bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Returning to work after laparoscopic myomectomy: a prospective observational study
Authors: Huff Keren O , Aref‐Adib Mehrnoosh , Magama Zwelihle , Vlachodimitropoulou Evangelia K , Oliver Reeba , Odejinmi Funlayo 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIntroductionLaparoscopic myomectomy offers women many benefits over conventional open surgery, including an expedited recovery and return to employment. Our study evaluates the time taken for women to return to work after laparoscopic myomectomy and identifies factors prolonging recovery to > 8 weeks.Material and methodsWe prospectively evaluated 94 women undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy by a single surgeon between January 2012 and March 2015. Women had standardized preoperative counseling and completed a validated return to work questionnaire 3 months postoperatively via telephone, post or in clinic.ResultsIn all, 71/94 (75.5%) women completed the questionnaire. Results were analyzed comparing women who returned to work in ≤ 8 weeks [43/71 (60.6%)] with those who returned > 8 weeks postoperatively [28/71 (39.4%)]. A higher proportion of Asian and Caucasian women returned to work in ≤ 8 weeks (24/29) compared with black African and Caribbean women (19/42) (p = 0.003). Mean number of fibroids removed (2.59 and 5.75, respectively) was the only significantly differing factor between the two groups (p = 0.004). There was a significant difference in body mass index (BMI) and time to return to normal activity between the ≤ 8‐week and > 8‐week groups (p = 0.027, p = 0.011, respectively). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that BMI and time to return to normal activity were the only factors prolonging recovery to > 8 weeks (p = 0.039, p = 0.015, respectively).ConclusionsTime to return to normal activity and BMI significantly influenced the time taken for women to work after laparoscopic myomectomy. Further data would support clinicians in counseling women appropriately and optimizing their postoperative return to employment.
Anti‐NT5C1A autoantibodies for the diagnosis and study of the pathogenesis of sporadic inclusion body myositis
Authors: Yamashita Satoshi , Tawara Nozomu , Ando Yukio 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory myopathy that is commonest in the population aged >50 years. Asymmetric muscle weakness and wasting of the quadriceps, and finger and wrist flexor muscles are characteristic of sIBM. Histological findings for sIBM are characterized by a combination of inflammatory and myodegenerative pathologies. The pathogenesis of sIBM is not yet fully understood, and serum markers have not been identified for diagnosis of the disease or assessment of therapeutic efficacy. Recently, autoantibodies against cytosolic 5′‐nucleotidase 1A have been identified in plasma and serum samples from patients with sIBM. Various methods with clinical utility have been established to detect anti‐cN1A autoantibodies for the diagnosis of sIBM. Importantly, the autoantibodies might have direct roles in the development of the disease by causing dysfunction in proteasomal and lysosomal degradation. Future studies should be carried out to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which the sarcoplasmic autoantigen is recognized and involved in the degeneration of myofibers. Additional research is essential to provide a better understanding of the relationship between the inflammatory and degenerative processes of sIBM.
Pooled efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine acetate as add‐on treatment in patients with focal‐onset seizures: Data from four double‐blind placebo‐controlled pivotal phase III clinical studies
Authors: Elger Christian , Koepp Mathias , Trinka Eugen , Villanueva Vicente , Chaves João , Ben‐Menachen Elinor , Kowacs Pedro A. , Gil‐Nagel António , Moreira Joana , Gama Helena , Rocha José‐Francisco , Soares‐da‐Silva Patrício 
Published: October 2017

SummaryPurposePooled evaluation of the key efficacy and safety profile of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) added‐on to stable antiepileptic therapy in adults with focal‐onset seizures.MethodsData from 1703 patients enrolled in four phase III double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled studies were pooled and analyzed. Following a 2 week titration period, ESL was administered at 400 mg, 800 mg, and 1200 mg once‐daily doses for 12 weeks (maintenance period). Pooled efficacy variable was standardized (/4 weeks) seizure frequency (SSF) analyzed over the maintenance period as reduction in absolute and relative SSF and proportion of responders (≥50% reduction in SSF). Pooled safety was analyzed by means of adverse events and clinical laboratory assessments.ResultsSSF was significantly reduced with ESL 800 mg (P < 0.0001) and 1200 mg (P < 0.0001) compared to placebo. Median relative reduction in SSF was 33.4% for ESL 800 mg and 37.8% for 1200 mg (placebo: 17.6%), and responder rate was 33.8% and 43.1% (placebo: 22.2%). ESL was more efficacious than placebo regardless of gender, geographical region, epilepsy duration, age at time of diagnosis, seizure type, and type of concomitant antiepileptic drugs (AED). Incidence of adverse events (AEs) and AEs leading to discontinuation was dose dependent. Most common AEs (>10% patients) were dizziness, somnolence, and nausea. The incidence of treatment‐emergent AEs (dizziness, somnolence, ataxia, vomiting, and nausea) was lower in patients who began taking ESL 400 mg (followed by 400 mg increments to 800 or 1200 mg) than in those who began taking ESL 600 mg or 800 mg.ConclusionsOnce‐daily ESL 800 mg and 1200 mg showed consistent results across all efficacy and safety endpoints, independent of study population characteristics and type of concomitant AEDs. Treatment initiated with ESL 400 mg followed by 400 mg increments to 800 or 1200 mg provides optimal balance of efficacy and tolerability.
