bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circulating NK cells and their subsets in Behçet's disease
Authors: Hasan M S , Ryan P L , Bergmeier L A , Fortune F 
Published: February 2017

SummaryBehçet's disease (BD) is an autoinflammatory, chronic relapsing/remitting disease of unknown aetiology with both innate and acquired immune cells implicated in disease pathogenesis. Peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells and their CD56Dim/CD56Bright subsets were surface phenotyped using CD27 and CD16 surface markers in 60 BD patients compared to 60 healthy controls (HCs). Functional potential was assessed by production of interferon (IFN)-γ, granzyme B, perforin and the expression of degranulation marker CD107a. The effects of disease activity (BDActive versus BDQuiet) and BD medication on NK cells were also investigated. Peripheral blood NK cells (P &lt; 0·0001) and their constituent CD56Dim (P &lt; 0·0001) and CD56Bright (P = 0·0015) subsets were depleted significantly in BD patients compared to HCs, and especially in those with active disease (BDActive) (P &lt; 0·0001). BD patients taking azathioprine also had significantly depleted NK cells compared to HCs (P &lt; 0·0001). A stepwise multivariate linear regression model confirmed BD activity and azathioprine therapy as significant independent predictor variables of peripheral blood NK percentage (P &lt; 0·001). In general, CD56Dim cells produced more perforin (P &lt; 0·0001) and granzyme B (P &lt; 0·01) expressed higher CD16 levels (P &lt; 0·0001) compared to CD56Bright cells, confirming their increased cytotoxic potential with overall higher NK cell CD107a expression in BD compared to HCs (P &lt; 0·01). Interestingly, IFN-γ production and CD27 expression were not significantly different between CD56Dim/CD56Bright subsets. In conclusion, both BD activity and azathioprine therapy have significant independent depletive effects on the peripheral blood NK cell compartment.
Circumferential strain by velocity vector imaging and speckle‐tracking echocardiography: validation against sonomicrometry in an aortic phantom
Authors: Petrini Johan , Eriksson Maria J. , Caidahl Kenneth , Larsson Matilda 
Published: February 2017

SummaryBackgroundEvaluation of arterial deformation and mechanics using strain analysis on ultrasound greyscale images has gained increasing scientific interest. The aim of this study was to validate in vitro measurements of circumferential strain by velocity vector imaging (VVI) and speckle‐tracking echocardiography (STE) against sonomicrometry as a reference method.MethodTwo polyvinyl alcohol phantoms sized to mimic the descending aorta were constructed and connected to a pulsatile flow pump to obtain high‐resistance flow profiles. The ultrasound images of the phantom used for strain analyses were acquired with a transesophageal probe. Global and regional circumferential strains were estimated using VVI and STE and were compared with the strain acquired by sonomicrometry.ResultsGlobal circumferential peak strain estimated by VVI and STE correlated well to sonomicrometry (r = 0·90, P≤0·001; and r = 0·97, P≤0·01) with a systematic bias of −0·78% and +0·63%, respectively. The reference strain levels were 1·07–2·54%. Circumferential strain values obtained by VVI were significantly lower than those obtained by STE (bias −1·41%, P≤0·001).ConclusionGlobal circumferential strain measured by VVI and STE correlates well with sonomicrometry. However, strain values obtained by VVI and STE differ significantly, which should be taken into consideration when comparing results from studies using different software for aortic strain measurements.
Radiation‐associated angiosarcoma in the setting of breast cancer mimicking radiation dermatitis: A diagnostic pitfall
Authors: Daniels Brianne H. , Ko Jennifer S. , Rowe J. Jordi , Downs‐Kelly Erinn , Billings Steven D. 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundWe have encountered cases of post‐radiation angiosarcoma (PRAS) histologically mimicking radiation dermatitis.MethodsCases of PRAS from institutional/consultation archives from 2006 to 2016 were reviewed. For inclusion, tumors had to have inapparent/subtle tumor at low magnification and scattered individual tumor cells resembling radiation fibroblasts. Prior ancillary studies were reviewed, with additional immunostains performed as needed.Results10 cases met criteria. All occurred in women treated for breast cancer (mean age 71 years). All had similar findings: in particular, scattered single atypical cells with pleomorphic nuclei associated with microscopic hemorrhage. They also had narrow, slightly wavy “worm‐like” vascular channels lined by atypical endothelial cells that lacked architectural complexity. Four cases showed focal areas of more conventional angiosarcoma. One case was an excision of a large mass that showed the “radiation dermatitis‐like” pattern radiating out from the central mass. All were positive for vascular markers (CD31, CD34, and/or ERG) and MYC. MYC amplification was demonstrated by FISH in both cases tested. In 3 of 3 cases with available re‐excision specimens, more obvious angiosarcoma was seen.Conclusions
PRAS can be very subtle and histologically mimic radiation dermatitis. Careful attention to histologic features and ancillary tests allow accurate diagnosis in subtle PRAS.
