bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peritoneal Protein Losses Depend on More Than Just Peritoneal Dialysis Modality and Peritoneal Membrane Transporter Status
Authors: Yoowannakul Suree , Harris Lauren S , Davenport Andrew 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPeritoneal protein clearance (PPCl) depends upon vascular supply and size selective permeability. Some previous reports suggested PPCl can distinguish fast peritoneal membrane transport due to local or systemic inflammation. However, as studies have been discordant, we wished to determine factors associated with an increased PPCl. Consecutive patients starting peritoneal dialysis (PD) who were peritonitis‐free were studied. Data included a baseline peritoneal equilibration test (PET), measurement of dialysis adequacy, 24‐h dialysate PPCl and body composition measured by multifrequency bioimpedance. 411 patients, mean age 57.2 ± 16.6 years, 60.8% male, 39.4% diabetic, 20.2% treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) were studied. Mean PET 4‐h Dialysate/Serum creatinine was 0.73 ± 0.13, with daily peritoneal protein loss 4.6 (3.3–6.4) g, and median PPCl 69.6 (49.1–99.6) mL/day. On multivariate analysis, PPCl was most strongly associated with CAPD (β 0.25, P < 0.001), extracellular water (ECW)/total body water (TBW) ratio (β 0.21, P < 0.001), skeletal muscle mass index (β 0.21, P < 0.001), log N‐terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) (β 0.17, P = 0.001), faster PET transport (β 0.15, P = 0.005), and normalized nitrogen appearance rate (β 0.13, P = 0.008). In addition to the longer dwell times of CAPD, greater peritoneal creatinine clearance and faster PET transporter status, we observed an association between increased PPCl and ECW expansion, increased NT‐proBNP, estimated dietary protein intake and muscle mass, suggesting a link to sodium intake and sodium balance, increasing both ECW and conduit artery hydrostatic pressure resulting in greater vascular protein permeability. This latter association may explain reports linking PPCl to patient mortality.
GPSit: An automated method for evolutionary analysis of nonculturable ciliated microeukaryotes
Authors: Chen Xiao , Wang Yurui , Sheng Yalan , Warren Alan , Gao Shan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMicroeukaryotes are among the most important components of the microbial food web in almost all aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. In order to gain a better understanding their roles and functions in ecosystems, sequencing coupled with phylogenomic analyses of entire genomes or transcriptomes is increasingly used to reconstruct the evolutionary history and classification of these microeukaryotes and thus provide a more robust framework for determining their systematics and diversity. More importantly, phylogenomic research usually requires high levels of hands‐on bioinformatics experience. Here, we propose an efficient automated method, “Guided Phylogenomic Search in trees” (GPSit), which starts from predicted protein sequences of newly sequenced species and a well‐defined customized orthologous database. Compared with previous protocols, our method streamlines the entire workflow by integrating all essential and other optional operations. In so doing, the manual operation time for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships is reduced from days to several hours, compared to other methods. Furthermore, GPSit supports user‐defined parameters in most steps and thus allows users to adapt it to their studies. The effectiveness of GPSit is demonstrated by incorporating available online data and new single‐cell data of three nonculturable marine ciliates (Anteholosticha monilata, Deviata sp. and Diophrys scutum) under moderate sequencing coverage (~5×). Our results indicate that the former could reconstruct robust “deep” phylogenetic relationships while the latter reveals the presence of intermediate taxa in shallow relationships. Based on empirical phylogenomic data, we also used GPSit to evaluate the impact of different levels of missing data on two commonly used methods of phylogenetic analyses, maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. We found that BI is less sensitive to missing data when fast‐evolving sites are removed.
