bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The prevalence of chronic peri‐pouch sepsis in patients treated for antibiotic‐dependent or refractory primary idiopathic pouchitis
Authors: van der Ploeg V. A. , Maeda Y. , Faiz O. D. , Hart A. L. , Clark S. K. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAimChronic peri‐pouch sepsis (CPPS) may be mistaken for antibiotic‐dependent or refractory primary idiopathic pouchitis (ADRP), but requires different treatment such as drainage. The study aimed to identify the prevalence of CPPS in patients thought to have ADRP. The secondary aims were to identify any specific features on pouchoscopy suggesting CPPS and to determine the results of treatment for CPPS.MethodThe records of patients who had been treated for ADRP between March 2006 and June 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Only those with endoscopic evidence of pouch inflammation who had also undergone MRI of the pelvis were included. The findings on pouchoscopy and the outcome of treatment were determined.ResultsSixty‐eight patients (43 men, 63%) were identified with apparent ADRP between March 2006 and June 2015. MRI of the pelvis showed CPPS in 26 (38%). In those with CPPS, the inflammation was more often located in the upper pouch alone (15%) compared with patients without CPPS (0%) (P = 0.0184). Examination under anaesthesia was performed in 13 of those with CPPS. In five a collection was identified and drained; symptoms improved in only one (4%). Eighteen patients (69%) remained on antibiotics and seven (27%) had a defunctioning stoma or underwent pouch excision.ConclusionIn patients thought to have ADRP, 38% had CPPS on MRI. There was no clinically relevant specific feature on pouchoscopy suggestive of CPPS. The possibility of CPPS should be considered early in patients with apparent ADRP and pelvic MRI performed. This might lead to earlier detection of CPPS and appropriate treatment.
MYC amplification in angiosarcomas arising in the setting of chronic lymphedema of morbid obesity
Authors: Harker David , Jennings Michael , McDonough Patrick , Mauskar Melissa , Savory Stephanie , Hosler Gregory A. , Vandergriff Travis 
Published: September 2016

BackgroundAngiosarcoma is a malignancy of vascular endothelial cells which may arise secondarily as a complication of lymphedema, including chronic lymphedema of morbid obesity. Amplifications in MYC are frequently present in secondary angiosarcoma (arising in irradiated sites and chronic lymphedema) and less frequently in primary cutaneous angiosarcoma.ObjectiveTo describe the presence of MYC amplifications in two cases of cutaneous angiosarcoma secondary to chronic lymphedema of morbid obesity.MethodsThis study is a case series of two patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma. Clinical data was retrieved from the medical records. Histopathological analysis of the biopsy specimens was performed, including immunohistochemistry, along with fluorescence in situ hybridization.ResultsAngiosarcoma arose in the setting of massive chronic lymphedema complicating morbid obesity without other predisposing risk factors. Both cases exhibited epithelioid cell morphology and high‐level MYC amplification.ConclusionWe report MYC amplification in two cases of angiosarcoma arising in massive chronic lymphedema of morbid obesity.
Independent and incremental prognostic value of exercise stress echocardiography in low cardiovascular risk female patients with chest pain
Authors: Park Sung‐Ji , Chung Seungmin , Chang Sung‐A , Choi Jin‐Oh , Choi Jin‐Ho , Lee Sang‐Chol , Park Seung Woo 
Published: September 2016

BackgroundExercise stress echocardiography (ESEcho) is sufficiently sensitive and has high enough specificity for the clinical detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. However, there was little data about the ability of ESEcho to detect CAD and predict clinical outcomes in female patients with chest pain and low global cardiovascular (CV) risks. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the diagnostic accuracy of ESEcho, (2) to evaluate the clinical outcomes of major cardiovascular outcome (MACE), and (3) to assess the incremental prognostic value of ESEcho for the prediction of MACE in Korean female patients with low CV risks.MethodsOver a period of 15 years, 3396 patients (57±10 years) female patients with chest pain but no previous history of CAD undergoing ESEcho and exercise stress electrocardiography (ESECG) were assessed.ResultsDuring a median follow‐up period of 4.8 years (2.8‐6.2 years), there were 19 (0.61%) MACE. Positive results for ESEcho were seen in 134 patients (3.9%). The sensitivity and specificity of ESEcho were 66.7% and 84.8%, respectively. Positive ESEcho was an independent predictor of MACE (multivariate hazard ratio: 0.019, 95% CI: 0.004‐0.081). ESEcho was incremental to clinical and ESECG parameters to predict the MACE in low CV risk women.ConclusionsESEcho is effective for the diagnosis of CAD in Korean female patients with chest pain, a population characterized by low cardiovascular risk profiles. Positive ESEcho was an independent predictor of MACE, and negative results were associated with favorable clinical outcomes. ESEcho was incremental to clinical and ESECG parameters to predict the MACE in low CV risk women.
