bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Independent and Joint Effects of Unmedicated Prenatal Depressive Symptoms and Alcohol Consumption in Pregnancy and Infant Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Authors: Bandoli Gretchen , Coles Claire D. , Kable Julie A. , Wertelecki Wladimir , Granovska Irina V. , Pashtepa Alla O. , Chambers Christina D. ,   the CIFASD
Published: May 2016

BackgroundPrenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is an established risk factor for neurodevelopmental deficits in the offspring. Prenatal depression has been associated with neurodevelopmental deficits in the offspring, although investigations into unmedicated prenatal depression have been inconsistent. We hypothesized that unmedicated prenatal depressive symptoms would independently and jointly with PAE predict neurodevelopmental outcomes in infant offspring.MethodsWe studied 344 participants from a randomized clinical trial of multivitamin supplements in pregnant women in Ukraine. Women were recruited based upon periconceptional alcohol use and followed up to 12 months postpartum. Prenatal depressive symptoms were assessed at approximately 32 weeks of gestation using the Beck Depression Inventory score. Neurodevelopment was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II Mental Development Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) at 6 and 12 months postpartum. Generalized linear regression models were constructed to assess the independent and joint effects of prenatal depressive symptoms and PAE in models adjusted for sociodemographic and pregnancy characteristics.ResultsPAE was independently associated with deficits in neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6 and 12 months, however, level of prenatal depressive symptoms was not. We found marginal evidence of synergism of depressive symptoms and PAE, with larger deficits in those with both exposures observed for the PDI‐6 months (p = 0.05) and MDI‐12 months (p = 0.09). Additionally, there was a suggestion of sexual dimorphism; females had stronger deficits from joint exposures than males (depressive symptom [MDI‐6 months] female: −8.28, 95% CI −13.06, −3.49; male: 0.68, 95% CI −4.58, 5.94; p for interaction 0.04). While not statistically significant for the MDI or PDI at 12 months, the trend persisted.ConclusionsInfants exposed to PAE and prenatal depression may be at an increased risk of neurodevelopmental deficits. Healthcare providers should be aware of this possible synergism in their efforts to mitigate the neurodevelopmental effects of these co‐occurring exposures.
Roles of family and architecture in driving insect community structure: a comparison of nine Australian plant species
Authors: Nooten Sabine S , Hughes Lesley 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWhile there has been longstanding interest in the factors that shape the composition and structure of insect assemblages, many fundamental questions remain. We compared species composition, and the distribution of feeding guilds within assemblages of two large insect orders (Coleoptera and Hemiptera) collected from nine plant species within three of the largest Australian plant families. We investigated the relative role of host plant family and architectural traits in explaining the characteristics of the insect assemblage. Assemblage composition varied significantly among plant species within families, as there was little commonality in Coleoptera and Hemiptera morphospecies among plants within each family. When the feeding guild structure of the Coleoptera and Hemiptera assemblages was considered as a whole, there was no consistency within host plant families and among plants with similar architectural traits (leaf size). In contrast, when the guild structure of only the phytophagous members of these two orders was considered, assemblage structure was found to be consistent among plant species with a similar leaf size.
Volatile organic compounds in breath as markers for irritable bowel syndrome: a metabolomic approach
Authors: Baranska A. , Mujagic Z. , Smolinska A. , Dallinga J. W. , Jonkers D. M. A. E. , Tigchelaar E. F. , Dekens J. , Zhernakova A. , Ludwig T. , Masclee A. A. M. , Wijmenga C. , van Schooten F. J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is challenging because of its heterogeneity and multifactorial pathophysiology. No reliable biomarkers of IBS have been identified so far.AimsIn a case–control study, using a novel application of breath analysis to distinguish IBS patients from healthy controls based on the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Subsequently, the diagnostic VOC‐biomarker set was correlated with self‐reported gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms of subjects of the Maastricht IBS clinical cohort and of a general population cohort, LifeLines DEEP.MethodsBreath samples were collected from 170 IBS patients and 153 healthy controls in the clinical cohort and from 1307 participants in general population cohort. Multivariate statistics were used to identify the most discriminatory set of VOCs in the clinical cohort, and to find associations between VOCs and GI symptoms in both cohorts.ResultsA set of 16 VOCs correctly predicted 89.4% of the IBS patients and 73.3% of the healthy controls (AUC = 0.83). The VOC‐biomarker set correlated moderately with a set of GI symptoms in the clinical (r = 0.55, P = 0.0003) and general population cohorts (r = 0.54, P = 0.0004). A Kruskal–Wallis test showed no influence from possible confounding factors in distinguishing IBS patients from healthy controls.ConclusionsA set of 16 breath‐based biomarkers that distinguishes IBS patients from healthy controls was identified. The VOC‐biomarker set correlated significantly with GI symptoms in two independent cohorts. We demonstrate the potential use of breath analysis in the diagnosis and monitoring of IBS, and a possible application of VOC analyses in a general population cohort.
Potentially inappropriate prescribing according to STOPP and START and adverse outcomes in community‐dwelling older people: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Moriarty Frank , Bennett Kathleen , Cahir Caitriona , Kenny Rose Anne , Fahey Tom 
Published: May 2016