Long‐term efficacy and safety of add‐on tacrolimus for persistent, active rheumatoid arthritis despite treatment with methotrexate and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors
Authors: Naniwa Taio , Iwagaitsu Shiho , Kajiura Mikiko 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAimTo assess the long‐term efficacy and safety of adding tacrolimus for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite anti‐tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy with methotrexate.MethodsConsecutive patients who were treated with adding tacrolimus onto anti‐TNF therapy with methotrexate for active RA despite anti‐TNF therapy with methotrexate, were retrospectively analyzed in terms of treatment response, achieving remission, subsequent treatment tapering and adverse events.ResultsFifteen patients could be analyzed. Median symptom duration was 2.9 years and prior duration of anti‐TNF therapy was 40 weeks. Median value of Disease Activity Score in 28 joints was 4.6. Five, eight and two were on infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab at the onset of tacrolimus, respectively. At 2 years, the proportions of patients achieving responses of American College of Rheumatology 50, 70 and 90, were 80%, 73% and 40%, respectively, and those achieving remission as defined by Simplified Disease Activity Index ≤ 3.3 were 67%. All patients could discontinue oral glucocorticoids and 10 had been successfully withdrawn from anti‐TNF therapy for more than 1 year at the final observation.ConclusionAdding tacrolimus onto anti‐TNF therapy is a promising therapeutic option with sustained benefit for refractory RA patients despite treatment with anti‐TNF therapy combined with methotrexate.
Hospice care in Medicare patients with primary liver cancer: the impact on resource utilisation and mortality
Authors: Fukui N. , Golabi P. , Otgonsuren M. , de Avila L. , Bush H. , Younossi Z. M. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryBackgroundFew studies have assessed the impact of hospice care in patients with primary liver cancer.AimTo examine the determinants of hospice care and its effects on resource utilisation and survival among Medicare beneficiaries with primary liver cancer.MethodsWe utilised the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End result Registry (SEER) database from 2002 to 2009 for this cross‐sectional study. A total of 3385 patients with primary liver cancer were included. We used logistic regression to discern variables associated with hospice and Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate one‐year mortality risk.ResultsCompared to patients who enrolled in a hospice, those patients who did not, were younger, non‐White and sicker (P < .05 for all). Half of all patients with primary liver cancer died within six months of diagnosis, and one‐year mortality was similar in both groups (P = .413). After adjusting for baseline characteristics [age at diagnosis, race, disease severity, tumour stage and treatment], shorter time to hospice care was associated with reduced mortality (HR per day: 0.99 [95% CI, 0.98‐0.99]). Older age, decompensated cirrhosis and advanced tumours stage were associated with decreased time to hospice, while Asian/Pacific Islander race and history of radiosurgery were associated with increased time to hospice (all P < .05).Hospitalisations were more costly for those who never enrolled in a hospice compared to hospice enrollees (median $31 607 [$18 394‐$54 254] vs $22 316 [$13 741‐$36 170], P < .0001).ConclusionsHospice enrolment of patients with primary liver cancer provides survival and resource utilisation benefits. Some clinical and demographic factors may represent barriers to hospice enrolment. Further studies are needed to fully understand these barriers in patients with primary liver cancer.
The phosphorus‐rich signature of fire in the soil–plant system: a global meta‐analysis
Authors: Butler Orpheus M. , Elser James J. , Lewis Tom , Mackey Brendan , Chen Chengrong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe biogeochemical and stoichiometric signature of vegetation fire may influence post‐fire ecosystem characteristics and the evolution of plant ‘fire traits’. Phosphorus (P), a potentially limiting nutrient in many fire‐prone environments, might be particularly important in this context; however, the effects of fire on P cycling often vary widely. We conducted a global‐scale meta‐analysis using data from 174 soil studies and 39 litter studies, and found that fire led to significantly higher concentrations of soil mineral P as well as significantly lower soil and litter carbon:P and nitrogen:P ratios. These results demonstrate that fire has a P‐rich signature in the soil–plant system that varies with vegetation type. Further, they suggest that burning can ease P limitation and decouple the biogeochemical cycling of P, carbon and nitrogen. These effects resemble a transient reversion to an earlier stage of ecosystem development, and likely underpin at least some of fire's impacts on ecosystems and organisms.