A trophic framework for animal origins
Authors: Mills D. B. , Canfield D. E. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractMetazoans emerged in a microbial world and play a unique role in the biosphere as the only complex multicellular eukaryotes capable of phagocytosis. While the bodyplan and feeding mode of the last common metazoan ancestor remain unresolved, the earliest multicellular stem‐metazoans likely subsisted on picoplankton (planktonic microbes 0.2–2 μm in diameter) and dissolved organic matter (DOM), similarly to modern sponges. Once multicellular stem‐metazoans emerged, they conceivably modulated both the local availability of picoplankton, which they preferentially removed from the water column for feeding, and detrital particles 2–100 μm in diameter, which they expelled and deposited into the benthos as waste products. By influencing the availability of these heterotrophic food sources, the earliest multicellular stem‐metazoans would have acted as ecosystem engineers, helping create the ecological conditions under which other metazoans, namely detritivores and non‐sponge suspension feeders incapable of subsisting on picoplankton and DOM, could emerge and diversify. This early style of metazoan feeding, specifically the phagocytosis of small eukaryotic prey, could have also encouraged the evolution of larger, even multicellular, eukaryotic forms less prone to metazoan consumption. Therefore, the first multicellular stem‐metazoans, through their feeding, arguably helped bridge the strictly microbial food webs of the Proterozoic Eon (2.5–0.541 billion years ago) to the more macroscopic, metazoan‐sustaining food webs of the Phanerozoic Eon (0.541–0 billion years ago).
Trait structure reveals the processes underlying fish establishment in the Mediterranean
Authors: Givan Or , Parravicini Valeriano , Kulbicki Michel , Belmaker Jonathan 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAimTypically, non‐indigenous species have been studied in relation to either the invaded (recipient) community or the donor community. However, we still lack a broad understanding of the mechanisms underlying the establishment of non‐indigenous species that combines both perspectives. Since the opening of the Suez Canal, hundreds of species have invaded the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, forming a unique system in which the entire species pool (donor, non‐indigenous and recipient) is known. Focusing on species ecological traits, we assess the drivers underlying the establishment of non‐indigenous species from the onset of the invasion to the present.LocationThe Mediterranean and Red Seas.MethodsWe compiled traits for shallow‐water hard‐bottom‐associated fishes in the Mediterranean (recipient community) and the Red Sea (donor community). We compared the multivariate community trait structure of non‐indigenous species with the donor and recipient assemblages, using a novel method to objectively assign trait‐weights, thereby increasing the robustness of the results. Patterns were contrasted with two types of null models which provide distinct insights into the ecological processes.ResultsNon‐indigenous fishes are very diverse ecologically, substantially increasing the total community trait diversity of the Mediterranean. Trait similarity between non‐indigenous and indigenous Mediterranean species was lower than expected, indicating that non‐indigenous fishes tend to occupy relatively vacant niches within the Mediterranean. However, we further found that over time non‐indigenous species display increased trait similarity to indigenous Mediterranean species. This suggests that trait constraints associated with successful establishment are weakening.Main conclusionsNon‐indigenous species establish in relatively vacant ecological niches, opening the possibility for predicting establishment using ecological traits. However, the weakening of trait constraints through time suggests that forecasting future establishment may be difficult. Faced with an accelerating pace of invasion, it appears that the Mediterranean is going to be transformed into an extension of the Red Sea in terms of trait and species composition.