AimsThis study aims to determine if potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is associated with increased healthcare utilization, functional decline and reduced quality of life (QoL) in a community‐dwelling older cohort.MethodThis prospective cohort study included participants aged ≥65 years from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) with linked administrative pharmacy claims data who were followed up after 2 years. PIP was defined by the Screening Tool for Older Persons Prescriptions (STOPP) and Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (START). The association with number of emergency department (ED) visits and GP visits reported over 12 months was analyzed using multivariate negative binomial regression adjusting for confounders. Marginal structural models investigated the presence of time‐dependent confounding.ResultsOf participants followed up (n = 1753), PIP was detected in 57% by STOPP and 41.8% by START, 21.7% reported an ED visit and 96.1% visited a GP (median 4, IQR 2.5–6). Those with any STOPP criterion had higher rates of ED visits (adjusted incident rate ratio (IRR) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02, 1.66) and GP visits (IRR 1.15, 95%CI 1.06, 1.24). Patients with two or more START criteria had significantly more ED visits (IRR 1.45, 95%CI 1.03, 2.04) and GP visits (IRR 1.13, 95%CI 1.01, 1.27) than people with no criteria. Adjusting for time‐dependent confounding did not affect the findings.ConclusionsBoth STOPP and START were independently associated with increased healthcare utilization and START was also related to functional decline and QoL. Optimizing prescribing to reduce PIP may provide an improvement in patient outcomes.
Iatrogenic immunosuppression and risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma in solid organ transplantation: A population‐based cohort study in Australia
Authors: Na Renhua , Laaksonen Maarit A. , Grulich Andrew E. , Meagher Nicola S. , McCaughan Geoffrey W. , Keogh Anne M. , Vajdic Claire M. 
Published: May 2016

SummaryIatrogenic immunosuppression is a strong risk factor for non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) but the dose‐related association between individual immunosuppressive agents and NHL risk is unknown. We conducted a population‐based cohort study of 4131 adult Australian liver, heart and lung transplant recipients (1984–2006). We ascertained NHL incidence by probabilistic record linkage between transplant registries and the Australian Cancer Database, and abstracted risk factor data at transplantation and at regular intervals thereafter from medical records. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for early (<1 year after transplantation; n = 29) and late (≥1 year; n = 61) NHL using the Fine and Gray proportional subdistribution hazards model that accounted for death as a competing risk. After adjustment for immunosuppression, the risk of both early and late NHL did not significantly differ by organ type. In final models, higher mean daily doses of azathioprine were associated with increased risk of both early [HR 2·20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1·21–4·01] and late NHL (HR 1·78, 95% CI: 1·12–2·84). There was no association between any other maintenance immunosuppressive agent and NHL risk. This study provides evidence that differences in immunosuppression may explain variation in NHL incidence by organ type, and high doses of azathioprine may independently predict NHL risk.
Is rituximab sub‐optimally dosed in indolent B cell lymphoma?
Authors: Sawalha Yazeed , Rouphail Basel , Jia Xuefei , Dean Robert M. , Hill Brian T. , Jagadeesh Deepa , Pohlman Brad L. , Smith Mitchell R. 
Published: May 2016

