bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does neoadjuvant/perioperative chemotherapy improve overall survival for T2N0 gastric adenocarcinoma?
Authors: Gabriel Emmanuel , Attwood Kristopher , Narayanan Sumana , Brady Maureen , Nurkin Steven , Hochwald Steven , Kukar Moshim 
Published: November 2017

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine whether neoadjuvant and/or perioperative chemotherapy (NAC) has an overall survival (OS) benefit for patients with T2N0 gastric adenocarcinoma.Study DesignWe performed retrospective analyses using the National Cancer Data Base, 2004‐2013. Patients with T2N0 gastric adenocarcinoma were divided into two treatment groups: (1) NAC plus surgery (NA + S) and (2) surgery alone (S).ResultsOf 1,704 patients included, 277 (16.3%) received NAC, and 1,427 (83.7%) were treated with surgery alone. Patients in the NA + S group were more likely to be younger, have fewer comorbidities, and have larger tumors located in the proximal stomach. Although in an unadjusted analysis of OS, the NA + S group had improved survival compared to the S group (HR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.67‐0.99, P < 0.0001), this was not maintained in a propensity adjusted analysis (HR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.68‐1.18, P = 0.42). Similarly, propensity adjusted analyses accounting for potential bias from clinical misstaging or treatment effect from NAC did not show any OS benefit from NAC.ConclusionBased on the largest cohort of clinically staged T2N0 gastric adenocarcinoma, there was no OS benefit derived from NAC compared to surgery alone. For select patients with reliable preoperative staging, NAC may be omitted.
Safety Aspects of the Use of Quercetin as a Dietary Supplement
Authors: Andres Susanne , Pevny Sophie , Ziegenhagen Rainer , Bakhiya Nadiya , Schäfer Bernd , Hirsch‐Ernst Karen Ildico , Lampen Alfonso 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe flavonoid quercetin is frequently found in low amounts as a secondary plant metabolite in fruits and vegetables. Isolated quercetin is also marketed as a dietary supplement, mostly as the free quercetin aglycone, and frequently in daily doses of up to 1000 mg d–1 exceeding usual dietary intake levels. The present review is dedicated to safety aspects of isolated quercetin used as single compound in dietary supplements. Among the numerous published human intervention studies, adverse effects following supplemental quercetin intake have been rarely reported and any such effects were mild in nature. Published adequate scientific data for safety assessment in regard to the long‐term use (>12 weeks) of high supplemental quercetin doses (≥1000 mg) are currently not available. Based on animal studies involving oral quercetin application some possible critical safety aspects could be identified such as the potential of quercetin to enhance nephrotoxic effects in the predamaged kidney or to promote tumor development especially in estrogen‐dependent cancer. Furthermore, animal and human studies with single time or short‐term supplemental quercetin application revealed interactions between quercetin and certain drugs leading to altered drug bioavailability. Based on these results, some potential risk groups are discussed in the present review.
99Tc NMR determination of the oxygen isotope content in 18O‐enriched water
Authors: Tarasov Valerii P. , Kirakosyan Gayana А. , German Konstantin E. 
Published: November 2017

99Tc NMR has been suggested as an original method of evaluating the content of oxygen isotopes in oxygen‐18‐enriched water, a precursor for the production of radioisotope fluorine‐18 used in positron emission tomography. To this end, solutions of NH4TcO4 or NaTcO4 (up to 0.28 mol/L) with natural abundance of oxygen isotopes in virgin or recycled 18O‐enriched water have been studied by 99Tc NMR. The method is based on 16O/17O/18O intrinsic isotope effects in the 99Tc NMR chemical shifts, and the statistical distribution of oxygen isotopes in the coordination sphere of TcO4− and makes it possible to quantify the composition of enriched water by measuring the relative intensities of the 99Tc NMR signals of the Tc16O4−n18On− isotopologues. Because the oxygen exchange between TcO4− and enriched water in neutral and alkaline solutions is characterized by slow kinetics, gaseous HCl was bubbled through a solution for a few seconds to achieve the equilibrium distribution of oxygen isotopes in the Tc coordination sphere without distortion of the oxygen composition of the water. Pertechnetate ion was selected as a probe due to its high stability in solutions and the significant 99Tc NMR shift induced by a single 16O→18O substitution (−0.43 ± 0.01 ppm) in TcO4− and spin coupling constant 1J(99Tc–17O) (131.46 Hz) favourable for the observation of individual signals of Tc16O4−n18On− isotopologues.
