bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolution and oncological outcomes of a contemporary radical prostatectomy practice in a UK regional tertiary referral centre
Authors: Gnanapragasam Vincent J. , Thurtle David , Srinivasan Anandagopal , Volanis Dimitrios , George Anne , Lophatananon Artitaya , Stearn Sara , Warren Anne Y. , Lamb Alastair D. , Shaw Greg , Sharma Naomi , Thomas Ben C. , Tran Maxine G. , Neal David E. , Shah Nimish C. 
Published: April 2016

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical and pathological trends, over a 10‐year period, in robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) in a UK regional tertiary referral centre.Patients and MethodsIn all, 1 500 consecutive patients underwent RALP between October 2005 and January 2015. Prospective data were collected on clinicopathological details at presentation as well as surgical outcomes and compared over time.ResultsThe median (range) age of patients throughout the period was 62 (35–78) years. The proportion of preoperative high‐grade cases (Gleason score 8–10) rose from 4.6% in 2005–2008 to 18.2% in 2013–2015 (P < 0.001). In the same periods the proportion of clinical stage T3 cases operated on rose from 2.4% to 11.4% (P < 0.001). The median prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level at diagnosis did not alter significantly. Overall, 11.6% of men in 2005–2008 were classified preoperatively as high‐risk by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence criteria, compared with 33.6% in 2013–2015 (P < 0.001). The corresponding proportions for low‐risk cases were 48.6% and 17.3%, respectively. Final surgical pathology showed an increase in tumour stage, Gleason grade, and nodal status over time. The proportion of pT3 cases rose from 43.2% in 2005–2008 to 55.5% in 2013–2015 (P < 0.001), Gleason score 9–10 tumours increased from 1.8% to 9.1% (P < 0.001) and positive nodal status increased from 1.6% to 12.9% (P < 0.001) between the same periods. Despite this, positive surgical margin rates showed a downward trend in all pT groups across the different eras (P = 0.72).ConclusionThis study suggests that the patient profile for RALP in our unit is changing, with increasing proportions of higher stage and more advanced disease being referred and operated on. However, surgical margin outcomes have remained good.
The contribution of community wisdom to conservation ecology
Authors: Predavec Martin , Lunney Daniel , Hope Ben , Stalenberg Eleanor , Shannon Ian , Crowther Mathew S. , Miller Indrie 
Published: April 2016

AbstractScientists have traditionally collected data on whether a population is increasing, decreasing, or staying the same, but such studies are often limited by geographic scale and time frame. This means that for many species, understanding of trends comes from only part of their ranges at particular periods. Working with citizen scientists has the potential to overcome these limits. Citizen science has the added benefit of exposing citizens to the scientific process and engaging them in management outcomes. We examined a different way of using citizen scientists (instead of data collection). We asked community members to answer a question directly and thus examined whether community wisdom can inform conservation. We reviewed the results of 3 mail‐in surveys that asked community members to say whether they thought koala populations were increasing, decreasing, or staying the same. We then compared the survey results with population trends derived from more traditional research. Population trends identified through community wisdom were similar to the trends identified by traditional research. The community wisdom surveys, however, allowed the question to be addressed at much broader geographical scales and time frames. Studies that apply community wisdom have the benefit of engaging a broad section of the community in conservation research and education and therefore in the political process of conserving species.
