bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of medication adherence and treatment satisfaction in Japanese patients with psoriasis of various severities
Authors: Ichiyama Susumu , Ito Michiko , Funasaka Yoko , Abe Masatoshi , Nishida Emi , Muramatsu Shinnosuke , Nishihara Haruna , Kato Hiroshi , Morita Akimichi , Imafuku Shinichi , Saeki Hidehisa 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPsoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory keratotic skin disease. To elucidate the medication adherence and treatment satisfaction, we performed a questionnaire survey using the eight‐item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS‐8) and nine‐item Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM‐9) of 163 psoriatic patients who regularly visited hospitals or clinics. To assess the relationship between the MMAS‐8/TSQM‐9 outcomes and severity of psoriasis, two different clinical severity indices were used: the Psoriasis Area and the Severity Index (PASI) for disease severity and the Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) for quality of life (QOL) impairment. The MMAS‐8 score for oral medication was significantly higher than that for topical medication. The oral and topical MMAS‐8 scores were significantly correlated with the PDI score, but not with the PASI score, indicating that QOL impairment lowered treatment motivation. All of the TSQM‐9 domain scores (effectiveness, convenience and global satisfaction) were significantly correlated with both the PASI and PDI scores, suggesting that patients whose skin and QOL conditions were under good control had high satisfaction with treatment. Patients treated with biologics had higher satisfaction than those treated with non‐biologics.
Exotic flies maintain pollination services as native pollinators decline with agricultural expansion
Authors: Stavert Jamie R. , Pattemore David E. , Bartomeus Ignasi , Gaskett Anne C. , Beggs Jacqueline R. 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Globally, conversion of natural habitat to agricultural land is a primary driver of declines in critical ecosystem services, including pollination. However, exotic species are often well‐adapted to human‐modified environments and could compensate for ecosystem services that are lost when native species decline.

We measured pollination services (pollen delivery to stigma) provided by wild insects to a mass flowering crop, pak choi Brassica rapa at 12 sites across a gradient of increasing agricultural land use (agricultural expansion) in New Zealand.

We found that pollination services increased as the proportion of agricultural land in the surrounding landscape increased; pollination from exotic species exceeded the loss of pollination from native species. However, pollination service delivery became increasingly dominated by a few exotic fly species that were active throughout the day, compared to native species, which had more constrained activity patterns.

Synthesis and applications. The best way to ensure continued sufficient crop pollination is to protect and restore diverse natural habitats on or around farms, as species‐rich pollinator communities are relatively resilient to further environmental change. However, we show that where human‐driven disturbance has caused loss of native pollinator species, exotic pollinators can maintain sufficient pollination. Therefore, in areas where native species loss cannot easily be reversed, decisions about pesticide use and habitat provision that foster populations of beneficial exotic species are likely to maintain pollination service delivery, at least in the short term. This highlights the need for land managers to identify the pollinator communities that are present on their farms, whether native or exotic, and make decisions to support these important communities accordingly.
Characterization of a New α‐Linolenic Acid‐Rich Oil:Eucommia ulmoidesSeed Oil
Authors: Zhang Zhen‐shan , Liu Yu‐lan , Che Li‐ming 
Published: January 2018

AbstractEucommia ulmoidesseed oil is the main byproduct ofE. ulmoidescultivation. To better understand its functions,E. ulmoidesseed oil is characterized comprehensively in this work. The composition ofE. ulmoidesseed, physicochemical properties, thermal properties, fatty acid composition, triacylglycerol (TAG) composition and Vitamin E composition ofE. ulmoidesseed oil were determined. The results show that theE. ulmoidesseed contained about 34.63% oil. The excellent physicochemical properties ofE. ulmoidesseed oil ensured it has a potential to be developed as an edible oil. The main fatty acids inE. ulmoidesseed oil were linolenic acid (61.36%), oleic acid (17.02%), and linoleic acid (12.04%). HPLC‐ELSD method determined that LnLnLn (37.99%), LnLnO (22.62%), LnLnL (14.5%), and LnLnP (8.78%) were the oil's major TAG components. The oil exhibited a unique thermal curve which contained 2 melting peaks at –38.45 and –22.22 °C, respectively. The total content of vitamin E inE. ulmoidesseed oil was 190.96 mg/100g, which exist mainly inγ‐tocopherol andδ‐tocopherol isomer. Overall, the results indicated thatE. ulmoidesseed oil is a promising oil in food, pharmaceutics, cosmetics and other nonfood industries.