Environmental drivers of voltinism and body size in insect assemblages across Europe
Authors: Zeuss Dirk , Brunzel Stefan , Brandl Roland 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAimGeneral geographical patterns of insect body size are still a matter of considerable debate, mainly because the annual number of generations (voltinism) and its relationship with body size have largely been ignored. We present the first analyses of voltinism and body size of insect assemblages at a continental scale using lepidopteran and odonate species. We hypothesize that voltinism is strongly driven by environmental conditions and constrains body size on macroecological scales.LocationEurope.MethodsWe compiled the distribution, voltinism and body size of 943 lepidopteran and odonate species within a 50 km × 50 km grid system, thereby presenting a novel method for estimating the body volume of species from digital images. Regressions and structural equation modelling were applied to distinguish the effects of temperature, productivity and season length on mean voltinism and body size within grid cells. We accounted for spatial autocorrelation with autoregressive models and analysed the possible effect of species richness and intraspecific variability.ResultsVoltinism consistently decreased with latitude for both lepidopterans (r2 = 0.76) and odonates (r2 = 0.86), with species having on average fewer generations per year in northern Europe and more generations per year in southern Europe. The effects of temperature, productivity and season length on body size contrasted in sign between lepidopterans and odonates, leading to opposing geographical patterns across Europe.Main conclusionsVoltinism in insect assemblages is strongly driven by environmental temperature, and trade‐offs between voltinism and body size influence the occurrence of species at macroecological scales. Insects with the ability to extend their generation time over multiple years can overcome this constraint, allowing for a relatively large body size in cold areas. Our results furthermore support the idea that body sizes of terrestrial and aquatic insects form contrasting geographical patterns because they are differently affected by temperature and resource constraints.
Impacts of droughts on the growth resilience of Northern Hemisphere forests
Authors: Gazol A. , Camarero J. J. , Anderegg W. R. L. , Vicente‐Serrano S. M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAimThe intensity and frequency of drought have increased considerably during recent decades in some Northern Hemisphere forested areas, and future climate warming could further magnify drought stress. We quantify how forests resist drought events and recover after them, i.e. we determine their growth resilience.LocationNorth America and Europe.MethodsWe use a large tree‐ring database to study how drought influences forest growth resilience. We selected 775 tree‐ring width chronologies and studied the occurrence of years with extremely dry conditions (low soil moisture and/or high evaporative stress; hereafter ‘drought’) in these forests. For each drought in each forest we calculated three indices that represent different components of growth resilience to drought: resistance (Rt), recovery (Rc) and resilience (Rs). We related the variation in these indices with geographical, topographic, climatic and ecological conditions from each region.ResultsThe three components of forest growth resilience were interrelated. Resistance and recovery were negatively related, and both were positively and nonlinearly related to resilience. Drought resistance increased with latitude, soil moisture and slope, whereas drought recovery decreased with latitude, soil moisture and summer normalized difference vegetation index. Drought resilience increased with elevation and decreased with the variation in soil moisture. Temperate broadleaf forests from wet regions showed a greater growth resistance (e.g. north‐eastern USA, central Europe) while conifer forests from dry to semi‐arid regions (e.g. south‐western USA, southern Europe) presented a greater growth recovery.Main conclusionsThe geographical patterns of growth resilience indices confirm the existence of different strategies among forests to cope with droughts, depending on the biome, the tree species and the prevailing climatic conditions. Geographical patterns in soil moisture availability tend to override species‐specific responses to drought.