Conservation and monitoring of a persecuted African lion population by Maasai warriors
Authors: Dolrenry Stephanie , Hazzah Leela , Frank Laurence G. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAlthough Africa has many threatened species and biological hot spots, there are few citizen science schemes, particularly in rural communities, and there has been limited evaluation of existing programs. We engaged traditional Maasai warriors (pastoralist men aged 15 to 35) in community‐based conservation and demographic monitoring of a persecuted African lion (Panthera leo) population. Through direct engagement, we investigated whether a citizen science approach employing local warriors, who had no formal education, could produce reliable data on the demographics, predation, and movements of a species with which their communities have been in conflict for generations. Warriors were given benefits such as literacy training and skill enhancement and engaged in the monitoring of the lions. The trained warriors reported on lion sign across an area nearly 4000 km2. Scientists worked together with the warriors to verify their reports and gather observations on the lion population. Using the verified reports and collected observations, we examined our scientific knowledge relative to the lion population preceding and during the citizen science program. Our observations showed that data quality and quantity improved with the involvement and training of the participants. Furthermore, because they engaged in conservation and gained personal benefits, the participants came to appreciate a species that was traditionally their foe. We believe engaging other local communities in biodiversity conservation and monitoring may be an effective conservation approach in rural Africa.
Intramyocardial Dissecting Hematoma: Cardiac Trauma and Ischemic Heart Disease: Multimodality Imaging Techniques
Authors: Urmeneta Ulloa Javier , Molina Borao Isabel , Portolés Ocampo Ana , Lapuente González Pilar , Moreno Esteban Eva , Calvo Cebollero Isabel 
Published: April 2016

Mini‐AbstractA 37‐year‐old male patient came to hospital after an accidental fall from 8.20 feet high. CT scan showed an image compatible with an old myocardial infarction at the apex of the left ventricle (LV) and a thrombosed aneurysm. At the echocardiography, adjacent to LV apex, an image of low echoic density was seen, as well as a mobile endocardial flap, suggesting a contained subacute ventricular rupture. Three multisegment arterial diseases were found at the coronary angiography. It was agreed to choose a conservative treatment. The patient was controlled with the performance of 3D, contrast echocardiography, and cardiac MRI confirming diagnosis of intramyocardial dissecting hematoma.
Pathways to care of young people accessing a pilot specialist youth mental health service in Norfolk, United Kingdom
Authors: Hodgekins Jo , Clarke Timothy , Cole Hannah , Markides Constantina , Ugochukwu Uju , Cairns Peter , Lower Rebecca , Fowler David , Wilson Jon 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAimPathways to care (PtC) are a means of examining and understanding routes into mental health care. It is important to examine PtC in order to identify ways in which individuals access services, as well as highlighting barriers or delays to appropriate treatment. This study aimed to examine PtC experienced by young people accessing a pilot specialist youth mental health service (SYMHS) for those with non‐psychotic, severe and complex mental health conditions in Norfolk, UK.MethodsData were collected on a subsample of referrals accepted into the pilot SYMHS (n = 94) over a 12‐month period. Duration and number of PtC were assessed using a semi‐structured interview augmented by health record examination. Measures of premorbid history, symptoms and functioning were also collected.ResultsThe mean length of PtC was 3.74 years, and a mean of 5.53 pathways was experienced before appropriate services were accessed. Individuals were most likely to first seek help from their general practitioner followed by an educational provider. There were no associations between PtC and current symptoms, although individuals with a premorbid history of mental health problems experienced shorter PtC. There was a trend suggesting that individuals with long pathways had poorer functioning compared with those with shorter pathways.ConclusionsPathways to care are variable in a group of young people presenting to mental health services. A majority of participants experienced ‘long pathways’, which may negatively impact on outcome. The results indicate the need to improve access to appropriate services by overcoming pathway barriers. Service implications are discussed.
