bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term health‐related quality of life in bariatric surgery patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Driscoll Shannon , Gregory Deborah M. , Fardy John M. , Twells Laurie K. 
Published: December 2015

ObjectiveBariatric surgery results in significant weight loss in the majority of patients. Improvement in health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is an equally important outcome; however, there are few studies reporting long‐term (≥5 years) HRQoL outcomes. This study assesses the quality of evidence and effectiveness of surgery on HRQoL ≥ 5 years.MethodsPubMed, Cochrane Review, EmBase, CINANL, PsycInfo, obesity conference abstracts, and reference lists were searched. Keywords were bariatric surgery, obesity, and quality of life. Studies were included if (1) there was ≥5 years follow‐up, (2) patients had class II or III obesity, (3) individuals completed a validated HRQoL survey, and (4) there was a nonsurgical comparison group with obesity. Two reviewers independently assessed each study.ResultsFrom 1376 articles, 9 studies were included in the systematic review (SR) and 6 in the meta‐analysis (MA). Inconsistent results for long‐term improvements in physical and mental health emerged from the SR. In contrast, the MA found significant improvements in these domains ≥5 years after surgery.ConclusionsStudy findings provide evidence for a substantial and significant improvement in physical and mental health favoring the surgical group compared with controls spanning 5 to 25 years after surgery.
Effects of maternal lifestyle intervention during pregnancy on untreated partner weight: Results from fit for delivery study
Authors: Hagobian Todd A. , Phelan Suzanne , Gorin Amy A. , Phipps Maureen G. , Abrams Barbara , Wing Rena R. 
Published: December 2015

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that untreated partners of pregnant women receiving a prenatal lifestyle intervention (vs. standard care) would lose more weight during pregnancy and postpartum.MethodsFit for Delivery was a study of 401 pregnant women with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) and normal weight (NW) randomized to prenatal lifestyle intervention or standard care. Mother's self‐report of partners’ weight was obtained at study entry (<16 weeks gestation), 30 weeks gestation, and 6 and 12 months postpartum.ResultsAt study entry, 157 of 200 (78%) of intervention mothers and 144 of 201 (72%) of standard care mothers reported having a partner. In intent‐to‐treat analyses, there was no significant treatment × time effects on partner weight (P = 0.67). In secondary analyses, partners of OW/OB intervention women lost weight from study entry to 6 and 12 months postpartum (−0.5 ± 9.5 kg, −1.0 ± 9.3 kg; P < 0.05), while partners of standard care women gained weight during the same time frame (+2.5 ± 6.7 kg, +2.9 ± 7.4 kg; P < 0.05); adjusting for partner study entry BMI removed these effects.ConclusionsLifestyle intervention delivered to pregnant women did not significantly reduce weight of untreated partners. Future research is needed to test prenatal interventions that engage partners and use objective measures of weight.
Murine Mesenchymal Stem Cell Commitment to Differentiation Is Regulated by Mitochondrial Dynamics
Authors: Forni Maria Fernanda , Peloggia Julia , Trudeau Kyle , Shirihai Orian , Kowaltowski Alicia J. 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Mouse skin mesenchymal stem cells (msMSCs) are dermis CD105+CD90+CD73+CD29+CD34− mesodermal precursors which, after in vitro induction, undergo chondro, adipo, and osteogenesis. Extensive metabolic reconfiguration has been found to occur during differentiation, and the bioenergetic status of a cell is known to be dependent on the quality and abundance of the mitochondrial population, which may be regulated by fusion and fission. However, little is known regarding the impact of mitochondrial dynamics on the differentiation process. We addressed this knowledge gap by isolating MSCs from Swiss female mice, inducing these cells to differentiate into osteo, chondro, and adipocytes and measuring changes in mass, morphology, dynamics, and bioenergetics. Mitochondrial biogenesis was increased in adipogenesis, as evaluated through confocal microscopy, citrate synthase activity, and mtDNA content. The early steps of adipo and osteogenesis involved mitochondrial elongation, as well as increased expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins Mfn1 and 2. Chondrogenesis involved a fragmented mitochondrial phenotype, increased expression of fission proteins Drp1, Fis1, and 2, and enhanced mitophagy. These events were accompanied by profound bioenergetic alterations during the commitment period. Moreover, knockdown of Mfn2 in adipo and osteogenesis and the overexpression of a dominant negative form of Drp1 during chondrogenesis resulted in a loss of differentiation ability. Overall, we find that mitochondrial morphology and its regulating processes of fission/fusion are modulated early on during commitment, leading to alterations in the bioenergetic profile that are important for differentiation. We thus propose a central role for mitochondrial dynamics in the maintenance/commitment of mesenchymal stem cells.