Spectral decomposition for resolving partial volume effects in MRSI
Authors: Goryawala Mohammed Z. , Sheriff Sulaiman , Stoyanova Radka , Maudsley Andrew A. 
Published: November 2017

PurposeEstimation of brain metabolite concentrations by MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) is complicated by partial volume contributions from different tissues. This study evaluates a method for increasing tissue specificity that incorporates prior knowledge of tissue distributions.MethodsA spectral decomposition (sDec) technique was evaluated for separation of spectra from white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM), and for measurements in small brain regions using whole‐brain MRSI. Simulation and in vivo studies compare results of metabolite quantifications obtained with the sDec technique to those obtained by spectral fitting of individual voxels using mean values and linear regression against tissue fractions and spectral fitting of regionally integrated spectra.ResultsSimulation studies showed that, for GM and the putamen, the sDec method offers < 2% and 3.5% error, respectively, in metabolite estimates. These errors are considerably reduced in comparison to methods that do not account for partial volume effects or use regressions against tissue fractions. In an analysis of data from 197 studies, significant differences in mean metabolite values and changes with age were found. Spectral decomposition resulted in significantly better linewidth, signal‐to‐noise ratio, and spectral fitting quality as compared to individual spectral analysis. Moreover, significant partial volume effects were seen on correlations of neurometabolite estimates with age.ConclusionThe sDec analysis approach is of considerable value in studies of pathologies that may preferentially affect WM or GM, as well as smaller brain regions significantly affected by partial volume effects. Magn Reson Med 79:2886–2895, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Velocity reconstruction with nonconvex optimization for low‐velocity‐encoding phase‐contrast MRI
Authors: Loecher Michael , Ennis Daniel B. 
Published: November 2017

PurposeTo introduce and demonstrate a nonconvex optimization method for reconstructing velocity data from low‐velocity‐encoding (Venc) phase‐contrast MRI data.Theory and MethodsSolving for velocity values from phase‐contrast MRI data was formulated as a nonconvex optimization problem. Weighting was added to account for intravoxel dephasing, and a Laplacian‐based regularization was used to account for residual velocity aliasing. The reconstruction was tested with two low‐Venc schemes: dual‐Venc and a multidirectional high‐moment encoding. The reconstruction method was tested in a digital simulation, in flow phantoms, and in healthy volunteers (N = 5).ResultsThe nonconvex‐optimization reconstruction velocity error was lower than the conventional reconstruction in simulations (4.6 versus 3.0 cm/s for multidirectional high moment, 8.3 versus 3.8 cm/s for dual‐Venc) and in flow phantoms (23.9 versus 5.9 cm/s for multidirectional high moment, 15.2 versus 6.4 cm/s for dual‐Venc). Qualitative assessment of velocity fields in all experiments, including healthy volunteers, showed decreased apparent noise in the velocity fields and fewer phase wraps. No additional velocity bias in measured velocities was seen in volunteers with the proposed method.ConclusionsThe proposed nonconvex‐optimization reconstruction method incorporates additional information to solve for velocities when using any type of low‐Venc (high‐moment) acquisition. The method reduces the amount of residual phase aliasing, and decreases velocity errors that result from intravoxel dephasing. These improvements allow for more robust acquisitions, and for Venc to be lowered 2 to 4 times relative to conventional acquisitions, thereby increasing the velocity‐to‐noise ratio. Magn Reson Med, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Magn Reson Med 80:42–52, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Neurofascin‐155 IGG4 Neuropathy: Pathophysiological Insights, Spectrum of Clinical Severity and Response To treatment