Forging a ‘Good Diaspora’: Political Mobilization among Somalis in the UK
Authors: Liberatore Giulia 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTThis article is about a campaign that was initiated by Somalis in London in 2013 against Barclays Bank's decision to shut down the accounts of four Somali remittance companies in the UK. It explores how young Somalis mobilized politically around the issue, and how, in the process, they created and reified a particular ‘imagined community’. By drawing on multicultural notions of community, and development idioms of diaspora engagement, they fashioned themselves around a notion of ‘good diaspora’ based on generation, pan‐Somali unity, and ideas of ‘professionalism’. In so doing, they were able to mobilize politically as both national and transnational actors, but were also confronted with some of the limits of the ‘good diaspora’ identity category. This article establishes a dialogue between the literature on diaspora engagement and that on migrant political mobilization by exploring how young Somalis navigate across these different national and transnational conversations, discourses and social categories.
“Candidatus Phytoplasma solani” associated with Eucalyptus witches’ broom in Iran
Authors: Baghaee‐Ravari S. , Jamshidi E. , Falahati‐Rastegar M. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryDuring summer of 2015, Eucalyptus camaldulensis plants showing witches’ broom, little leaf and general yellowing of the foliage were observed in west of Fars and Khozestan province of Iran. DNA from samples of 22 symptomatic and two asymptomatic trees was extracted and subjected to molecular analyses. Nested‐PCR test using R16F2n/R16R2 primers confirmed phytoplasma presence in 63% of symptomatic Eucalyptus plants. Sequence analysis along with virtual RFLP of the 16S ribosomal DNA allowed to classify three Eucalyptus witches’ broom strains into the “stolbur” (“Candidatus phytoplasma solani”) 16SrXII‐A subgroup. Comparison of the secA and secY gene sequences with sequences deposited in GenBank confirmed the phytoplasma identity. Real and virtual RFLPs of the amplified secY gene using HaeIII, MseI and RsaI restriction enzymes showed profiles indistinguishable from each other. This is the first study reporting E. camaldulensis as a new host species for “Ca. P. solani.”
Increased water‐use efficiency translates into contrasting growth patterns of Scots pine and sessile oak at their southern distribution limits
Authors: Martínez‐Sancho Elisabet , Dorado‐Liñán Isabel , Gutiérrez Merino Emilia , Matiu Michael , Helle Gerhard , Heinrich Ingo , Menzel Annette 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn forests, the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations (Ca) has been related to enhanced tree growth and intrinsic water‐use efficiency (iWUE). However, in drought‐prone areas such as the Mediterranean Basin, it is not yet clear to what extent this “fertilizing” effect may compensate for drought‐induced growth reduction. We investigated tree growth and physiological responses at five Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and five sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) sites located at their southernmost distribution limits in Europe for the period 1960–2012 using annually resolved tree‐ring width and δ13C data to track ecophysiological processes. Results indicated that all 10 natural stands significantly increased their leaf intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and consequently iWUE. Different trends in the theoretical gas‐exchange scenarios as a response to increasing Ca were found: generally, Ci tended to increase proportionally to Ca, except for trees at the driest sites in which Ci remained constant. Ci from the oak sites displaying higher water availability tended to increase at a comparable rate to Ca. Multiple linear models fitted at site level to predict basal area increment (BAI) using iWUE and climatic variables better explained tree growth in pines (31.9%–71.4%) than in oak stands (15.8%–46.8%). iWUE was negatively linked to pine growth, whereas its effect on growth of oak differed across sites. Tree growth in the western and central oak stands was negatively related to iWUE, whereas BAI from the easternmost stand was positively associated with iWUE. Thus, some Q. petraea stands might have partially benefited from the “fertilizing” effect of rising Ca, whereas P. sylvestris stands due to their strict closure of stomata did not profit from increased iWUE and consequently showed in general growth reductions across sites. Additionally, the inter‐annual variability of BAI and iWUE displayed a geographical polarity in the Mediterranean.