Higher efficacy of pegylated interferon‐α2b add‐on therapy in hepatitis B envelope antigen‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients on tenofovir monotherapy
Authors: Jindal Ankur , Vyas Ashish Kumar , Kumar Devesh , Kumar Guresh , Sharma Manoj Kumar , Sarin Shiv Kumar 
Published: January 2018

AimMonotherapy with pegylated interferon‐α (Peg‐IFNα) or the nucleos(t)ide analogs (NA) currently approved for treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has limited efficacy. Studies on the combination of Peg‐IFNα/NA have shown conflicting results. We investigated whether sequentially adding on Peg‐IFNα to tenofovir enhances serological response rates.MethodsTreatment‐naïve, hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)‐positive CHB patients with moderately elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT; 48–200 IU/mL) were started on tenofovir (300 mg/day) and enrolled at week 12 in a 1:1 ratio to either receive Peg‐IFNα2b add‐on (1.5 μg/kg/week) from week 12 to 36 (n = 53) or continue tenofovir monotherapy (n = 53). Both treatment arms received tenofovir consolidation therapy until week 72. The primary end‐point was HBeAg loss at week 72.ResultsAt week 72, the rate of HBeAg loss was higher in the Peg‐IFNα2b add‐on group (35.8%) compared to the tenofovir monotherapy group (17%) (P = 0.028; odds ratio, 2.73, 95% confidence interval, 1.09–6.79), and considerably higher in patients with a baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐DNA level >6 log IU/mL (32.6% vs 11.4%; P = 0.021). Rates of HBV‐DNA loss (77.4% vs 71.7%; P = 0.51), ALT normalization (62.3% vs 52.8%; P = 0.32), and sustained virologic response (20.8% vs 11.3%; P = 0.18) at week 72 were comparable between the two groups. Significantly more patients in the add‐on group had >3 log HBV‐DNA reduction at week 36 (92.5% vs 66%; P = 0.001). Four patients treated with Peg‐IFNα2b add‐on achieved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss compared with one patient receiving tenofovir monotherapy. Decline of HBV‐DNA of >2 log at week 4 led to higher HBeAg loss at week 72, independent of treatment arm. No patient had treatment‐related adverse effects requiring treatment discontinuation.ConclusionsTwenty‐four weeks of Peg‐IFNα2b as an add‐on sequential regimen to tenofovir is safe and resulted in greater loss of HBeAg and HBsAg compared to tenofovir monotherapy in selected HBeAg‐positive patients. Viral load reduction followed by immune modulation is a potentially useful approach.
Anti‐inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of ginseng extract bioconverted by Leuconostoc mesenteroides KCCM 12010P isolated from kimchi
Authors: Eom Su Jin , Hwang Ji Eun , Kim Hyun Suk , Kim Kee‐Tae , Paik Hyun‐Dong 
Published: January 2018

SummaryA bioconversion technique using microorganisms has been applied to ginseng to increase content of bioactive ginsenoside and biofunctionality such as anticancer, anti‐obesity and antioxidant activities. The objective of this study was to screen lactic acid bacteria for bioconversion of ginsenosides and to evaluate anti‐inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of bioconverted ginseng extract. Strains isolated from kimchi were screened for their β‐glucosidase activities using esculin agar. Selected strain was identified based on 16S rRNA sequencing and carbohydrate fermentation. During ginseng fermentation, viable cell number and pH were determined. Bioconverted ginsenosides were analysed by HPLC. Anti‐inflammatory effects were evaluated using RAW 264.7 cells, and cytotoxic effects were determined by MTT assay. Among 166 isolates screened, Leuconostoc mesenteroides was selected for ginseng bioconversion, as it showed a higher β‐glucosidase activity and viable cell number than any of the other tested strains. After fermentation for 2 days, viable cell number was 8.8 log CFU mL−1 and final pH was 4.8. Ginsenoside Rb2 was bioconverted into ginsenoside Rg3 (Rb2 → Rd → Rg3) by L. mesenteroides. The nitric oxide contents of 2‐day‐fermented extract decreased by as much as 25%, compared to a non‐fermented extract. The cell viabilities of HepG2, HT‐29, HeLa and LoVo treated with fermented ginseng extract also decreased by 49.7%, 20.2%, 21.0% and 8.7%, respectively, compared to those of control cells treated with non‐fermented extract. Ginseng extract bioconverted by L. mesenteroides showed anti‐inflammatory and anticancer effects. Therefore, bioconverted ginseng extract might have applications in the pharmaceutical and/or functional food industry.