Hyperglycaemia‐related complications at the time of diagnosis can cause permanent neurological disability in children with neonatal diabetes
Authors: Day J. O. , Flanagan S. E. , Shepherd M. H. , Patrick A. W. , Abid N. , Torrens L. , Zeman A. J. , Patel K. A. , Hattersley A. T. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundChildren with neonatal diabetes often present with diabetic ketoacidosis and hence are at risk of cerebral oedema and subsequent long‐term neurological deficits. These complications are difficult to identify because neurological features can also occur as a result of the specific genetic aetiology causing neonatal diabetes.Case reportsWe report two cases of neonatal diabetes where ketoacidosis‐related cerebral oedema was the major cause of their permanent neurological disability. Case 1 (male, 18 years, compound heterozygous ABCC8 mutation) and case 2 (female, 29 years, heterozygous KCNJ11 mutation) presented with severe diabetic ketoacidosis at 6 and 16 weeks of age. Both had reduced consciousness, seizures and required intensive care for cerebral oedema. They subsequently developed spastic tetraplegia. Neurological examination in adulthood confirmed spastic tetraplegia and severe disability. Case 1 is wheelchair‐bound and needs assistance for transfers, washing and dressing, whereas case 2 requires institutional care for all activities of daily living. Both cases have first‐degree relatives with the same mutation with diabetes, who did not have ketoacidosis at diagnosis and do not have neurological disability.DiscussionKetoacidosis‐related cerebral oedema at diagnosis in neonatal diabetes can cause long‐term severe neurological disability. This will give additional neurological features to those directly caused by the genetic aetiology of the neonatal diabetes. Our cases highlight the need for increased awareness of neonatal diabetes and earlier and better initial treatment of the severe hyperglycaemia and ketoacidosis often seen at diagnosis of these children.
Prevalence, glucose control and relative survival of people with Type 2 diabetes in the UK from 1991 to 2013
Authors: Holden S. E. , Jenkins‐Jones S. , Morgan C. Ll. , Peters J. R. , Schernthaner G. , Currie C. J. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimsTo characterize the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes between 1991 and 2013 in the UK and to determine whether corresponding glucose control and survival had changed in the diabetic population during this period.MethodsFor this retrospective cohort study, people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes between 1991 and 2013 were identified from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and the annual point prevalence calculated. Mean HbA1c by year was estimated. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the risk of all‐cause mortality by year for incident cases of Type 2 diabetes treated with glucose‐lowering therapy.ResultsCrude prevalence of diagnosed Type 2 diabetes increased from 1.32% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.30% to 1.34%] in 1991 to 4.54% (4.52% to 4.56%) in 2013. Mean HbA1c for people with diagnosed Type 2 diabetes was 71 mmol/mol (8.6%) in 1991, 59 mmol/mol (7.5%) in 2003 and 58 mmol/mol (7.5%) in 2013. For diagnosed Type 2 diabetes treated with glucose‐lowering therapy, when compared with 1991, the hazard ratio for all‐cause mortality was 0.33 (0.27–0.41) in 2013.ConclusionThe prevalence of diagnosed Type 2 diabetes trebled in the UK between 1991 and 2013. Improved survival in people with diagnosed Type 2 diabetes is likely to account, at least in part, for the increase in prevalence observed.