Rituximab pharmacokinetics are affected by gender, age and weight and can affect outcomes in aggressive B cell lymphoma. Less is known about the pharmacokinetics of rituximab in indolent B cell lymphoma (iNHL). We analysed the effects of gender, age, weight and body surface area on the outcomes of 303 patients treated with first line rituximab‐based regimens for iNHL. The patients were divided into 3 treatment cohorts: rituximab only, rituximab + chemotherapy (R‐CTX) and R‐CTX followed by rituximab maintenance; furthermore, each cohort was subdivided as follicular (FL) or non‐FL, based on histology. Older males and patients with higher weight had worse outcomes when treated with R‐CTX, probably due to faster rituximab clearance. Our results concur with studies of R‐CTX for DLBCL. As this effect was not observed in patients treated with rituximab alone or R‐CTX followed by rituximab maintenance, we hypothesize that higher rituximab levels reached with weekly rituximab and/or prolonged exposure achieved with maintenance therapy exceed the therapeutic threshold, even with faster clearance, which nullifies the negative effect of higher weight and male gender. In conclusion, under current practices, a subset of patients with iNHL, i.e., FL treated with R‐CTX, may be sub‐optimally dosed with rituximab.
The impact of caregiver treatment satisfaction upon child and parent outcomes
Authors: Acri Mary , Bornheimer Lindsay A. , Jessell Lauren , Flaherty Hanni B. , McKay Mary M. 
Published: May 2016

BackgroundParental perceptions about treatment influence their child's engagement in and ongoing utilization of mental health services, but less is known about the association between caregiver expectancies and family outcomes. The literature is particularly lacking with families of color, who are at high risk for the onset and perpetuation of disruptive behaviors.MethodsThe purpose of this study was to examine caregiver treatment satisfaction among 320 youth of color aged 7–11 and their families who were assigned to either a Multiple Family Group intervention or services‐as‐usual condition. Caregiver stress was measured by the Parenting Stress Index‐Short Form full scale and child oppositional defiant behaviors were measured using the Iowa Connors Rating Scale–Oppositional/Defiant subscale both at baseline and post‐test. Satisfaction with treatment was measured using the Metropolitan Area Child Study process measures program satisfaction subscale at post‐test.ResultsThe two main effects models that focused on satisfaction with treatment were predictive of parental stress and child oppositional defiant behaviors independently. Satisfaction with treatment accounted for 31% of the variance in child oppositional behavior and 24% of parental stress improvements across time, holding all covariates constant.ConclusionsOur findings support previous research that shows parental expectancies, including treatment satisfaction, are powerful mechanisms of treatment outcomes for children with disruptive behavior disorders as well as parental emotional health. Furthermore, parental expectancies may be enhanced by the involvement of families in the development of treatment approaches for children and a greater focus on caregiver emotional health for the benefit of the family as a whole.
Questioning assent: how are children's views included as families make decisions about clinical trials?
Authors: Madden L. , Shilling V. , Woolfall K. , Sowden E. , Smyth R. L. , Williamson P. R. , Young B. 
Published: May 2016