Astonishing 35S rDNA diversity in the gymnosperm species Cycas revoluta Thunb
Authors: Wang Wencai , Ma Lu , Becher Hannes , Garcia Sònia , Kovarikova Alena , Leitch Ilia J. , Leitch Andrew R. , Kovarik Ales 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
In all eukaryotes, the highly repeated 35S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences encoding 18S-5.8S-26S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) typically show high levels of intragenomic uniformity due to homogenisation processes, leading to concerted evolution of 35S rDNA repeats. Here, we compared 35S rDNA divergence in several seed plants using next generation sequencing and a range of molecular and cytogenetic approaches. Most species showed similar 35S rDNA homogeneity indicating concerted evolution. However, Cycas revoluta exhibits an extraordinary diversity of rDNA repeats (nucleotide sequence divergence of different copies averaging 12 %), influencing both the coding and non-coding rDNA regions nearly equally. In contrast, its rRNA transcriptome was highly homogeneous suggesting that only a minority of genes (<20 %) encode functional rRNA. The most common SNPs were C > T substitutions located in symmetrical CG and CHG contexts which were also highly methylated. Both functional genes and pseudogenes appear to cluster on chromosomes. The extraordinary high levels of 35S rDNA diversity in C. revoluta, and probably other species of cycads, indicate that the frequency of repeat homogenisation has been much lower in this lineage, compared with all other land plant lineages studied. This has led to the accumulation of methylation-driven mutations and pseudogenisation. Potentially, the reduced homology between paralogs prevented their elimination by homologous recombination, resulting in long-term retention of rDNA pseudogenes in the genome.
Next Generation Sequencing in the Clinic: a Patterns of Care Study in a Retrospective Cohort of Subjects Referred to a Genetic Medicine Clinic for Suspected Lynch Syndrome
Authors: Gallego Carlos J. , Perez Matthew L. , Burt Amber , Amendola Laura M. , Shirts Brian H. , Pritchard Colin C. , Hisama Fuki M. , Bennett Robin L. , Veenstra David L. , Jarvik Gail P. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractNext generation sequencing (NGS) gene panels are increasingly used in medical genetics clinics for the evaluation of common inherited cancer syndromes, but the clinical efficacy of these tests, and the factors driving clinical providers to order them are unclear. We conducted a patterns‐of‐care study to compare patients evaluated with NGS gene panels with a reference group. We abstracted demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical information in a retrospective cohort of patients referred to a large medical genetics clinic for evaluation of inherited colorectal cancer and polyposis syndromes. Patients tested with NGS gene panels were more likely to be insured compared to the reference group (85.3 % vs. 69.2 %, p = 0.0068),less likely to have prior tumor tissue testing (29.4 % vs. 54.3 %, p = 0.0004), and less likely to have an abnormal tumor tissue test result (46.7 % vs. 74.5 %, p = 0.01). No significant differences were found between groups in age, gender, race, employment status, personal history of colorectal cancer, or proportion of patients fulfilling Lynch syndrome clinical criteria. Patients with NGS testing were less likely to have a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant detected (13.7 % vs. 31.9 %, p = 0.002). Patients referred for NGS testing to evaluate inherited colorectal cancer/polyposis risk appear to undergo tumor tissue testing less frequently than non‐NGS testing patients. Further studies are needed to assess the most effective and cost‐effective approach to genomic diagnosis in this patient population.