Oxidative enzymes and functional quality of minimally processed grape berries sanitised with ozonated water
Authors: Silveira Ana Cecilia , Oyarzún Dennise , Escalona Víctor 
Published: January 2018

SummaryThompson Seedless (TS) and Black (BS) grapes sanitised with 2, 4, 6, 8 mg L−1 O3 or NaOCl (100 mg L−1) were stored 21 days at 5 °C. Ozonated water stimulated the respiration rate, especially after 5 days of storage, and increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activity compared to NaOCl‐sanitised grapes. Total polyphenol content (TPC) was 23–50% higher in TS and 18.5–28% higher in BS samples sanitised with ozonated water. Twofold higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was registered in TS at all of the evaluated O3 doses while the doses of 6 and 8 mg L−1 increased TAC by 19–30% in BS. The use of ozonated water as a sanitising method, especially at 6 and 8 mg L−1 doses, improved the functional quality and maintained low microbial counts on fresh‐cut grapes being a good alternative for the industry.
Sensory evaluation and flavour analysis of soymilk produced from lipoxygenase‐free soya beans after modified processes and pulsed light treatment
Authors: Alhendi Abeer , Yang Wade , Goodrich‐Schneider Renee , Sims Charles , Marshall Sara , Sarnoski Paul J. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryConventional static pulsed light (PL) treatment completely inactivated lipoxygenase (LOX) in whole soya beans to prevent off‐flavours produced by LOX. However, the produced soymilk had inadequate values for total solid content. The fully soaked treatment (FST) and shaking treatment (SHT) were best in terms of increasing total solid content of soymilk from 3.7% for control soymilk to 4.6% and 4.3%, respectively; therefore, these treatments were chosen for soymilk sensory evaluation. No significant statistical differences in sensory evaluation scores existed between the control and soymilk produced from FST. The SHT for 130 s had higher overall liking (4.8) and flavour (4.6) scores compared with the control (4.1 and 3.9, respectively). Flavour analysis (purge and trap GC‐MS) of the soymilk revealed that the ethanol peak area was the biggest difference between the treatments. This study demonstrated soya beans treated with PL have no negative sensory effect in general. Producing lipoxygenase‐free soya bean is an important achievement to enhance soyfood products because lipoxygenase catalyses lipid oxidation, which takes place when lipoxygenase is released during soy milling.
Comparison of five specific assays for determination of dabigatran plasma concentrations in patients enrolled in the START‐Laboratory Register
Authors: Cini M. , Legnani C. , Cosmi B. , Testa S. , Dellanoce C. , Paoletti O. , Marcucci R. , Poli D. , Paniccia R. , Pengo V. , Tripodi A. , Palareti G. ,   for the START‐Laboratory Register
Published: January 2018

AbstractIntroductionSeveral specific assays are commercially available to determine dabigatran anticoagulant activity. Aims of this multicenter and multiplatform study were to compare five methods for dabigatran measurement and investigate their performances in the low concentration range.MethodsDabigatran levels were analyzed in 295 plasma samples from patients enrolled in the START‐Laboratory Register by the following methods using dedicated calibrators and controls: STA‐ECA II (Diagnostica Stago), standard and low range Hemoclot Thrombin Inhibitors (Hyphen BioMed), Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Assay (Instrumentation Laboratory), Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Assay (Siemens), Technoclot DTI (Technoclone).ResultsMethods showed variable agreement with the Hemoclot Thrombin Inhibitors assay used as reference test, with modest under‐ or overestimations (Bland‐Altman bias from −17.3 to 4.0 ng/mL). Limits of detection and quantification varied depending on the assay (4‐52 and 7‐82 ng/mL, respectively). Between‐run precision and accuracy were good for all methods for both quality control levels. Assay's repeatability assessed at very low dabigatran concentrations (from 10 to 60 ng/mL) was also acceptable, variability generally increased at lower drug levels.ConclusionThe five dabigatran‐specific assays evaluated in this study provided reliable assessment of dabigatran plasma levels, although showing different performances.