Invasive blue mussels threaten regional scale genetic diversity in mainland and remote offshore locations: the need for baseline data and enhanced protection in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Gardner Jonathan P. A. , Zbawicka Małgorzata , Westfall Kristen M. , Wenne Roman 
Published: April 2016

AbstractHuman‐mediated biological transfers of species have substantially modified many ecosystems with profound environmental and economic consequences. However, in many cases, invasion events are very hard to identify because of the absence of an appropriate baseline of information for receiving sites/regions. In this study, use of high‐resolution genetic markers (single nucleotide polymorphisms – SNPs) highlights the threat of introduced Northern Hemisphere blue mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) at a regional scale to Southern Hemisphere lineages of blue mussels via hybridization and introgression. Analysis of a multispecies SNP dataset reveals hotspots of invasive Northern Hemisphere blue mussels in some mainland New Zealand locations, as well as the existence of unique native lineages of blue mussels on remote oceanic islands in the Southern Ocean that are now threatened by invasive mussels. Samples collected from an oil rig that has moved between South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand were identified as invasive Northern Hemisphere mussels, revealing the relative ease with which such non‐native species may be moved from region to region. In combination, our results highlight the existence of unique lineages of mussels (and by extension, presumably of other taxa) on remote offshore islands in the Southern Ocean, the need for more baseline data to help identify bioinvasion events, the ongoing threat of hybridization and introgression posed by invasive species, and the need for greater protection of some of the world's last great remote areas.
Boom and bust: rapid feedback responses between insect outbreak dynamics and canopy leaf area impacted by rainfall and CO2
Authors: Gherlenda Andrew N. , Esveld Jessica L. , Hall Aidan A. G. , Duursma Remko A. , Riegler Markus 
Published: April 2016

AbstractFrequency and severity of insect outbreaks in forest ecosystems are predicted to increase with climate change. How this will impact canopy leaf area in future climates is rarely tested. Here, we document function of insect outbreaks that fortuitously and rapidly occurred in an ecosystem under free‐air CO2 enrichment. Over the first 2 years of CO2 fumigation of a naturally established mature Eucalyptus woodland, we continuously assessed population responses of three sap‐feeding insect species of the psyllid genera Cardiaspina, Glycaspis and Spondyliaspis for up to ten consecutive generations. Concurrently, we quantified changes in the canopy leaf area index (LAI). Large and rapid shifts in psyllid community composition were recorded between species with either flush (Glycaspis) or senescence‐inducing (Cardiaspina, Spondyliaspis) feeding strategies. Within the second year, two psyllid species experienced significant and rapid population build‐up resulting in two consecutive outbreaks: first, rainfall stimulated Eucalyptus leaf production increasing LAI, which supported population growth of flush‐feeding Glycaspis without impacting LAI. Glycaspis numbers then crashed and were followed by the outbreak of senescence‐feeding Cardiaspina fiscella that led to significant defoliation and reduction in LAI. For all three psyllid species, the abundance of lerps, protective coverings excreted by the sessile nymphs, decreased at e[CO2]. Higher lerp weight at e[CO2] for Glycaspis but not the other psyllid species provided evidence for compensatory feeding by the flush feeder but not the two senescence feeders. Our study demonstrates that rainfall drives leaf phenology, facilitating the rapid boom‐and‐bust succession of psyllid species, eventually leading to significant defoliation due to the second but not the first outbreaking psyllid species. In contrast, e[CO2] may impact psyllid abundance and feeding behaviour, with psyllid species‐specific outcomes for defoliation severity, nutrient transfer and trophic cascades. Psyllid populations feeding on Eucalyptus experience rapid boom‐and‐bust cycles depending on availability of suitable foliage driven by rainfall patterns and leaf phenology.
Doctors’ engagements with patient experience surveys in primary and secondary care: a qualitative study
Authors: Farrington Conor , Burt Jenni , Boiko Olga , Campbell John , Roland Martin 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundPatient experience surveys are increasingly important in the measurement of, and attempts to improve, health‐care quality. To date, little research has focused upon doctors’ attitudes to surveys which give them personalized feedback.AimThis paper explores doctors’ perceptions of patient experience surveys in primary and secondary care settings in order to deepen understandings of how doctors view the plausibility of such surveys.Design, setting and participantsWe conducted a qualitative study with doctors in two regions of England, involving in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with doctors working in primary care (n = 21) and secondary care (n = 20) settings. The doctors in both settings had recently received individualized feedback from patient experience surveys.FindingsDoctors in both settings express strong personal commitments to incorporating patient feedback in quality improvement efforts. However, they also concurrently express strong negative views about the credibility of survey findings and patients’ motivations and competence in providing feedback. Thus, individual doctors demonstrate contradictory views regarding the plausibility of patient surveys, leading to complex, varied and on balance negative engagements with patient feedback.DiscussionDoctors’ contradictory views towards patient experience surveys are likely to limit the impact of such surveys in quality improvement initiatives in primary and secondary care. We highlight the need for ‘sensegiving’ initiatives (i.e. attempts to influence perceptions by communicating particular ideas, narratives and visions) to engage with doctors regarding the plausibility of patient experience surveys.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of engaging with doctors’ views about patient experience surveys when developing quality improvement initiatives.