Authors: Garg Nidhi , Park Susanna B. , Yiannikas Con , Vucic Steve , Howells James , Noto Yu‐Ichi , Mathey Emily K. , Pollard John D. , Kiernan Matthew C. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionSensorimotor neuropathy associated with IgG4 antibodies to neurofascin‐155 (NF155) was recently described. The clinical phenotype is typically associated with young onset, distal weakness, and in some cases, tremor.MethodsFrom a consecutive cohort of 55 patients diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, screening for anti‐NF155 antibodies was undertaken. Patients underwent clinical assessment, diagnostic neurophysiology, including peripheral axonal excitability studies and nerve ultrasound.ResultsThree of 55 chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy patients (5%) tested positive for anti‐NF155 IgG4. Patients presenting with more severe disease had higher antibody titers. Ultrasound demonstrated diffuse nerve enlargement. Axonal excitability studies were markedly abnormal, with subsequent mathematical modeling of the results supporting disruption of the paranodal seal.DiscussionA broad spectrum of disease severity and treatment response may be observed in anti‐NF155 neuropathy. Excitability studies support the pathogenic role of anti‐NF155 IgG4 antibodies targeting the paranodal region. Muscle Nerve 57: 848–851, 2018
Muscle membrane properties in A pig sepsis model: Effect of norepinephrine
Authors: Boërio Delphine , Corrêa Thiago D. , Jakob Stephan M. , Ackermann Karin A. , Bostock Hugh , Z’Graggen Werner J. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionSepsis‐induced myopathy and critical illness myopathy are common causes of muscle weakness in intensive care patients. This study investigated the effect of different mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) levels on muscle membrane properties following experimental sepsis.MethodsSepsis was induced with fecal peritonitis in 12 of 18 anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs. Seven were treated with a high (75–85 mmHg) and 5 were treated with a low (≥60 mmHg) MAP target for resuscitation. In septic animals, resuscitation was started 12 h after peritonitis induction, and muscle velocity recovery cycles were recorded 30 h later.ResultsMuscles in the sepsis/high MAP group showed an increased relative refractory period and reduced early supernormality compared with the remaining septic animals and the control group, indicating membrane depolarization and/or sodium channel inactivation. The membrane abnormalities correlated positively with norepinephrine dose.DiscussionNorepinephrine may contribute to sepsis‐induced abnormalities in muscle by impairing microcirculation. Muscle Nerve 57: 808–813, 2018
Falls and hip fractures associated with urinary incontinence among older men and women with complex needs: A national population study
Authors: Schluter Philip J. , Arnold Edwin P. , Jamieson Hamish A. 
Published: November 2017

AimsTo determine if urinary incontinence (UI) was an independent risk factor for falls and hip fractures in community‐dwelling older men and women with complex needs, after controlling for confounders.MethodsSince 2012, all community care recipients in New Zealand have undergone standardized needs assessments using the Home Care International Residential Assessment Instrument (interRAI‐HC). The interRAI‐HC elicits information over multiple domains, including UI frequency and falls. Those aged 65+ years with assessment between July 1, 2012 and May 31, 2014 without collection devices or indwelling catheters were matched to hospital, mortality, and pharmaceutical databases, and apposite regression models applied.ResultsOverall, 25 257 (37.5%) men and 42 032 (62.5%) women were eligible, with average age of 82.7 years (range: 65, 106 years). Incontinence was reported by 34.3% of men and 42.6% of women, falls within 90 days by 42.7% of men and 39.1% of women; and fractures recorded for 2.5% of men and 3.7% of women. In multivariable analysis, UI was significantly associated with falls (P < 0.001), and differentially related by sex (P < 0.001). Compared to continent participants, the odds of increasing falls risk was 1.69 (95% CI: 1.57, 1.82) for men with frequent incontinence and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.43, 1.64) for men with occasional continence; higher than the 1.39 (95% CI: 1.32, 1.46) and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.39), respectively, for women. UI was not associated with hip fractures.ConclusionUI is a common independent risk factor for falls but not hip fractures. Patterns are different between men and women with complex needs.