The Effect of Counterions of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate on Skin Compatibility
Authors: Cohen Leon , Martin Mariluz , Soto Fernando , Trujillo Francisco , Sanchez Elsa 
Published: December 2015

AbstractInteractions of a widely used commercial anionic surfactant, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, with zein protein, a water insoluble protein, was studied to better understand the effects of the counterion on skin irritation of anionic surfactants. The neutralizing ions used were inorganics: Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, and NH4+and organics: monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. According to the results obtained, the influence of counterions of anionic surfactants on zein solubilization is significant; with magnesium counterions showing lower zein solubilization. In aqueous solutions, zein solubilization by anionic surfactant is related to the effect of the counterion on the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant for the inorganic counter‐ions; for the organic counter‐ions, effects of tighter anionic binding in the micelle also contribute to zein solubilization trends.
Maligner: a fast ordered restriction map aligner
Authors: Mendelowitz Lee M. , Schwartz David C. , Pop Mihai 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Motivation: The Optical Mapping System discovers structural variants and potentiates sequence assembly of genomes via scaffolding and comparisons that globally validate or correct sequence assemblies. Despite its utility, there are few publicly available tools for aligning optical mapping datasets.
Results: Here we present software, named ‘Maligner’, for the alignment of both single molecule restriction maps (Rmaps) and in silico restriction maps of sequence contigs to a reference. Maligner provides two modes of alignment: an efficient, sensitive dynamic programming implementation that scales to large eukaryotic genomes, and a faster indexed based implementation for finding alignments with unmatched sites in the reference but not the query. We compare our software to other publicly available tools on Rmap datasets and show that Maligner finds more correct alignments in comparable runtime. Lastly, we introduce the M-Score statistic for normalizing alignment scores across restriction maps and demonstrate its utility for selecting high quality alignments.
Availability and implementation: The Maligner software is written in C ++ and is available at https://github.com/LeeMendelowitz/maligner under the GNU General Public License.
Contact: mpop@umiacs.umd.edu
Central Nervous System Blastomycosis Without Travel to Known Endemic Area
Authors: Spallone Amy , Tobin Ellis H. , Chaturvedi Sudha , Qian Jiang 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBlastomycosis is thought to be endemic to specific regions of the United States. The spectrum of disease ranges from subclinical infections to potentially fatal systemic dissemination. Single organ involvement often involves the lungs. Extrapulmonary dissemination often includes the skin, bone, and genitourinary systems. There are rare reports of isolated central nervous system blastomycosis. Herein, we report a case of isolated central nervous system infection in a patient residing in New York State without travel to known endemic regions. Diagnosis was established asBlastomyces dermatitidisby morphologic characteristics of biopsied tissue and was confirmed through real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. In addition, the culture was confirmed asB. dermatitidisby conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. The patient was treated with prolonged antifungal therapy and is clinically well. This report suggests an expansion of the endemic geography of blastomycosis and highlights the utility of molecular methods for diagnosis.
