bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Randomized, Controlled, Crossover trial of Prevention of Clindamycin‐Induced Gastrointestinal Signs Using a Synbiotic in Healthy Research Cats
Authors: Stokes J.E. , Price J.M. , Whittemore J.C. 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundSynbiotics often are prescribed to limit antibiotic‐associated gastrointestinal signs (AAGS) in cats, but data to support this recommendation are lacking.ObjectiveTo determine whether synbiotic co‐administration mitigates AAGS in healthy research cats treated with clindamycin.Animals16 healthy research cats.MethodsA randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, 2‐way, 2‐period, crossover study with a 6‐week washout was performed. Each study period consisted of a 1‐week baseline and a 3‐week treatment period. Cats received 75 mg clindamycin with food once daily for 3 weeks, followed 1 hour later by either 2 capsules of a synbiotic or placebo. Food consumption, vomiting, fecal score, and completion of treatment were compared using repeated measures split plot or crossover designs with covariates, with P < 0.05 considered significant.ResultsCats that received the synbiotic were more likely to complete treatment in period 1 (100% vs. 50%, P = 0.04). Cats vomited less when receiving the synbiotic but this was not significant, but there were significant period effects (F‐value = 11.4, P < 0.01). Cats had higher food intake while receiving the synbiotic (F‐value = 31.1, P < 0.01) despite period effects (F‐value = 8.6, P < 0.01). There was no significant effect of treatment on fecal scores, which significantly increased over time (F‐value = 17.9, P < 0.01).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAdministration of a synbiotic 1 hour after clindamycin administration decreased hyporexia and vomiting in healthy cats. Additionally, significant period effects suggest that clinical benefits of synbiotic administration persist for at least 6 weeks after discontinuation, decreasing the severity of AAGS in cats that subsequently received clindamycin with placebo. Unlike in people, synbiotic administration did not decrease antibiotic‐associated diarrhea.
Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir in patients with hepatitis C virus genotypes 1‐6 and compensated cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis
Authors: Asselah Tarik , Bourgeois Stefan , Pianko Stephen , Zeuzem Stefan , Sulkowski Mark , Foster Graham R. , Han Lingling , McNally John , Osinusi Anu , Brainard Diana M. , Subramanian G. Mani , Gane Edward J. , Feld Jordan J. , Mangia Alessandra 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackground & AimsPatients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and advanced fibrosis (Metavir F3) or cirrhosis (Metavir F4) have been identified as a priority group for immediate treatment. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir‐velpatasvir in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1‐6 infection and compensated cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis.MethodsThis retrospective analysis included 501 patients with compensated cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis (F3/F4), as defined by >0.59 on Fibrotest, >9.5 kPa on Fibroscan, or F3/F4 (Metavir) or F4 (Ishak) on liver biopsy. Patients received sofosbuvir‐velpatasvir for 12 weeks. Sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment was determined.ResultsForty‐four per cent of patients had cirrhosis. Sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment was achieved by 98% of patients (490/501; 95% confidence interval, 96‐99). Sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment rates were 100% for hepatitis C virus genotypes 2 (85/85), 4 (60/60), 5 (13/13), and 6 (20/20). Sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment rates were 98% (167/170) in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 patients and 95% (145/153) in hepatitis C virus genotype 3 patients. Among patients with cirrhosis 96% (212/220) achieved sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment, vs 99% (278/281) for those with advanced fibrosis. Sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment was 98% (306/311) for treatment‐naïve patients and 97% (184/190) for treatment‐experienced patients. No patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events. Eight patients reported nine serious adverse events; none was considered related to study procedures or drugs.ConclusionsSofosbuvir plus velpatasvir is highly effective and safe for treating patients with hepatitis C virus genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis.