BackgroundAssent is used to take children's wishes into account when they are invited into clinical trials, but the concept has attracted considerable criticism. We investigated children's accounts of decision‐making with the aim of informing practice in supporting children when invited to join a clinical trial.MethodsWe audio‐recorded qualitative, semi‐structured interviews with 22 children aged 8–16 years about being invited to take part in a clinical trial. Most children were interviewed with their parents. Analysis of the transcribed interviews examined the content of participants' accounts thematically, whilst also drawing on principles of discourse analysis, which examines how individuals use talk to achieve certain effects or social practices.ResultsIt was not possible to separate children's knowledge of the clinical trial, or their decision‐making processes from that of their parents, with parents taking a substantial mediating role in producing their children's decisions. Decision‐making gradually unfolded across time and events and was interwoven within the family context, rather than happening in one moment or in the clinical setting. Whilst children valued their parents' role, a case study of child–parent disagreement indicated how children can struggle to be heard.ConclusionsDecisions happen within a process of family dynamics, in contrast to ideas of assent that isolate it from this context. Parents have a substantial role in children's decisions, and thus how families come to provide consent. Reflecting this we argue that assent practices need to focus on supporting parents to support their children in learning and deliberating about trials. However, this needs to be accompanied by practitioners being alert to the possibility of divergence in child and parent views and enabling children's perspectives to be heard.
Limb‐kinetic apraxia affects activities of daily living in Parkinson's disease: a multi‐center study
Authors: Foki T. , Vanbellingen T. , Lungu C. , Pirker W. , Bohlhalter S. , Nyffeler T. , Kraemmer J. , Haubenberger D. , Fischmeister F. Ph. S. , Auff E. , Hallett M. , Beisteiner R. 
Published: May 2016

Background and purposeImpaired dexterity (fine hand movements) is often present in Parkinson's disease (PD), even at early to moderate disease stages. It has a detrimental impact on activities of daily living (ADL) such as buttoning, contributing to reduced quality of life. Limb‐kinetic apraxia, a loss of the ability to make precise, independent but coordinated finger and hand movements, may contribute to impaired dexterity even more than bradykinesia per se. However, the impact of limb‐kinetic apraxia on ADL remains controversial. Our aim was to identify the strongest predictor of buttoning and unbuttoning in PD. It was hypothesized that coin rotation (a surrogate of limb‐kinetic apraxia) represents the most important determinant.MethodsSixty‐four right‐handed, early to moderate PD patients were recruited from three movement disorder centers (Hoehn andYahr stages 1–3). Buttoning, unbuttoning and coin rotation (right and left hand) represented the target tasks. Motor impairment was assessed according to the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis showed that coin rotation with the right hand was the only significant predictor of buttoning (P < 0.001) and unbuttoning (P = 0.002). Notably, measures of bradykinesia or overall motor impairment did not represent significant predictors.ConclusionsConstituting the novel key finding, limb‐kinetic apraxia seems to be particularly relevant for ADL requiring dexterity skills in PD, even at early to moderate disease stages. Our results prompt research into the pathophysiological background and therapeutic options to treat limb‐kinetic apraxia. The simple coin rotation test provides valuable information about ADL‐related dexterity skills.
Young microbes for adult obesity
Authors: Serino M. , Nicolas S. , Trabelsi M. ‐S. , Burcelin R. , Blasco‐Baque V. 
Published: May 2016

SummaryGut microbes are active participants of host metabolism. At birth, child physiology is committed towards healthiness or sickness depending, in part, on maternal condition (i.e. lean vs obesity) and delivery. Finally, changes from breastfeeding to solid food also account to define gut microbiota ecology in adulthood. Nowadays, alterations of gut microbiota, named dysbiosis, are acquired risk factors for multiple diseases, especially type 2 diabetes and obesity. Despite important evidence linking nutrition to dysbiosis to energetic dysmetabolism, molecular mechanisms for causality are still missing. That the status of gut microbiota of mother and child is crucial for future diseases is witnessed by adulthood overweight and obesity observed in children with dysbiosis. In this short review we highlight the importance of early life events related to the microbiota and their impact on future adult disease risk. Therefore, our effort to treat or prevent metabolic diseases should be addressed towards early or previous life steps, when microbial decisions are going to affect our metabolic fate.
Vitamin A or E and a catechin synergize as vaccine adjuvant to enhance immune responses in mice by induction of early interleukin‐15 but not interleukin‐1β responses
Authors: Patel Sapna , Akalkotkar Archana , Bivona Joseph J. , Lee Ji‐Young , Park Young‐Ki , Yu Mingke , Colpitts Sara L. , Vajdy Michael 
Published: May 2016