Molecular characterizations of DNA methyltransferase 3 and its roles in temperature tolerance in the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean
Authors: Dai T.‐M. , Lü Z.‐C. , Wang Y.‐S. , Liu W.‐X. , Hong X.‐Y. , Wan F.‐H. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED) cryptic species is an invasive pest, distributed worldwide, with high ecological adaptability and thermotolerance. DNA methylation (a reversible chromatin modification) is one possible change that may occur within an organism subjected to environmental stress. To assess the effects of temperature stress on DNA methyltransferase 3 (Dnmt3) in MED, we cloned and sequenced BtDnmt3 and identified its functions in response to high and low temperatures. The full‐length cDNA of BtDnmt3 was 3913 bp, with an open reading frame of 1962 bp, encoding a 73.89 kDa protein. In situ hybridization showed that BtDnmt3 was expressed mainly in the posterior region. BtDnmt3 messenger RNA expression levels were significantly down‐regulated after exposure to heat shock and significantly up‐regulated after exposure to cold shock. Furthermore, after feeding on double‐stranded RNA specific for BtDnmt3, both heat resistance and cold resistance were significantly decreased, suggesting that BtDnmt3 is associated with thermal stress response and indicating a differential response to high‐ and low‐temperature stress in MED. Together, these results highlight a potential role for DNA methylation in thermal resistance, which is a process important to successful invasion and colonization of an alien species in various environments.
Achieving Social and Economic Equality by Unifying Business and Ethics: Adam Smith as the Cause of and Cure for the Separation Thesis
Authors: Newbert Scott L. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAdam Smith's famous argument that self‐interested decisions will ultimately improve social welfare seems inconsistent with the social and economic inequality characterizing Smith's time and today. I contend that these inequalities are the result of Smith's failure to explicitly situate the economic man he describes in The Wealth of Nations within the broader social context he articulates in The Theory of the Moral Sentiments, an omission which has since given rise to the separation thesis, which states that business decisions have no moral content and moral decisions have no business content. In response to this modern‐day Adam Smith problem, I integrate Smith's notions of sympathy, intimacy, and justice into a unification thesis that articulates how individuals might balance their self‐interested and benevolent motives. By reuniting the discourses of business and ethics, this research may inform contemporary theories of business ethics and provide normative guidance for managers.
Influences of different dietary contents of macrominerals on the availability of trace elements in horses
Authors: Neustädter L.‐T. , Kamphues J. , Ratert C. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryIn this study, influences of a reduced macromineral intake on the trace element metabolism in horses at maintenance were investigated. Background of this study is the revised recommendation on the macromineral supply for horses (GfE ). Balance studies on three adult pony geldings with body weights of 405 / 348 / 384 kg were performed to obtain data on apparent digestibility (aD), retention and serum concentrations of different trace elements (Cu, Zn, Se) at different dietary macromineral levels. A mineral supplement or a complementary feed—with a reduced macromineral content—was added to a hay‐based diet (daily 5.5 kg hay per animal, split in three servings a day), beside distilled water was offered. The diets were offered one after the other in a way that all ponies had the same sequence of treatments. The native macromineral contents of the daily offered amount of hay already surpassed the new recommendations whereas dietary trace elements needed to be supplemented. There were no statistically significant differences (p ≤ .05) concerning the aD of copper, zinc and selenium comparing the diets with and without macromineral supplementation. Serum levels of these three trace elements were not affected by the different macromineral content of the diet. Results of this study, based on a 22‐day feeding period for each treatment, indicate that a macromineral supplementation of a hay‐based diet for adult horses at maintenance was not necessary. However, no negative effects of added macrominerals on the trace element metabolism occurred in this study.