Floodplain Trapping and Cycling Compared to Streambank Erosion of Sediment and Nutrients in an Agricultural Watershed
Authors: Gillespie Jaimie L. , Noe Gregory B. , Hupp Cliff R. , Gellis Allen C. , Schenk Edward R. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractFloodplains and streambanks can positively and negatively influence downstream water quality through interacting geomorphic and biogeochemical processes. Few studies have measured those processes in agricultural watersheds. We measured inputs (floodplain sedimentation and dissolved inorganic loading), cycling (floodplain soil nitrogen [N] and phosphorus [P] mineralization), and losses (bank erosion) of sediment, N, and P longitudinally in stream reaches of Smith Creek, an agricultural watershed in the Valley and Ridge physiographic province. All study reaches were net depositional (floodplain deposition > bank erosion), had high N and P sedimentation and loading rates to the floodplain, high soil concentrations of N and P, and high rates of floodplain soil N and P mineralization. High sediment, N, and P inputs to floodplains are attributed to agricultural activity in the region. Rates of P mineralization were much greater than those measured in other studies of nontidal floodplains that used the same method. Floodplain connectivity and sediment deposition decreased longitudinally, contrary to patterns in most watersheds. The net trapping function of Smith Creek floodplains indicates a benefit to water quality. Further research is needed to determine if future decreases in floodplain deposition, continued bank erosion, and the potential for nitrate leaching from nutrient‐enriched floodplain soils could pose a long‐term source of sediment and nutrients to downstream rivers.
Exploring Approximate Bayesian Computation for inferring recent demographic history with genomic markers in nonmodel species
Authors: Elleouet Joane S. , Aitken Sally N. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractApproximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is widely used to infer demographic history of populations and species using DNA markers. Genomic markers can now be developed for nonmodel species using reduced representation library (RRL) sequencing methods that select a fraction of the genome using targeted sequence capture or restriction enzymes (genotyping‐by‐sequencing, GBS). We explored the influence of marker number and length, knowledge of gametic phase, and tradeoffs between sample size and sequencing depth on the quality of demographic inferences performed with ABC. We focused on two‐population models of recent spatial expansion with varying numbers of unknown parameters. Performing ABC on simulated data sets with known parameter values, we found that the timing of a recent spatial expansion event could be precisely estimated in a three‐parameter model. Taking into account uncertainty in parameters such as initial population size and migration rate collectively decreased the precision of inferences dramatically. Phasing haplotypes did not improve results, regardless of sequence length. Numerous short sequences were as valuable as fewer, longer sequences, and performed best when a large sample size was sequenced at low individual depth, even when sequencing errors were added. ABC results were similar to results obtained with an alternative method based on the site frequency spectrum (SFS) when performed with unphased GBS‐type markers. We conclude that unphased GBS‐type data sets can be sufficient to precisely infer simple demographic models, and discuss possible improvements for the use of ABC with genomic data.
Association between ERα polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus: susceptibility and in silico analysis
Authors: Salimi Saeedeh , Mohammadpour‐Gharehbagh Abbas , Keshavarzi Farshid , Farajian‐Mashhadi Farzaneh , Mousavi Mahdieh , Sandoughi Mahnaz 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackgroundSystemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a multisystem and autoimmune disorder leading to damage of multi‐organ systems. The current study aimed to assess the possible association between ERα gene polymorphisms and SLE in a southeast Iranian population.MethodsThe ERα PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) method in 170 SLE patients and 186 healthy subjects.ResultsThere was no association between ERα PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility; however, the combination of the TC/AA and CC/GG genotypes of ESR α PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms were more frequent in SLE patients. The results indicated that TT haplotype of the ERα gene polymorphisms could increase the SLE risk almost 2.4‐fold (odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.3, P = 0.005). The in silico analysis revealed that the ERα PvuII and XbaI single nucleotide polymorphisms occurred in acceptor splicing sites, and these mutations can lead to the increase of Human Splicing Finder score of the mutant alleles.ConclusionsThe ESR α PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms have no association with SLE; however, the combination of the TC/AA and CC/GG genotypes were associated with SLE susceptibility.