Signalling requirements for Erwinia amylovora‐induced disease resistance, callose deposition and cell growth in the non‐host Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Hamdoun Safae , Gao Min , Gill Manroop , Kwon Ashley , Norelli John L. , Lu Hua 
Published: July 2017

SummaryErwinia amylovora is the causal agent of the fire blight disease in some plants of the Rosaceae family. The non‐host plant Arabidopsis serves as a powerful system for the dissection of mechanisms of resistance to E. amylovora. Although not yet known to mount gene‐for‐gene resistance to E. amylovora, we found that Arabidopsis activated strong defence signalling mediated by salicylic acid (SA), with kinetics and amplitude similar to that induced by the recognition of the bacterial effector avrRpm1 by the resistance protein RPM1. Genetic analysis further revealed that SA signalling, but not signalling mediated by ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA), is required for E. amylovora resistance. Erwinia amylovora induces massive callose deposition on infected leaves, which is independent of SA, ET and JA signalling and is necessary for E. amylovora resistance in Arabidopsis. We also observed tumour‐like growths on E. amylovora‐infected Arabidopsis leaves, which contain enlarged mesophyll cells with increased DNA content and are probably a result of endoreplication. The formation of such growths is largely independent of SA signalling and some E. amylovora effectors. Together, our data reveal signalling requirements for E. amylovora‐induced disease resistance, callose deposition and cell fate change in the non‐host plant Arabidopsis. Knowledge from this study could facilitate a better understanding of the mechanisms of host defence against E. amylovora and eventually improve host resistance to the pathogen.
Connexin‐43 and aquaporin‐4 are markers of ageing‐related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG)‐related astroglial response
Authors: Kovacs G. G. , Yousef A. , Kaindl S. , Lee V. M. , Trojanowski J. Q. 
Published: July 2017

AimsAgeing‐related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG) appears in subependymal, subpial, perivascular, white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) locations. Physical effects, blood–brain barrier dysfunction and blood‐ or vessel‐related factors have been considered as aetiology. As connexin‐43 (Cx43) and aquaporin‐4 (AQP4) are related to these, we hypothesized that their immunoreactivity (IR) varies with ARTAG in a location‐specific manner.MethodsWe performed a morphometric immunohistochemical study measuring the densities of IR of Cx43, AQP4, AT8 (phospho‐tau) and glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP). We analysed the amygdala and hippocampus in age‐matched cases with (n = 19) and without (n = 20) ARTAG in each of the locations it aggregates.ResultsWe show a dramatic increase (>6‐fold; P < 0.01) of Cx43 density of IR in ARTAG cases correlating strongly with AT8 density of IR, irrespective of the presence of neuronal tau pathology or reactive gliosis measured by GFAP density of IR, in the GM. In contrast, AQP4 density of IR was increased only in the WM and GM, and was associated with increased AT8 density of IR only in WM and perivascular areas.DiscussionOur study reveals distinctive astroglial responses in each of the locations associated with ARTAG. Our observations support the concept that factors related to brain‐fluid interfaces and water‐ion imbalances most likely play a role in the generation of ARTAG. As Cx43 is crucial for maintaining neuronal homeostasis, the ARTAG‐dependent increase of Cx43 density of IR suggests that the development of ARTAG in the GM most likely indicates an early response to the degeneration of neurons.
Vacuolar processing enzyme activates programmed cell death in the apical meristem inducing loss of apical dominance
Authors: Teper‐Bamnolker Paula , Buskila Yossi , Belausov Eduard , Wolf Dalia , Doron‐Faigenboim Adi , Ben‐Dor Shifra , Van der Hoorn Renier A.L. , Lers Amnon , Eshel Dani 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber is a swollen underground stem that can sprout in an apical dominance (AD) pattern. Bromoethane (BE) induces loss of AD and the accumulation of vegetative vacuolar processing enzyme (S. tuberosum vacuolar processing enzyme [StVPE]) in the tuber apical meristem (TAM). Vacuolar processing enzyme activity, induced by BE, is followed by programmed cell death in the TAM. In this study, we found that the mature StVPE1 (mVPE) protein exhibits specific activity for caspase 1, but not caspase 3 substrates. Optimal activity of mVPE was achieved at acidic pH, consistent with localization of StVPE1 to the vacuole, at the edge of the TAM. Downregulation of StVPE1 by RNA interference resulted in reduced stem branching and retained AD in tubers treated with BE. Overexpression of StVPE1 fused to green fluorescent protein showed enhanced stem branching after BE treatment. Our data suggest that, following stress, induction of StVPE1 in the TAM induces AD loss and stem branching.