Timeliness of Breast Cancer Treatment Within The Alaska Tribal Health System
Authors: Kelley Stacy F. , Day Gretchen M. , DeCourtney Christine A. , Nash Sarah H. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractPurposeThis study examined the time from breast cancer diagnosis to initiation of treatment among Alaska Native (AN) women. We evaluated the impact of age, cancer stage, and rural/urban residence at diagnosis.MethodsWe evaluated characteristics of women recorded in the Alaska Native Tumor Registry who received a first diagnosis of breast cancer between 2009 and 2013. Median time from diagnosis to treatment was assessed. Associations of demographic and clinical characteristics with timely initiation of treatment were evaluated using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsTwo hundred seventy‐eight (278) AN women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in years 2009‐2013. Mean age at diagnosis was 56.8 years (SD = 13.0). The median time from diagnosis to initiation of treatment was 23 days (P < .05) with most (94.6%, n = 263) meeting the ≤60‐day guideline target. Time to treatment was not associated with rural/urban residence, age, or stage at cancer diagnosis.ConclusionThese findings indicate that most AN women diagnosed with breast cancer within the AN Tribal Health System receive timely treatment after diagnosis.
Risk Factors for Death in Dogs Treated for Esophageal Foreign Body Obstruction: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 222 Cases (1998–2017)
Authors: Burton A.G. , Talbot C.T. , Kent M.S. 
Published: October 2017

BackgroundLimited data exist describing risk factors for death, and long‐term outcomes in dogs with esophageal foreign body (EFB) obstruction.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo evaluate short‐ and long‐term outcomes, and analyze risk factors for death in dogs with EFB obstruction. We hypothesized duration of entrapment and treatment type would affect outcome.AnimalsA total of 222 dogs were treated for EFB obstruction at an emergency and referral hospital between March 1998 and March 2017.MethodsMedical records for dogs with EFB were retrospectively evaluated.ResultsForeign material most frequently was osseous (180/222 [81%]), with distal esophagus the most common location (110/222 [49.5%]). Duration of clinical signs was not associated with risk of death (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.99–1.17; P = 0.2). Entrapment was treated by endoscopy (204/222 [91.8%]), surgery after endoscopic attempt (13/222 [5.9%]), and repeat endoscopy after surgery was recommended but declined (5/222 [2.3%]). In‐hospital case fatality rate was 11/222 (5%). Risk of death was significantly higher with surgery (OR = 20.1, 95% CI 3.59–112.44; P = 0.001), and 5/5 (100%) of dogs died if undergoing endoscopy after surgery was recommended but declined. Increasing numbers of postprocedural complications (OR = 3.44, CI 2.01–5.91; P < 0.001), esophageal perforation (OR = 65.47, CI 4.27–1004.15; P = 0.003), and postprocedure esophageal hemorrhage (OR = 11.81, CI 1.19–116.77; P = 0.04) increased in‐hospital risk of death. Esophageal strictures were reported in 4/189 (2.1%) of survivors available for follow‐up.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceDeath is uncommon in canine EFB; however, treatment type affects outcome, and these data should be used to guide decision‐making in dogs with EFB.
The Frequency and Clinical Implications of Bacteriuria in Chronically Paralyzed Dogs
Authors: Rafatpanah Baigi S. , Vaden S. , Olby N.J. 