Loss of Residual Renal Function is Associated With Vascular Calcification in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Chen Hung‐Chih , Chou Che‐Yi , Jheng Jyun‐Shan , Chen I‐Ru , Liang Chih‐Chia , Wang Shu‐Ming , Liu Jiung‐Hsiun , Lin Shih‐Yi , Kuo Huey‐Liang , Wang I‐Kuan , Chang Chiz‐Tzung , Huang Chiu‐Ching 
Published: December 2015

AbstractVascular calcification is common in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients and can be measured using abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). Loss of residual renal function (RRF) is associated with increased mortality in HD patients. However, the association between loss of RRF and vascular calcification is unknown. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between loss of RRF and VC in HD patients. All chronic HD (HD for more than 3 months) patients of China Medical University Hospital in 2014 were included. AAC scores were measured semi‐quantitatively based on later lumbar radiographs. Loss of RRF was defined as urine output less than 200 mL per day. The association between loss of RRF and AAC was analyzed using logistic regression. Four hundred and thirty‐eight chronic HD patients with a mean age of 63 ± 12 years were analyzed. The median (interquartile range) AAC score of all patients was 7 (2–13). The AAC score of patients with loss of RRF was 9 (3–22), significantly higher than that of patients with RRF 5 (0–17) (P = 0.004). Loss of RRF, independent of patients' age, diabetes, C‐reactive protein, calcium‐phosphorus product and vintage of dialysis was associated with higher AAC scores. Loss of RRF was associated with vascular calcification in HD patients.
The pathogenicity factor HrpF interacts with HrpA and HrpG to modulate type III secretion system (T3SS) function and t3ss expression in Pseudomonas syringae pv. averrhoi
Authors: Huang Yi‐Chiao , Lin Yuan‐Chuen , Wei Chia‐Fong , Deng Wen‐Ling , Huang Hsiou‐Chen 
Published: December 2015

SummaryTo ensure the optimal infectivity on contact with host cells, pathogenic Pseudomonas syringae has evolved a complex mechanism to control the expression and construction of the functional type III secretion system (T3SS) that serves as a dominant pathogenicity factor. In this study, we showed that the hrpF gene of P. syringae pv. averrhoi, which is located upstream of hrpG, encodes a T3SS‐dependent secreted/translocated protein. Mutation of hrpF leads to the loss of bacterial ability on elicitation of disease symptoms in the host and a hypersensitive response in non‐host plants, and the secretion or translocation of the tested T3SS substrates into the bacterial milieu or plant cells. Moreover, overexpression of hrpF in the wild‐type results in delayed HR and reduced t3ss expression. The results of protein–protein interactions demonstrate that HrpF interacts directly with HrpG and HrpA in vitro and in vivo, and protein stability assays reveal that HrpF assists HrpA stability in the bacterial cytoplasm, which is reduced by a single amino acid substitution at the 67th lysine residue of HrpF with alanine. Taken together, the data presented here suggest that HrpF has two roles in the assembly of a functional T3SS: one by acting as a negative regulator, possibly involved in the HrpSVG regulation circuit via binding to HrpG, and the other by stabilizing HrpA in the bacterial cytoplasm via HrpF–HrpA interaction prior to the secretion and formation of Hrp pilus on the bacterial surface.
Modelling Aggregation on the Large Scale and Regularity on the Small Scale in Spatial Point Pattern Datasets
Authors: Lavancier Frédéric , Møller Jesper 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWe consider a dependent thinning of a regular point process with the aim of obtaining aggregation on the large scale and regularity on the small scale in the resulting target point process of retained points. Various parametric models for the underlying processes are suggested and the properties of the target point process are studied. Simulation and inference procedures are discussed when a realization of the target point process is observed, depending on whether the thinned points are observed or not. The paper extends previous work by Dietrich Stoyan on interrupted point processes.
Doubly Robust Inference for the Distribution Function in the Presence of Missing Survey Data
Authors: Boistard Helene , Chauvet Guillaume , Haziza David 
Published: December 2015

AbstractItem non‐response in surveys occurs when some, but not all, variables are missing. Unadjusted estimators tend to exhibit some bias, called the non‐response bias, if the respondents differ from the non‐respondents with respect to the study variables. In this paper, we focus on item non‐response, which is usually treated by some form of single imputation. We examine the properties of doubly robust imputation procedures, which are those that lead to an estimator that remains consistent if either the outcome variable or the non‐response mechanism is adequately modelled. We establish the double robustness property of the imputed estimator of the finite population distribution function under random hot‐deck imputation within classes. We also discuss the links between our approach and that of Chambers and Dunstan. The results of a simulation study support our findings.