Differentiation of five enterohepatic Helicobacter species by nested PCR with high‐resolution melting curve analysis
Authors: Wu Miaoli , Rao Dan , Zhu Yujun , Wang Jing , Yuan Wen , Zhang Yu , Huang Ren , Guo Pengju 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBackgroundEnterohepatic Helicobacter species (EHS) are widespread in rodent species around the world. Several studies have demonstrated that infection with EHS can interfere with the outcomes of animal experiments in cancer research and significantly influence the study results. Therefore, it is essential to establish a rapid detection and identification of EHS for biomedical research using laboratory rodents. Our study aimed to develop a rapid and sensitive method to detect and distinguish five enterohepatic Helicobacter species.Materials and MethodsNested PCR followed by high‐resolution melting curve analysis (HRM) was developed for identification of H. bilis, H. rodentium, H. muridarum, H. typhlonius, as well as H. hepaticus. To validate the accuracy of nested PCR‐HRM analysis, quantitative real‐time PCR methods for five different enterohepatic Helicobacter species were developed. A total of 50 cecal samples were tested using both nested PCR‐HRM analysis and qPCR method.ResultsThe nested PCR‐HRM method could distinguish five enterohepatic Helicobacter species by different melting temperatures. The melting curve were characterized by peaks of 78.7 ± 0.12°C for H. rodentium, 80.51 ± 0.09°C for H. bilis, 81.6 ± 0.1°C for H. typhlonius, 82.11 ± 0.18°C for H. muridarum, and 82.95 ± 0.09°C for H. hepaticus.ConclusionsThe nested PCR‐HRM assay is a simple, rapid, and cost‐effective assay. This assay could be a useful tool for molecular epidemiology study of enterohepatic Helicobacter infection and an attractive alternative for genotyping of enterohepatic Helicobacter species.
Comparison of mirabegron and imidafenacin for efficacy and safety in Japanese female patients with overactive bladder: A randomized controlled trial (COMFORT study)
Authors: Otsuka Atsushi , Kageyama Shinji , Suzuki Takahisa , Matsumoto Rikiya , Nagae Hiroshi , Kitagawa Motoaki , Furuse Hiroshi , Ozono Seiichiro 
Published: September 2016

ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of mirabegron compared with imidafenacin for the treatment of female patients with overactive bladder.MethodsPatients (n = 89) were randomized to receive 0.1 mg imidafenacin twice daily (n = 47) or 50 mg mirabegron once daily (n = 42) for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy end‐point was change in total Overactive Bladder Symptom Score. Secondary efficacy end‐points included change in Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, 3‐day micturition diary, International Prostate Symptom Score and Overactive Bladder Questionnaire. Safety assessments included adverse events, vital signs, post‐void residual volume and patient‐reported incidence, and severity of distinctive symptoms related to adverse events.ResultsThe mirabegron group showed a significantly reduced mean total Overactive Bladder Symptom Score from baseline, but no significant differences were noted in change of total Overactive Bladder Symptom Score compared with the imidafenacin group. Significant improvements in secondary efficacy end‐points were observed regarding the mean number of micturitions/24 h, mean number of urgency episodes/24 h, mean number of incontinence episodes/24 h, mean volume voided/micturition, total International Prostate Symptom Score and quality of life in both groups, with no significant differences between the groups. The overall incidence of adverse events and the incidence of dry mouth were significantly higher in the imidafenacin group than in the mirabegron group. Patient‐reported incidence and the severity of dry mouth were significantly exacerbated in the imidafenacin group.ConclusionsTreatment with 50 mg mirabegron once daily effectively relieves overactive bladder symptoms in women with fewer adverse events than treatment with antimuscarinics.