SummaryVitamins A and E and select flavonoids in the family of catechins are well‐defined small molecules that, if proven to possess immunomodulatory properties, hold promise as vaccine adjuvants and various therapies. In an effort to determine the in vivo immunomodulatory properties of these molecules, we found that although mucosal and systemic vaccinations with a recombinant HIV‐1BaLgp120 with either a catechin, epigallo catechin gallate (EGCG) or pro‐vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) alone in a vegetable‐oil‐in‐water emulsion (OWE) suppressed antigen‐specific responses, the combination of EGCG and vitamin A or E in OWE (Nutritive Immune‐enhancing Delivery System, NIDS) synergistically enhanced adaptive B‐cell, and CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell responses, following induction of relatively low local and systemic innate tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and IL‐17, but relatively high levels of early systemic IL‐15 responses. For induction of adaptive interferon‐γ and TNF‐α responses by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, the adjuvant effect of NIDS was dependent on both IL‐15 and its receptor. In addition, the anti‐oxidant activity of NIDS correlated positively with higher expression of the superoxide dismutase 1, an enzyme involved in reactive oxygen species elimination but negatively with secretion of IL‐1β. This suggests that the mechanism of action of NIDS is dependent on anti‐oxidant activity and IL‐15, but independent of IL‐1β and inflammasome formation. These data show that this approach in nutritive vaccine adjuvant design holds promise for the development of potentially safer effective vaccines.
Distinct expression of interferon‐induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFIT) 1/2/3 and other antiviral genes between subsets of dendritic cells induced by dengue virus 2 infection
Authors: Zhang Jingshu , Sze Daniel Man‐Yuen , Yung Benjamin Yat‐Ming , Tang Petrus , Chen Wei‐June , Chan Kwok‐Hung , Leung Polly Hang‐Mei 
Published: May 2016

SummaryDengue virus (DENV) infection is an emerging public health hazard threatening inhabitants of the tropics and sub‐tropics. Dendritic cells (DCs) are one of the major targets of DENV and the initiators of the innate immune response against the virus. However, current in vitro research on the DENV–DC interaction is hampered by the low availability of ex vivo DCs and donor variation. In the current study, we attempted to develop a novel in vitro DC model using immature DCs derived from the myeloid leukaemia cell line MUTZ‐3 (IMDCs) to investigate the DENV–DC interaction. The IMDCs morphologically and phenotypically resembled human immature monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (IMMoDCs). However, the permissiveness of IMDCs to DENV2 was lower than that of IMMoDCs. RT‐PCR arrays showed that a group of type I interferon (IFN) ‐inducible genes, especially IFIT1, IFITM1, and IFI27, were significantly up‐regulated in IMMoDCs but not in IMDCs after DENV2 infection. Further investigation revealed that IFIT genes were spontaneously expressed at both transcriptional and protein levels in the naive IMDCs but not in the naive IMMoDCs. It is possible that the poor permissiveness of IMDCs to DENV2 was a result of the high basal levels of IFIT proteins. We conclude that the IMDC model, although less permissive to DENV2, is a useful platform for studying the suppression mechanism of DENV2 and we expand the knowledge of cellular factors that modulate DENV2 infection in the human body.
Investment Horizons and Information
Authors: Huang Kershen , Petkevich Alex 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe examine the relation between institutions' investment horizons on firms' financing and investment decisions. Firms with larger short‐term institutional ownership use less debt financing and invest more in corporate liquidity. In contrast, firms with larger long‐term institutional ownership use more internal funds, less external equity financing, and preserve investments in long‐term assets. These results are primarily driven by the variation in informational preferences of different institutions. We argue that short‐term (long‐term) institutions collect and use value‐neutral (value‐enhancing) information.