Improving recruitment to pharmacological trials for illicit opioid use: findings from a qualitative focus group study
Authors: Neale Joanne , Tompkins Charlotte N. E. , McDonald Rebecca , Strang John 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAimTo explore potential study participants’ views on willingness to join clinical trials of pharmacological interventions for illicit opioid use to inform and improve future recruitment strategies.DesignQualitative focus group study [six groups: oral methadone (two groups); buprenorphine tablets (two groups); injectable opioid agonist treatment (one group); and former opioid agonist treatment (one group)].SettingsDrug and alcohol services and a peer support recovery service (London, UK).ParticipantsForty people with experience of opioid agonist treatment for heroin dependence (26 males, 14 females; aged 33–66 years).MeasurementsData collection was facilitated by a topic guide that explored willingness to enrol in clinical pharmacological trials. Groups were audio‐recorded and transcribed. Transcribed data were analysed inductively via Iterative Categorization.FindingsParticipants’ willingness to join pharmacological trials of medications for opioid dependence was affected by factors relating to study burden, study drug, study design, study population and study relationships. Participants worried that the trial drug might be worse than, or interfere with, their current treatment. They also misunderstood aspects of trial design despite the researchers’ explanations.ConclusionsRecruitment of participants for clinical trials of pharmacological interventions for illicit opioid use could be improved if researchers became better at explaining clinical trials to potential participants, dispelling misconceptions about trials and increasing trust in the research process and research establishment. A checklist of issues to consider when designing pharmacological trials for illicit opioid use is proposed.
Adolescents’ alcohol use and strength of policy relating to youth access, trading hours and driving under the influence: findings from Australia
Authors: White Victoria , Azar Denise , Faulkner Agatha , Coomber Kerri , Durkin Sarah , Livingston Michael , Chikritzhs Tanya , Room Robin , Wakefield Melanie 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAimsTo determine (i) whether the strength of Australian alcohol control policy in three domains (youth access, trading hours and drink driving) changed during the 2000s; and (ii) estimate associations between these policies and adolescent drinking after adjusting for television alcohol advertising exposures, alcohol outlet density, alcohol price changes, exposure to negative articles about alcohol in daily newspapers and adult drinking prevalence.DesignRepeated cross‐sectional surveys conducted triennially from 2002 to 2011. Multi‐level modelling examined the association between alcohol control policies and drinking prevalence after adjusting for covariates.SettingFour Australian capital cities between 2002 and 2011.ParticipantsStudents aged 12–17 years participating in a triennial national representative school‐based survey (sample size range/survey: 9805–13 119).MeasurementsOutcome measures were: past month drinking and risky drinking (5+ drinks on a day) in the past 7 days. Policy strength in each of three domains (youth access, trading hours, drink‐driving) were the key predictor variables. Covariates included: past 3‐month television alcohol and alcohol‐control advertising, alcohol outlet density, alcohol price change, negatively framed newspaper alcohol articles, adult drinking prevalence and student demographic characteristics.FindingsDuring the study period, the strength of youth access policies increased by 10%, trading hours policies by 14% and drink‐driving policies by 58%. Past‐month and risky drinking prevalence decreased (e.g. past‐month: 2002: 47.4% to 2011: 26.3%). Multivariable analyses that included all policy variables and adjusted for year, student and other covariates showed past‐month drinking to be associated inversely with stronger trading hours policies [odds ratio (OR) = 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.69, 0.94], but not youth access (OR = 0.92 95% CI = 0.81, 1.04) or drink‐driving (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.93, 1.09). Risky drinking was associated inversely with stronger youth access policies (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.69, 0.98), but not trading hours (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.66, 1.09) or drink‐driving (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.90, 1.14) policies.ConclusionsPopulation‐directed policies designed to reduce alcohol availability and promotion may reduce adolescents’ alcohol use.