Health game interventions to enhance physical activity self‐efficacy of children: a quantitative systematic review
Authors: Pakarinen Anni , Parisod Heidi , Smed Jouni , Salanterä Sanna 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAimTo describe and explore health game interventions that enhance the physical activity self‐efficacy of children and to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.BackgroundPhysical inactivity among children has increased globally. Self‐efficacy is one of the key determinants of physical activity engagement in children. There is a need to explore new and innovative interventions to enhance physical activity self‐efficacy that are also acceptable for today's children.DesignQuantitative systematic review.Data sourcesMEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL, PsychInfo, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library between 1996–2016.Review methodsA review was conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. A systematic search was done in June 2016 by two independent reviewers according to the eligibility criteria as follows: controlled trial, comparison of digital game intervention with no game intervention control condition, participants younger than 18 years of age and reported statistical analyses of a physical activity self‐efficacy outcome measure.ResultsAltogether, five studies met the eligibility criteria. Four game interventions, employing three active games and one educational game, had positive effects on children's physical activity self‐efficacy. An intervention, employing a game‐themed mobile application, showed no intervention effects. The variation between intervention characteristics was significant and the quality of the studies was found to be at a medium level.ConclusionAlthough health game interventions seemingly enhance the physical activity self‐efficacy of children and have potential as a means of increasing physical activity, more rigorous research is needed to clarify how effective such interventions are in the longer run to contribute to the development of game‐based interventions.
Spontaneous pneumothorax in paracoccidioidomycosis patients from an endemic area in Midwestern Brazil
Authors: Cabrera Lucas G. G. , Santos Aline F. , Andrade Ursulla V. , Guedes Carlos Ivan A. , Oliveira Sandra M. V. L. , Chang Marilene R. , Mendes Rinaldo P. , Paniago Anamaria M. M. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryParacoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most important systemic mycosis in Latin America. About 80% of PCM patients are present with its chronic form. The lungs are affected in most patients with the chronic form; however, pleural involvement has rarely been reported. We describe nine cases of PCM that presented with lung involvement and spontaneous pneumothorax. All patients, except one whose condition was not investigated, were smokers. PCM was diagnosed during the pneumothorax episode in three patients, and from 3 to 16 years before the pneumothorax episode in six patients. A total of six patients underwent chest drainage and one died as a direct result of the pneumothorax. We suggest that pneumothorax, although rare, should be considered in PCM patients who present with suddenly worsening dyspnoea. PCM should also be investigated in cases of pneumothorax in adult men from mycosis‐endemic areas.
Aberrant iron metabolism might have an impact on progression of diseases in Tsumura Suzuki obese diabetes mice, a model of spontaneous metabolic syndrome
Authors: Nishida Takeshi , Tsuneyama Koichi , Fujimoto Makoto , Nomoto Kazuhiro , Hayashi Shinichi , Miwa Shigeharu , Nakajima Takahiko , Nakanishi Yuko , Hatta Hideki , Imura Johji 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTsumura Suzuki obese diabetes (TSOD) mice spontaneously develop obesity and type 2 diabetes with aberrant accumulation of excessive iron in the spleen. Aberrantly accumulated iron may cause oxidative stress and result in various symptoms of metabolic syndrome in the mice. We investigated iron metabolism and oxidative stress in TSOD mice. Male TSOD and control mice were killed at 2, 3, 6, and 8 months of age, and blood and tissue samples were collected. The serum levels of ferritin and oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (OxLDL) were measured. Total glutathione concentrations of liver and spleen were also measured. Serum ferritin and OxLDL were higher in TSOD mice than in control mice at 2 and 6 months. In addition, the glutathione concentrations in TSOD mice were lower in the liver and higher in the spleen at 3 and 6 months than those in control mice. These results suggest that abnormal iron metabolism and imbalanced oxidative stress occurs in young and old TSOD mice. We propose herein that TSOD mice might be a unique and valuable model for investigating the role of iron metabolism in pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome.
Non-parametric Methods for Doubly Robust Estimation of Continuous Treatment Effects
Authors: Kennedy Edward H. , Ma Zongming , McHugh Matthew D. , Small Dylan S. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryContinuous treatments (e.g. doses) arise often in practice, but many available causal effect estimators are limited by either requiring parametric models for the effect curve, or by not allowing doubly robust covariate adjustment. We develop a novel kernel smoothing approach that requires only mild smoothness assumptions on the effect curve and still allows for misspecification of either the treatment density or outcome regression. We derive asymptotic properties and give a procedure for data-driven bandwidth selection. The methods are illustrated via simulation and in a study of the effect of nurse staffing on hospital readmissions penalties.