Kant and Degrees of Responsibility
Authors: Saunders Joe 
Published: January 2018

AbstractKant views every human action as either entirely determined by natural necessity or entirely free. In viewing human action this way, it is unclear how he can account for degrees of responsibility. In this article, I consider three recent attempts to accommodate degrees of responsibility within Kant's framework, but argue that none of them are satisfying. In the end, I claim that transcendental idealism constrains Kant such that he cannot provide an adequate account of degrees of responsibility.
Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition attenuates myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury in hypertrophic heart
Authors: Ma Lei‐Lei , Ma Xin , Kong Fei‐Juan , Guo Jun‐Jie , Shi Hong‐Tao , Zhu Jian‐Bing , Zou Yun‐Zeng , Ge Jun‐Bo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPathological cardiac hypertrophy aggravated myocardial infarction and is causally related to autophagy dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. Rapamycin is an inhibitor of serine/threonine kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) involved in the regulation of autophagy as well as oxidative/nitrative stress. Here, we demonstrated that rapamycin ameliorates myocardial ischaemia reperfusion injury by rescuing the defective cytoprotective mechanisms in hypertrophic heart. Our results showed that chronic rapamycin treatment markedly reduced the phosphorylated mTOR and ribosomal protein S6 expression, but not Akt in both normal and aortic‐banded mice. Moreover, chronic rapamycin treatment significantly mitigated TAC‐induced autophagy dysfunction demonstrated by prompted Beclin‐1 activation, elevated LC3‐II/LC3‐I ratio and increased autophagosome abundance. Most importantly, we found that MI/R‐induced myocardial injury was markedly reduced by rapamycin treatment manifested by the inhibition of myocardial apoptosis, the reduction of myocardial infarct size and the improvement of cardiac function in hypertrophic heart. Mechanically, rapamycin reduced the MI/R‐induced iNOS/gp91phox protein expression and decreased the generation of NO and superoxide, as well as the cytotoxic peroxynitrite. Moreover, rapamycin significantly mitigated MI/R‐induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial impairment demonstrated by reduced Caspase‐12 activity, inhibited CHOP activation, decreased cytoplasmic Cyto‐C release and preserved intact mitochondria. In addition, inhibition of mTOR also enhanced the phosphorylated ERK and eNOS, and inactivated GSK3β, a pivotal downstream target of Akt and ERK signallings. Taken together, these results suggest that mTOR signalling protects against MI/R injury through autophagy induction and ERK‐mediated antioxidative and anti‐nitrative stress in mice with hypertrophic myocardium.
European versus Asian differences for the associations between paraoxonase‐1 genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Luo Jian‐Quan , Ren Huan , Liu Mou‐Ze , Fang Ping‐Fei , Xiang Da‐Xiong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMany studies have examined the associations between paraoxonase‐1 (PON1) genetic polymorphisms (Q192R, rs662 and L55M, rs854560) and the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) across different ethnic populations. However, the evidence for the associations remains inconclusive. In this study, we performed a meta‐analysis to clarify the association of the two PON1 variants with T2DM risk. We carried out a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, CNKI and Wanfang databases for studies published before June 2017. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) for the association and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by a random‐ or fixed‐effect model. A total of 50 eligible studies, including 34 and 16 studies were identified for the PON1 Q192R (rs662) and L55M (rs854560) polymorphism, respectively. As for the PON1 Q192R polymorphism, the 192R allele was a susceptible factor of T2DM in the South or East Asian population (OR > 1, P < 0.05) but represented a protective factor of T2DM in European population (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.45–0.98) under a heterozygous genetic model. With regard to the PON1 L55M polymorphism, significant protective effects of the 55M allele on T2DM under the heterozygous (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61–0.97) and dominant (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.65–0.99) genetic models were found in the European population, while no significant associations in the Asian populations under all genetic models (P > 0.05). In summary, by a comprehensive meta‐analysis, our results firmly indicated that distinct effects of PON1 genetic polymorphisms existed in the risk of T2DM across different ethnic backgrounds.