Can one simple questionnaire assess substance‐related and behavioural addiction problems? Results of a proposed new screener for community epidemiology
Authors: Schluter Magdalen G. , Hodgins David C. , Wolfe Jody , Wild T. Cameron 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackground and aimsThere is currently no well‐validated measure that assesses a broad spectrum of substance‐related and behavioural addictions in general populations. This study aimed to develop a brief self‐attribution Screener for Substance and Behavioural Addictions (SSBA) to screen for four substances and six behaviours, and to compare its performance with established individual‐behaviour screening instruments.DesignA small, psychometrically optimal set of items to assess self‐attributed indicators of addiction across alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, gambling, shopping, videogaming, overeating, sexual activity and overworking were identified from a broader pool that was developed using a lay epidemiology qualitative approach. The suitability of the four‐item single‐factor solution was tested for each behaviour and scores were compared with those obtained from the sample using individual‐behaviour screening instruments.Setting and ParticipantsParticipants (n = 6000), broadly representative of the Canadian English‐speaking adult population, were recruited through the Ipsos Reid Canadian Online Panel.MeasurementsParticipants completed an item pool of 15 indicators of addiction for each target behaviour and a validation instrument for one randomly assigned behaviour.FindingsA set of four items identified using principal component and confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated good fit and excellent internal consistency (α = 0.87–0.95) across behaviours, and good convergent validity (rs = 0.44–0.8) with extant instruments measuring similar constructs, with only one exception (r = 0.26).ConclusionsThe proposed Screener for Substance and Behavioural Addiction is a reliable and valid measure assessing the lay public's self‐attributed indicators of addiction across 10 substances and behaviours.
A quantification of the alcohol use‐consequences association in college student and clinical populations: A large, multi‐sample study
Authors: Prince Mark A. , Pearson Matthew R. , Bravo Adrian J. , Montes Kevin S. 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundThe present study sought to quantify the relationship between alcohol use and alcohol‐related consequences in both college student and clinical samples.MethodsWe gathered 33 college student datasets comprising of 15,618 participants and nine clinical sample datasets comprising of 4,527 participants to determine the effect size of the relationship between alcohol use and alcohol‐related consequences. We used random‐effects meta‐analytic techniques, separately in college and clinical samples, to account for a distribution of true effects and to assess for heterogeneity in effect sizes.ResultsResults demonstrated that the clear majority of the variability in alcohol‐related consequences is not explained by alcohol use (ie, >77% in college samples; >86% in clinical samples), and that there was significant heterogeneity in all effect sizes.Conclusions and Scientific SignificanceExperiencing alcohol‐related consequences results from factors that extend beyond frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed suggesting a need to examine other predictors of alcohol‐related consequences beyond alcohol use. (Am J Addict 2018;27:116–123)
Impact of body mass index on the oncological outcomes of patients with upper and lower urinary tract cancers treated with radical surgery: A multi‐institutional retrospective study
Authors: Murakami Yasukiyo , Matsumoto Kazumasa , Ikeda Masaomi , Utsunomiya Takuji , Hirayama Takahiro , Koguchi Dai , Matsuda Daisuke , Okuno Norihiko , Taoka Yoshinori , Irie Akira , Iwamura Masatsugu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAimTo evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the oncological outcomes of urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from 818 patients with upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) and bladder cancer (BC) who were treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) or radical cystectomy (RC) between 1990 and 2015 at six different institutions in Japan. Patients with distant metastasis at diagnosis and those who received neoadjuvant therapies were excluded, leaving 727 eligible patients (UTUC: n = 441; BC: n = 286). Patients were classified into four groups according to World Health Organization BMI criteria: underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI 18.5–25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25.1–30 kg/m2), and obese (BMI >30 kg/m2).ResultsOverweight UTUC and BC patients achieved significantly better cancer‐specific survival (CSS) than the other three groups. However, obese UTUC and BC patients had significantly worse CSS than the other three groups (UTUC: P = 0.031; BC: P = 0.0019). Multivariate analysis of BC patients demonstrated that obesity was an independent predictor of unfavorable CSS (hazard ratio [HR] = 7.47; P = 0.002) and that being underweight was an independent predictor of favorable CSS (HR = 0.37; P = 0.029). However, BMI was not a prognostic factor for CSS in UTUC patients according to multivariate analysis.ConclusionsObesity was an independent predictor of BC patients requiring RC. Conversely, being underweight was associated with a favorable prognosis for BC patients. However, BMI was not an independent prognostic factor in patients with upper urinary tract cancer.