Psychometric properties and validation of two global impression questionnaires (PGI‐S, PGI‐I) for stress incontinence in a German‐speaking female population
Authors: Bjelic‐Radisic Vesna , Ulrich Daniela , Hinterholzer Susanne , Reinstadler Evi , Geiss Ingrid , Aigmueller Thomas , Tamussino Karl , Greimel Elfriede , Trutnovsky Gerda ,   for the Austrian Urogynecology Working Group
Published: November 2017

AimsThe Patient Global Index of Severity (PGI‐S) and the Patient Global Index of Improvement (PGI‐I) are global impression questionnaires developed in English and validated in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This validation study tested the psychometric properties of German‐language versions of the two questionnaires in German‐speaking women with SUI.MethodsThe German‐language PGI‐S and PGI‐I were psychometrically tested and validated using the SF‐12 questionnaire, the Kinǵs Health Questionnaire (KHQ), clinical parameters, incontinence episode frequency and pad use in 311 patients before and 3 months after receiving a TVT‐O or TVT tape for SUI.ResultsAt baseline and 3 months postoperatively there was a positive correlation between PGI‐S response categories and clinical parameters, IEF and pad use, and nearly all KHQ subscales. There were no correlations between response categories of PGI‐S at baseline and PGI‐I at 3 months and the SF‐12 scales PCS‐12 and MCS‐12.ConclusionOur results demonstrated good psychometric properties of the German‐language PGI‐S and PGI in German‐speaking women with SUI.
Prevalence of key care indicators of pressure injuries, incontinence, malnutrition, and falls among older adults living in nursing homes in New Zealand
Authors: Carryer Jenny , Weststrate Jan , Yeung Polly , Rodgers Vivien , Towers Andy , Jones Mark 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTPressure injuries, incontinence, malnutrition, and falls are important indicators of the quality of care in healthcare settings, particularly among older people, but there is limited information on their prevalence in New Zealand (NZ). The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of these four problems among older people in nursing home facilities. The cross‐sectional study was an analysis of data collected on a single day for the 2016 National Care Indicators Programme—New Zealand (NCIP‐NZ). The sample included 276 people ages 65 and older who were residents in 13 nursing home facilities in a geographically diverse area of central NZ. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Prevalence rates in these nursing home settings was pressure injuries 8%; urinary incontinence 57%; fecal incontinence 26%; malnutrition 20%, and falls 13%, of which half resulted in injuries. As people age, complex health issues can lead to increasing care dependency and more debilitating and costly health problems. Measuring the prevalence of basic care problems in NZ healthcare organizations and contributing to a NZ database can enable monitoring of the effectiveness of national and international guidelines.
Using SMART design to improve symptom management among cancer patients: A study protocol
Authors: Sikorskii Alla , Wyatt Gwen , Lehto Rebecca , Victorson David , Badger Terry , Pace Thaddeus 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTIn this in‐progress sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART), dyads of solid tumor cancer patients and their caregivers are initially randomized to 4 weeks of reflexology or meditative (mindfulness) practices provided by/with their caregiver in the patient's home or to a control group. After 4 weeks, intervention group dyads in which patients do not show improvement in fatigue (non‐responders) are re‐randomized to either receive additional time with the same therapy during weeks 5–8 or to add the other therapy. The aims are (1) to compare reflexology and meditative practices groups during weeks 1–4 on patients’ fatigue severity, summed symptom inventory score, depressive symptoms, and anxiety, so as to determine the relative effectiveness of these therapies and the characteristics of responders and non‐responders to each therapy. (2) Among reflexology non‐responders based on fatigue score at week 4, to determine patient symptom outcomes when meditative practices are added during weeks 5–8, versus continuing with reflexology alone. (3) Among meditative practices non‐responders based on fatigue score at week 4, to determine patient symptom outcomes when reflexology is added during weeks 5–8, versus continuing with meditative practices alone. (4) To compare improvements in patient symptom outcomes among the three groups created by the first randomization. (5) To explore which dyadic characteristics are associated with optimal patient symptom outcomes, to determine tailoring variables for decision rules of future interventions. The trial has a target of 331 dyads post‐attrition and has 150 dyads enrolled. We are overcoming challenges with dyadic recruitment and retention while maintaining fidelity.