Quantile Regression for Location‐Scale Time Series Models with Conditional Heteroscedasticity
Authors: Noh Jungsik , Lee Sangyeol 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis paper considers quantile regression for a wide class of time series models including autoregressive and moving average (ARMA) models with asymmetric generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity errors. The classical mean‐variance models are reinterpreted as conditional location‐scale models so that the quantile regression method can be naturally geared into the considered models. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the quantile regression estimator is established in location‐scale time series models under mild conditions. In the application of this result to ARMA‐generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity models, more primitive conditions are deduced to obtain the asymptotic properties. For illustration, a simulation study and a real data analysis are provided.
Unexpected red blood cell antibody distributions in Chinese people by a systematic literature review
Authors: Chen Chunxia , Tan Jinzhe , Wang Lixin , Han Bing , Sun Wei , Zhao Li , Huang Chunyan , Tan Bin , Qin Li 
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUNDUnexpected antibodies are frequently associated with hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) and hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs), and screening for those unexpected antibodies is critical for the safety and effectiveness of transfusion. Different populations differ in the prevalence of significant antibodies and also the low‐frequency red blood cell (RBC) antigens. In China, antibody screening has been a common practice for pretransfusion testing for more than 10 years. However, there has been no national guidelines regarding the minimum antigens on the screening cells, thus making the antibody screening tests unsatisfactory.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSBy a literature review, we systematically searched major databases from their inception to 2014, for publications regarding unexpected RBC antibodies, HTRs, and HDFNs in Chinese people, to explore the frequencies and clinical significance of unexpected RBC antibodies.RESULTSThe overall prevalence of unexpected antibodies was approximately 0.2% (14,095/6,102,361). A total of 2241 patients suffered HTRs (693 patients) or HDFN (1548 patients). Among all the reported antibodies, antibodies of the Rh blood group system were the most, followed by MNS, Lewis, Kidd, Duffy, Diego, and Kell systems. Several rare but clinically significant unexpected antibodies were reported: four anti‐Lex, three anti‐Lua, one anti‐Tja, and one anti‐Hm.CONCLUSIONAll the commonly seen RBC antibodies are reported in Chinese people. However, anti‐K is very rare. Besides, anti‐Mur, anti‐Dia are clinically significant. We propose that in China, the antigens on the antibody screening cells should include those recommended by the AABB and British Committee for Standards in Haematology, as well as Dia and Mur antigens.
Kite Shield‐Shaped Wedge Recession for Treatment of Medial Patellar Luxation in Seven Small‐Breed Dogs
Authors: Katayama Masaaki , Ogaya Hikaru , Shunsuke Shimamura , Uzuka Yuji 
Published: December 2015

ObjectiveTo document the trochlear depth (TD) and clinical outcome after kite shield‐shaped wedge (K‐wedge) recession trochleoplasty in toy‐breed dogs with medial patellar luxation (MPL).Study DesignCase series.AnimalsSeven toy‐breed dogs (<5 kg) with uni‐ or bilateral grades II–IV MPL (10 stifles).MethodsA K‐wedge recession trochleoplasty was performed in all dogs in combination with other surgical procedures as treatment for MPL. The TD, the ratio of the proximal TD to patella thickness, and the presence of osteophytes were determined from computed tomography images taken pre‐, and 1 and 12 months postoperative. Lameness scores and MPL grade were also recorded.ResultsThe TD and the ratio of proximal TD to patella thickness increased significantly immediately postoperative and remained increased at 1 and 12 months postoperative. The osteophyte score was significantly higher at 12 months postoperative than preoperative. All dogs had a reduction in MPL grade and improvement in lameness postoperative.ConclusionK‐wedge recession trochleoplasty was successful in treating MPL in a series of toy‐breed dogs and offers an alternate to other trochlear recession techniques.