PARP‐1/PAR Activity in Cultured Human Lens Epithelial Cells Exposed to Two Levels of UVB Light
Authors: Cencer Caroline S. , Chintala Shravan K. , Townsend Tenira J. , Feldmann Daniel P. , Awrow Mirna A. , Putris Nahrain A. , Geno Mason E. , Donovan Maria G. , Giblin Frank J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis study investigated poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase‐1 (PARP‐1) activation in cultured human lens epithelial cells exposed to two levels of UVB light (312 nm peak wavelength), 0.014 and 0.14 J cm−2 (“low” and “high” dose, respectively). At the low dose, PARP‐1 and poly(ADP‐ribose) (PAR) polymers acted to repair DNA strand breaks rapidly with no subsequent major effects on either cell morphology or viability. However, following the high UVB dose, there was a dramatic second phase of PARP‐1 activation, 90 min later, which included a sudden reappearance of DNA strand breaks, bursts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation within both the mitochondria and nucleus, a translocation of PAR from the nucleus to the mitochondria and an ultimate 70% loss of cell viability occurring after 24 h. The results provide evidence for an important role for PARP‐1 in protecting the human lens epithelium against low levels of UVB light, and possibly participating in the triggering of cell death following exposure to toxic levels of radiation.
Successful use of digoxin‐specific immune Fab in the treatment of severeNerium oleandertoxicosis in a dog
Authors: Pao‐Franco Amaris , Hammond Tara N. , Weatherton Linda K. , DeClementi Camille , Forney Scott D. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo describe a case in which digoxin‐specific immune Fab was used successfully in a dog with severe oleander toxicosis secondary to ingesting plant material.Case SummaryA 6‐year‐old intact female Rhodesian Ridgeback mixed breed dog was presented for severe oleander toxicosis and was refractory to all antiarrhythmic therapies and supportive care. Digoxin‐specific immune Fab was successful in treating this dog. The dog recovered but suffered ischemic injuries, the long‐term effects of which are unknown.New or Unique Information ProvidedThis report describes the successful use of digoxin‐specific immune Fab in the treatment of oleander toxicosis in a dog, which has not previously been published in veterinary literature. Oleander poisoning can be associated with permanent cardiac arrhythmias due to the ischemic damage.
Harnessing electronic healthcare data for wound care research: Wound registry analytic guidelines for less‐biased analyses
Authors: Carter Marissa J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPublications based on large healthcare databases that contain data pertaining to wound‐related outcomes are starting to appear more frequently. However, concern exists in regard to study design adequacy, the methodology used to minimize misclassifications, bias, and confounding, and lack of full reporting. The STROBE guidelines were published to encourage fuller reporting of observational studies and have now been extended using the RECORD statement to better document routinely collected healthcare data. In this paper, elements of the RECORD statement have been used to create guidelines for study design, cohort matching, reporting criteria, and analysis frameworks in regard to analyses of populations involving comparative effectiveness research. It is recommended that researchers present full data analysis with minimal inclusion and exclusion criteria and preplanned subgroups analyses rather than attempt to emulate randomized controlled trials, as patterns of product administration are likely to be vastly different to those using controlled trials; moreover, missing data are very common. Suggestions for creating better matched cohorts, classification of wound‐ and patient‐related variables, and a rationale for reporting at a minimum a particular set of benchmarks to better characterize wound care populations is also presented. Adherence to these guidelines would improve the credibility of studies and make comparisons between studies much easier. Finally, an adaptation of the Cochrane risk of bias tool is presented in connection with the proposed guidelines for systematic reviewers to assess these kinds of retrospective studies.