Reliability and validity of the Arabic PTSD Checklist Civilian Version (PCL‐C) in women survivors of intimate partner violence
Authors: Alhalal Eman , Ford‐Gilboe Marilyn , Wong Carol , AlBuhairan Fadia 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTAlthough intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors are at high risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), PTSD has been considered a disorder specific to Western culture. There is a lack of reliable and valid measures of PTSD symptomology available in the Arab world, and there is still no clear evidence about the underlying factor structure of PTSD symptomology in the context of IPV. Thus, in the present study we investigated the construct validity (factor structure), internal consistency, and concurrent validity of a translated version of the PTSD Checklist Civilian Version (PCL‐C) in a sample of 299 Saudi women who had experienced IPV. Four competing models (DSM‐IV, Emotional Numbing, Dysphoria, and Dysphoric Arousal) were specified and estimated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The five‐factor Dysphoric Arousal model provided superior fit with the data compared to the alternative models, supporting construct validity of the Arabic PCL‐C. The factor loadings for the five‐factor Dysphoric Arousal model ranged from .31 to .83. A relatively high correlation between the Arabic PCL‐C and Arabic Center for Epidemiologic Studies‐Depression (CES‐D) Scale (r = .78, p < .05) provided evidence of concurrent validity. The total scale also demonstrated internal consistency reliability (α = .89). Overall, the study supports the Dysphoric Arousal model in representing PTSD symptoms among IPV survivors, the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of PCL‐C, and the cross‐cultural applicability of PTSD symptoms.
Concerted millisecond timescale dynamics in the intrinsically disordered carboxyl terminus of γ‐tubulin induced by mutation of a conserved tyrosine residue
Authors: Harris Jason , Shadrina Maria , Oliver Carlos , Vogel Jackie , Mittermaier Anthony 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTubulins are an ancient family of eukaryotic proteins characterized by an amino‐terminal globular domain and disordered carboxyl terminus. These carboxyl termini play important roles in modulating the behavior of microtubules in living cells. However, the atomic‐level basis of their function is not well understood. These regions contain multiple acidic residues and their overall charges are modulated in vivo by post‐translational modifications, for example, phosphorylation. In this study, we describe an application of NMR and computer Monte Carlo simulations to investigate how the modification of local charge alters the conformational sampling of the γ‐tubulin carboxyl terminus. We compared the dynamics of two 39‐residue polypeptides corresponding to the carboxyl‐terminus of yeast γ‐tubulin. One polypeptide comprised the wild‐type amino acid sequence while the second contained a Y > D mutation at Y11 in the polypeptide (Y445 in the full protein). This mutation introduces additional negative charge at a site that is phosphorylated in vivo and produces a phenotype with perturbed microtubule function. NMR relaxation measurements show that the Y11D mutation produces dramatic changes in the millisecond‐timescale motions of the entire polypeptide. This observation is supported by Monte Carlo simulations that—similar to NMR—predict the WT γ‐CT is largely unstructured and that the substitution of Tyr 11 with Asp causes the sampling of extended conformations that are unique to the Y11D polypeptide.
Diversity in peptide recognition by the SH2 domain of SH2B1
Authors: McKercher Marissa A. , Guan Xiaoyang , Tan Zhongping , Wuttke Deborah S. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSH2B1 is a multidomain protein that serves as a key adaptor to regulate numerous cellular events, such as insulin, leptin, and growth hormone signaling pathways. Many of these protein‐protein interactions are mediated by the SH2 domain of SH2B1, which recognizes ligands containing a phosphorylated tyrosine (pY), including peptides derived from janus kinase 2, insulin receptor, and insulin receptor substrate‐1 and −2. Specificity for the SH2 domain of SH2B1 is conferred in these ligands either by a hydrophobic or an acidic side chain at the +3 position C‐terminal to the pY. This specificity for chemically disparate species suggests that SH2B1 relies on distinct thermodynamic or structural mechanisms to bind to peptides. Using binding and structural strategies, we have identified unique thermodynamic signatures for each peptide binding mode, and several SH2B1 residues, including K575 and R578, that play distinct roles in peptide binding. The high‐resolution structure of the SH2 domain of SH2B1 further reveals conformationally plastic protein loops that may contribute to the ability of the protein to recognize dissimilar ligands. Together, numerous hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, in addition to backbone conformational flexibility, permit the recognition of diverse peptides by SH2B1. An understanding of this expanded peptide recognition will allow for the identification of novel physiologically relevant SH2B1/peptide interactions, which can contribute to the design of obesity and diabetes pharmaceuticals to target the ligand‐binding interface of SH2B1 with high specificity.