Published: October 2017

BackgroundParalysis is a known risk factor for urinary tract infections (UTI), sepsis, and death in paralyzed people, but there are no data available on diagnostic criteria for UTI versus bacteriuria, their frequency, or clinical implications in chronically paralyzed dogs.Hypothesis/ObjectivesThat chronically paralyzed dogs suffer frequent bacteriuria causing reduced duration of survival. We documented the frequency of bacteriuria, associated clinical signs, and survival rate in chronically paralyzed dogs.AnimalsForty‐seven client‐owned dogs paralyzed with no pelvic limb pain perception for >3 months and at least one urine culture (UC) performed.MethodsRetrospective, observational study. Medical records of dogs meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed for results of UC, urinalysis, and clinical signs. Outcome was compared between dogs with and without bacteriuria.ResultsThirty‐five of 47 dogs had at least 1 positive UC, and 13 had recurrent bacteriuria. Rectal temperature and urinalysis results were extracted from records. Fever was present at time of UC in 5 of 68 observations, 2 with and 3 without bacteriuria. Pyuria was significantly associated with positive cultures (P < 0.001), cloudiness was not (P = 0.076). Survival data in 35 dogs (8 dead) showed no association between bacteriuria and survival (P = 0.69).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceBacteriuria is common in paralyzed dogs but does not cause fever; diagnostic criteria of UTI are unclear. We did not detect an association of bacteriuria with survival, but this needs further confirmation.
PufQ regulates porphyrin flux at the haem/bacteriochlorophyll branchpoint of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis via interactions with ferrochelatase
Authors: Chidgey Jack W. , Jackson Philip J. , Dickman Mark J. , Hunter C. Neil 
Published: October 2017

SummaryFacultative phototrophs such as Rhodobacter sphaeroides can switch between heterotrophic and photosynthetic growth. This transition is governed by oxygen tension and involves the large‐scale production of bacteriochlorophyll, which shares a biosynthetic pathway with haem up to protoporphyrin IX. Here, the pathways diverge with the insertion of Fe2+ or Mg2+ into protoporphyrin by ferrochelatase or magnesium chelatase, respectively. Tight regulation of this branchpoint is essential, but the mechanisms for switching between respiratory and photosynthetic growth are poorly understood. We show that PufQ governs the haem/bacteriochlorophyll switch; pufQ is found within the oxygen‐regulated pufQBALMX operon encoding the reaction centre–light‐harvesting photosystem complex. A pufQ deletion strain synthesises low levels of bacteriochlorophyll and accumulates the biosynthetic precursor coproporphyrinogen III; a suppressor mutant of this strain harbours a mutation in the hemH gene encoding ferrochelatase, substantially reducing ferrochelatase activity and increasing cellular bacteriochlorophyll levels. FLAG‐immunoprecipitation experiments retrieve a ferrochelatase‐PufQ‐carotenoid complex, proposed to regulate the haem/bacteriochlorophyll branchpoint by directing porphyrin flux toward bacteriochlorophyll production under oxygen‐limiting conditions. The co‐location of pufQ and the photosystem genes in the same operon ensures that switching of tetrapyrrole metabolism toward bacteriochlorophyll is coordinated with the production of reaction centre and light‐harvesting polypeptides.
Environmental and genetic regulation of white‐opaque switching in Candida tropicalis
Authors: Zheng Qiushi , Zhang Qiuyu , Bing Jian , Ding Xuefen , Huang Guanghua 
Published: October 2017

SummaryPhenotypic switching is a strategy by which microbial organisms adapt to environmental changes. The human fungal pathogens, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis, are closely related species and capable of undergoing morphological transitions. C. albicans primarily exists in human or warm‐blooded animals as a commensal, whereas C. tropicalis not only exists as a commensal but also is widely distributed in the environment. In this study, we describe the environmental and genetic regulatory mechanisms of white‐opaque switching in C. tropicalis, which is associated with virulence and sexual mating. A comparative study with C. albicans demonstrated that C. tropicalis responds to environmental stimuli, such as elevated CO2 levels and pH changes, in opposite manners. An acidic pH and elevated CO2 levels promote the opaque phenotype in C. albicans but have an opposite effect in C. tropicalis, whereas alkaline pH conditions facilitate white‐to‐opaque switching and sexual mating in C. tropicalis. The conserved Rim101‐mediated pH sensing and Ras1‐cAMP/PKA signaling pathways are involved in this regulation. By screening an overexpression library of transcription factors, we identified 26 white‐opaque regulators, including WOR1, AHR1, EFG1, CUP9, BCR1 and SFL2. Transcriptional analysis indicated that the pH sensing and Ras1‐cAMP/PKA signaling pathways and transcriptional regulators coordinately regulate white‐to‐opaque switching.