Genetically modified human CD4+ T cells can be evaluated in vivo without lethal graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Ali Riyasat , Babad Jeffrey , Follenzi Antonia , Gebe John A. , Brehm Michael A. , Nepom Gerald T. , Shultz Leonard D. , Greiner Dale L. , DiLorenzo Teresa P. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryAdoptive cell immunotherapy for human diseases, including the use of T cells modified to express an anti‐tumour T‐cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor, is showing promise as an effective treatment modality. Further advances would be accelerated by the availability of a mouse model that would permit human T‐cell engineering protocols and proposed genetic modifications to be evaluated in vivo. NOD‐scid IL2rγnull (NSG) mice accept the engraftment of mature human T cells; however, long‐term evaluation of transferred cells has been hampered by the xenogeneic graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) that occurs soon after cell transfer. We modified human primary CD4+ T cells by lentiviral transduction to express a human TCR that recognizes a pancreatic beta cell‐derived peptide in the context of HLA‐DR4. The TCR‐transduced cells were transferred to NSG mice engineered to express HLA‐DR4 and to be deficient for murine class II MHC molecules. CD4+ T‐cell‐depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells were also transferred to facilitate engraftment. The transduced cells exhibited long‐term survival (up to 3 months post‐transfer) and lethal GVHD was not observed. This favourable outcome was dependent upon the pre‐transfer T‐cell transduction and culture conditions, which influenced both the kinetics of engraftment and the development of GVHD. This approach should now permit human T‐cell transduction protocols and genetic modifications to be evaluated in vivo, and it should also facilitate the development of human disease models that incorporate human T cells.
Impact of tailored patient education on adherence of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia to tyrosine kinase inhibitors: a randomized multicentre intervention study
Authors: Kekäle Meri , Söderlund Tim , Koskenvesa Perttu , Talvensaari Kimmo , Airaksinen Marja 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of tailored patient education on adherence to tyrosine kinase inhibitor medication among patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.BackgroundManagement of chronic myeloid leukaemia has changed dramatically during the last decade. While medication adherence is crucial to clinical response, little is known about how to improve patients' adherence.DesignRandomized multicentre intervention study.MethodsThe study was conducted between June 2012–August 2014. Eighty‐six patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia who had been on tyrosine kinase inhibitor medication for at least six months from eight hospitals were randomized into intervention and control groups. Intervention combined nurse‐conducted medication counselling, an information booklet, video and website and text message reminders. Patients were interviewed to assess medication adherence using Morisky's 8‐Item Medication Adherence Scale at baseline and nine months.ResultsMedication adherence improved with the adherence aids used. At nine months, 51% of patients were highly adherent in the intervention group, compared with 21% in the control group. Adherence improved for a higher proportion of patients in the intervention group than the control group (49% vs. 18%). Morisky's score decreased in almost half of control group cases. Patients were most satisfied with face‐to‐face counselling (86%) and the information booklet (83%) and least satisfied with text messages (9%).ConclusionTailored patient education improved the medication adherence of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia. Without this, adherence behaviour tended to decline. Personal communication with a nurse proved to be an essential part of adherence support and should not be ignored.