Healthy Skin Wins: A Glowing Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program That Can Guide Evidence‐Based Practice
Authors: Martin Donna , Albensi Lisa , Van Haute Stephanie , Froese Maria , Montgomery Mary , Lam Mavis , Gierys Kendra , Lajeunesse Rob , Guse Lorna , Basova Nataliya 
Published: July 2017

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn 2013, an observational survey was conducted among 242 in‐patients in a community hospital with a pressure ulcer (PU) prevalence of 34.3%. An evidence‐based pressure ulcer prevention program (PUPP) was then implemented including a staff awareness campaign entitled “Healthy Skin Wins” with an online tutorial about PU prevention.AimsTo determine the effectiveness of the PUPP in reducing the prevalence of PUs, to determine the effectiveness of the online tutorial in increasing hospital staff's knowledge level about PU prevention, and to explore frontline staff's perspectives of the PUPP.MethodsThis was a mixed methods study. A repeat observational survey discerned if the PUPP reduced PU prevalence. A pre‐test post‐test design was used to determine whether hospital staff's knowledge of PU prevention was enhanced by the online tutorial. Qualitative interviews were conducted with nurses, allied health professionals, and health care aides to explore staff's perspectives of the PUPP.ResultsA comparison of initial and repeat observational surveys (n = 239) identified a statistically significant reduction in the prevalence of PU to 7.53% (p < .001). The online tutorial enhanced staff knowledge level with a statistically significantly higher mean post‐test score (n = 80). Thirty‐five frontline staff shared their perspectives of the PUPP with “it's definitely a combination of everything” and “there's a disconnect between what's needed and what's available” as the main themes.ConclusionsIncorporating evidence‐based PU prevention into clinical practice greatly reduced the prevalence of PUs among hospital in‐patients. Due to the small sample size for the pre‐test post‐test component, the effectiveness of the online tutorial in improving the knowledge level of PU prevention among hospital staff requires further research.Linking Evidence to ActionEvidence‐based PU prevention strategies are facilitated by using a multidisciplinary approach. Educational tools about PU prevention must target all members of the healthcare team including healthcare aides, patients and families.
Toward Improving Quality of End‐of‐Life Care: Encoding Clinical Guidelines and Standing Orders Using the Omaha System
Authors: Slipka Allison F. , Monsen Karen A. 
Published: July 2017

ABSTRACTBackgroundEnd‐of‐life care (EOLC) relieves the suffering of millions of people around the globe each year. A growing body of hospice care research has led to the creation of several evidence‐based clinical guidelines for EOLC. As evidence for the effectiveness of timely EOLC swells, so does the increased need for efficient information exchange between disciplines and across the care continuum.AimsThe purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using the Omaha System as a framework for encoding interoperable evidence‐based EOL interventions with specified temporality for use across disciplines and settings.MethodsFour evidence‐based clinical guidelines and one current set of hospice standing orders were encoded using the Omaha System Problem Classification Scheme and Intervention Scheme, as well as Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine—Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT). The resulting encoded guideline was entered on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and made available for public use on the Omaha System Guidelines website.ResultsThe resulting EOLC guideline consisted of 153 interventions that may enable patients and their surrogates, clinicians, and ancillary providers to communicate interventions in a universally comprehensible way.Linking Evidence to ActionEvidence‐based interventions from diverse disciplines involved in EOLC are described within this guideline using the Omaha System. Because the Omaha System and clinical guidelines are maintained in the public domain, encoding interventions is achievable by anyone with access to the Internet and basic Excel skills. Using the guideline as a documentation template customized for unique patient needs, clinicians can quantify and track patient care across the care continuum to ensure timely evidence‐based interventions.ConclusionsClinical guidelines coded in the Omaha System can support the use of multidisciplinary evidence‐based interventions to improve quality of EOLC across settings and professions.
