0.15 Hz), high‐frequency power (HF: 0.15–0.40 Hz) and a ratio of low‐ to high‐frequency power (LF/HF) as indices of autonomic nervous activity; HF is an index of parasympathetic activity, whereas LF/HF is an index of sympathovagal balance. The relationships between those indices were then analysed.ResultsA moderate negative correlation was found between TEWL and the relative maximum rate of increases in the responsiveness of SkBF on local warming. A moderate positive and a moderate negative correlation were observed between TEWL and LF/HF or HF, respectively. Moreover, a moderate negative and a moderate positive correlation were shown between the responsiveness of SkBF and LF/HF or HF, respectively. The hydration of the stratum corneum showed no correlations with any indices of microcirculation or autonomic nervous activity.ConclusionThese results indicate that skin barrier function, cutaneous microcirculatory function and autonomic nervous activity are mutually associated in healthy adults.
Behavioural factors in young people's fruit consumption
Authors: Rita Silvestre Godinho Joana , Maria Batista Alves Helena 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis study aims to find out the determinant factors affecting fruit consumption behaviour in Portuguese young people, based on the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model, and determine if this model explains differences according to gender, age and rural/urban environments. This research is innovative because it tests the HAPA model with young people, and because it adds social support to the HAPA model as an extra predictor of young people's behaviour. To gather the data, a questionnaire survey was applied in two public schools, one in a rural area and the other in a city. The survey was answered by 266 Portuguese young people, aged 15–21 years, from the 10th to the 12th grades. Authorization for the survey was given in advance, from the Ministry of Education, schools and parents, after which the survey was performed. Before applying the questionnaire, two pre‐tests were carried out, each with ten participants and with similar characteristics to the population studied. This study analyses action self‐efficacy, outcome expectancies, action planning, risk perception, intention, maintenance self‐efficacy and social support variables. The result was obtained through a two‐step process, by determining the measurement and structural model, using Smart PLS 2.0. The results show that young females have more factors determining fruit consumption, with greater social support for action self‐efficacy, greater maintenance self‐efficacy through action self‐efficacy, and greater perception of risk regarding fruit consumption. In terms of age, young people over 16 years present greater outcome expectations for the intention, greater perception of risk and action self‐efficacy for fruit consumption. The multi‐group analysis referring to differences between young people living in rural or urban environments did not show proof of the model giving a better explanation of one situation or the other. It can be concluded that the HAPA model is appropriate to the investigation of behaviour factors that influence young people's fruit consumption. The results also indicate that in the scope of the behaviour analysed the proposed model gives a better explanation for females and for those over 16 years.