Interaction of uromodulin and complement factor H enhances C3b inactivation
Authors: Liu Maojing , Wang Yaqin , Wang Fengmei , Xia Min , Liu Ying , Chen Yuqing , Zhao Ming‐Hui 
Published: April 2016

AbstractRecent studies suggest that uromodulin plays an important role in chronic kidney diseases. It can interact with several complement components, various cytokines and immune system cells. Complement factor H (CFH), as a regulator of the complement alternative pathway, is also associated with various renal diseases. Thus, we have been suggested that uromodulin regulates complement activation by interacting with CFH during tubulointerstitial injury. We detected co‐localization of uromodulin and CFH in the renal tubules by using immunofluorescence. Next, we confirmed the binding of uromodulin with CFH in vitro and found that the affinity constant (KD) of uromodulin binding to CFH was 4.07 × 10−6M based on surface plasmon resonance results. The binding sites on CFH were defined as the short consensus repeat (SCR) units SCR1–4, SCR7 and SCR19–20. The uromodulin‐CFH interaction enhanced the cofactor activity of CFH for factor I‐mediated cleavage of C3b to iC3b. These results indicate that uromodulin plays a role via binding and enhancing the function of CFH.
Genome editing in nonhuman primates: approach to generating human disease models
Authors: Chen Y. , Niu Y. , Ji W. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractNonhuman primates (NHPs) are superior than rodents to be animal models for the study of human diseases, due to their similarities in terms of genetics, physiology, developmental biology, social behaviour and cognition. Transgenic animals have become a key tool in functional genomics to generate models for human diseases and validate new drugs. However, until now, progress in the field of transgenic NHPs has been slow because of technological limitations. Many human diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, are caused by mutations in endogenous genes. Fortunately, recent developments in precision gene editing have led to the generation of NHP models for human diseases. Since 2014, there have been several reports of the generation of monkey models using transcription activator‐like endonucleases (TALENs) or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9); some of these NHP models showed symptoms that were much closer to those of human diseases than have been seen previously in mouse models. No off‐targeting was observed in the NHP models, and multiple gene knockout and biallelic mutants were feasible with low efficiency. These findings suggest that there are many possibilities to establish NHP models for human diseases that can mimic human diseases more faithfully than rodent models.
An evaluation of entecavir treatment among nucleos(t)ide-naïve Moroccan patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Chakkor Amal , Rouibaa Fedoua , Elaboudi Safiaa , Aourarh Aziz 
Published: April 2016

ObjectiveTo analyse the efficacy and safety of entecavir (ETV) treatment in nucleos(t)ide (NUC)-naïve Moroccan patients with chronic hepatitis B.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed 41 NUT-naïve Moroccan patients with chronic hepatitis B who received ETV 0,5 mg/day monotherapy for at least 3 months, of whom 3 were HBV envelope antigen (HbeAg) positive and 38 were HBeAg negative. The primary end point was the proportion of patients achieving virological response. Secondary end points included biochemical response (alanine transaminase (ALT) normalisation), serological response (HbeAg and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) loss or seroconversion) and safety.ResultsThe median follow-up duration was 74 weeks (48–144 weeks) and mean age was 43.8 years. Of 41 patients, 6 were primary non-responders and 2 achieved partial virological response at week 48, whereas 35 achieved undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA at month 12. Viral suppression was maintained in 97.6% of patients after 3 years of ETV treatment. One patient experienced a virological breakthrough at month 12 of treatment. ALT normalisation occurred in 100% of the patients after 1 year of treatment. Only three patients in our study were HbeAg positive, of whom one has experienced seroconversion at month 12 of treatment. However, HBsAg loss or seroconversion was not achieved during the period of the study. No serious adverse event was reported.ConclusionsThese preliminary results showed that ETV is a safe and potent inhibitor of HBV in NUC-naïve Moroccan patients, but we need to observe more patients for a longer period of time, in order to assess the long-term effectiveness, safety, resistance profile and predictive factors for virological and serological response of ETV.