The effect of ethnicity on the performance of protein‐creatinine ratio in the prediction of significant proteinuria in pregnancies at risk of or with established hypertension: an implementation audit and cost implications
Authors: Bhatti Sadia , Cordina Mark , Penna Leonie , Sherwood Roy , Dew Tracy , Kametas Nikos A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIntroductionThe replacement of 24‐h urine collection by protein‐creatinine ratio (PCR) for the diagnosis of preeclampsia has been recently recommended. However, the literature is conflicting and there are concerns about the impact of demographic characteristics on the performance of PCR.Material and methodsThis was an implementation audit of the introduction of PCR in a London Tertiary obstetric unit. The performance of PCR in the prediction of proteinuria ≥300 mg/day was assessed in 476 women with suspected preeclampsia who completed a 24‐h urine collection and an untimed urine sample for PCR calculation. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the independent predictors of significant proteinuria.ResultsIn a pregnant population, ethnicity and PCR are the main predictors of ≥300 mg proteinuria in a 24‐h urine collection. A PCR cut‐off of 30 mg/mmol would have incorrectly classified as non‐proteinuric, 41.4% and 22.9% of black and non‐black women, respectively. Sensitivity of 100% is achieved at cut‐offs of 8.67 and 20.56 mg/mmol for black and non‐black women, respectively. Applying these levels as a screening tool to inform the need to perform a 24‐h urine collection in 1000 women, would lead to a financial saving of €2911 in non‐black women and to an additional cost of €3269 in black women.ConclusionsOur data suggest that a move from screening for proteinuria with a 24‐h urine collection to screening with urine PCR is not appropriate for black populations. However, the move may lead to cost‐saving if used in the white population with a PCR cut‐off of 20.5.
Choroidal thickness at age 66 years in the Danish high myopia study cohort 1948 compared with follow‐up data on visual acuity over 40 years: a clinical update adding spectral domain optical coherence tomography
Authors: Fledelius Hans C. , Jacobsen Nina , Li Xiao Q. , Goldschmidt Ernst 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackground and purposeA population‐based Copenhagen birth year 1948 cohort with high myopia recorded since age 14 years (spherical equivalent less than or equivalent to −6 D) has been followed over 50 years. Despite complications, current follow‐ups have outlined a better visual prognosis than usually drawn from selected clinical series in the literature. For the present status at age 66 years, focus was on visual ability and choroidal thickness.MethodsTwenty‐eight of the original 39 participants were available in 2014. Medical history was updated. Best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) data were compared with subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), now measured by enhanced depth optical coherence tomography.ResultsDue to at least better eye visual acuity (VA), all patients had maintained their everyday visual capacity. Only one participant was marginal regarding visual status for a driver's licence; low vision was not on record. Based on all eyes, choroidal thickness correlated negatively with axial length (AL), which also held for the fraction with high myopia (AL >26.5 mm). In high myopia, the mean choroidal subfoveal thickness was 114 ± 75 μm versus 182 ± 94 μm in lower myopia (p = 0.01).ConclusionDespite the generally maintained individual visual capacity in the series, significant correlation could be demonstrated between SFCT and (i) axial elongation and (ii) recorded VA, with a negative and a positive sign, respectively. Overall, the visual prognosis was relatively benign, in particular when compared with the selected high myopia hospital series that predominate in the ophthalmic literature.