Population structure and attribution of human clinical Campylobacter jejuni isolates from central Europe to livestock and environmental sources
Authors: Kovac J. , Stessl B. , Čadež N. , Gruntar I. , Cimerman M. , Stingl K. , Lušicky M. , Ocepek M. , Wagner M. , Smole Možina S. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryCampylobacter jejuni is among the most prevalent causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Domesticated animals and, especially, chicken meat are considered to be the main sources of infections. However, the contribution of surface waters and wildlife in C. jejuni transmission to humans is not well understood. We have evaluated the source attribution potential of a six‐gene multiplex PCR (mPCR) method coupled with STRUCTURE analysis on a set of 410 C. jejuni strains isolated from environment, livestock, food and humans in central Europe. Multiplex PCR fingerprints were analysed using Subclade prediction algorithm to classify them into six distinct mPCR clades. A subset of C. jejuni isolates (70%) was characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) demonstrating 74% congruence between mPCR and MLST. The correspondence analysis of mPCR clades and sources of isolation indicated three distinct groups in the studied C. jejuni population—the first one associated with isolates from poultry, the second one with isolates from cattle, and the third one with isolates from the environment. The STRUCTURE analysis attributed 7.2% and 21.7% of human isolates to environmental sources based on MLST and mPCR fingerprints, respectively.
Myths and methodologies: Making sense of exercise mass and water balance
Authors: Cheuvront Samuel N. , Montain Scott J. 
Published: July 2017

New Findings
What is the topic of this review?
There is a need to revisit the basic principles of exercise mass and water balance, the use of common equations and the practice of interpreting outcomes.

What advances does it highlight?
We propose use of the following equation as a way of simplifying exercise mass and water balance calculations in conditions where food is not consumed and waste is not excreted: ∆body mass − 0.20 g/kcal−1 = ∆body water. The relative efficacy of exercise drinking behaviours can be judged using the following equation: percentage dehydration = [(∆body mass − 0.20 g kcal−1)/starting body mass] × 100.

Changes in body mass occur because of flux in liquids, solids and gases. This knowledge is crucial for understanding metabolism, health and human water needs. In exercise science, corrections to observed changes in body mass to estimate water balance are inconsistently applied and often misinterpreted, particularly after prolonged exercise. Although acute body mass losses in response to exercise can represent a close surrogate for body water losses, the discordance between mass and water balance equivalence becomes increasingly inaccurate as more and more energy is expended. The purpose of this paper is briefly to clarify the roles that respiratory water loss, gas exchange and metabolic water production play in the correction of body mass changes for fluid balance determinations during prolonged exercise. Computations do not include waters of association with glycogen because any movement of water among body water compartments contributes nothing to water or mass flux from the body. Estimates of sweat loss from changes in body mass should adjust for non‐sweat losses when possible. We propose use of the following equation as a way of simplifying the study of exercise mass and water balance: ∆body mass − 0.20 g kcal−1 = ∆body water. This equation directly controls for the influence of energy expenditure on body mass balance and the approximate offsetting equivalence of respiratory water loss and metabolic water production on body water balance. The relative efficacy of exercise drinking behaviours can be judged using the following equation: percentage dehydration = [(∆body mass − 0.20 g kcal−1)/starting body mass] × 100.
A
Discrete Control Lyapunov Function for Exponential Orbital Stabilization of the Simplest
Walker
Authors: Bhounsule Pranav
A. , Zamani Ali 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
In this paper, we demonstrate the application of a discrete control Lyapunov function (DCLF) for exponential orbital stabilization of the simplest walking model supplemented with an actuator between the legs. The Lyapunov function is defined as the square of the difference between the actual and nominal velocity of the unactuated stance leg at the midstance position (stance leg is normal to the ramp). The foot placement is controlled to ensure an exponential decay in the Lyapunov function. In essence, DCLF does foot placement control to regulate the midstance walking velocity between successive steps. The DCLF is able to enlarge the basin of attraction by an order of magnitude and to increase the average number of steps to failure by 2 orders of magnitude over passive dynamic walking. We compare DCLF with a one-step dead-beat controller (full correction of disturbance in a single step) and find that both controllers have similar robustness. The one-step dead-beat controller provides the fastest convergence to the limit cycle while using least amount of energy per unit step. However, the one-step dead-beat controller is more sensitive to modeling errors. We also compare the DCLF with an eigenvalue-based controller for the same rate of convergence. Both controllers yield identical robustness but the DCLF is more energy-efficient and requires lower maximum torque. Our results suggest that the DCLF controller with moderate rate of convergence provides good compromise between robustness, energy-efficiency, and sensitivity to modeling errors.