Do shocks affect men's and women's assets differently? Evidence from Bangladesh and Uganda
Authors: Quisumbing Agnes R. , Kumar Neha , Behrman Julia A. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractUsing panel data, this article tests whether shocks affect men's and women's assets differently in Bangladesh and Uganda. Across countries, covariate and idiosyncratic shocks have different effects on men's, women's and jointly owned assets. Jointly held land and assets were better insured against food price increases in Bangladesh, unlike jointly held assets and wives’ assets in Uganda. Weather shocks affect husbands’ and wives’ assets differently in both countries. Reflecting contextual differences, illness shocks negatively affected wives’ land in Bangladesh, while death reduced husbands’ non‐land assets. In Uganda, fuel price increases eroded husbands’ landholdings, while drought shocks reduced wives’ assets. Ugandan husbands’ assets were better protected against covariate shocks than wives’ assets.
Easily measurable, noninvasive, and novel finding for pulmonary hypertension: Hypertrophy of the basal segment of septomarginal trabeculation of right ventricle
Authors: Karakus Gultekin , Zencirci Ertugrul , Degirmencioglu Aleks , Güvenc Tolga Sinan , Unal Aksu Hale , Yildirim Aydin 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundEffect of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on right ventricular (RV) geometry constitutes an ideal target to assess both pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and its physiological importance. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic power of the basal segment of septomarginal trabeculation (SMT) in predicting the PH and RV hypertrophy by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and Eisenmenger's syndrome (ES).MethodsEleven patients with IPAH, seven patients with ES, and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. CMR was used to measure the area and the thickness of the basal segment of SMT and right ventricular free wall (RVFW). Pulmonary artery systolic pressures (PASPs) were estimated by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with continuous‐wave Doppler analysis measuring maximal tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) findings of CMR and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were also obtained in all patients and control group.ResultsThe area and the thickness of the basal segment of SMT were higher in patients with IPAH and ES than control group (P<.001). Pulmonary artery dimension, end‐diastolic diameter of RV, RVFW thickness, and BNP levels were found to be significantly correlated with PAP (P<.001). LGE was present at the insertion point of RV only in patients group (P<.001).ConclusionsIncreased area and thickness of the basal segment of SMT are easily measurable noninvasive markers of PH in patients with IPAH and ES.
Among School Teachers: Bearing Witness as an Orientation in Educational Inquiry
Authors: Hansen David T. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn this writing, David Hansen illuminates the aesthetic, moral, and epistemic meaning of bearing witness to teaching and teachers by drawing upon a recently completed field‐based endeavor that included extensive school visits. Hansen shows how bearing witness can bring the inquirer close to the truth of teaching. However, the witness must undertake ethical work to ready her‐ or himself for the task. Even such readiness, which must be continuously re‐won on each occasion, guarantees nothing. The witness in the classroom must work with faith, hope, and a deep sense of the worthwhileness of teaching. Hansen suggests that the witness's practice as well as testimony regarding the work can have a valuable influence on the consciousness, and conscience, of all who concern themselves with teaching and teachers.
Publication and outcome reporting of homeopathy trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov
Authors: Thomas Elizabeth T , Clark Justin , Glasziou Paul 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundHomeopathy is gaining popularity globally, despite a lack of convincing evidence of its efficacy. For example, a 2015 review by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) found no discernible convincing effects beyond placebo. However, a concern was that publication bias and outcome reporting bias could have influenced the results of the included systematic reviews.ObjectivesTo study (i) the rates of non‐publication and (ii) rates and types of alteration of planned outcomes of homeopathy studies registered in ClinicalTrials.gov.MethodsWe searched ClinicalTrials.gov for all homeopathy trials completed more than 2 years ago. We then checked the trial's publication status by examining the publication field in ClinicalTrials.gov, searching PubMed and finally Google Scholar. We also checked whether the registered primary outcome matched the published primary outcome.ResultsWe found 35 registered homeopathy trials, from 11 countries, completed at least 2 years ago. Of these 35, we found 16 (46%) publications in MEDLINE and Google Scholar. In four (of 16), the primary outcome measures had been switched or modified.ConclusionsOf all homeopathy trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, only 46% appear to have published within 2 years of completion, of which a quarter altered their primary endpoint. Further research is warranted on the nature and reasons for non‐publication.
Optimal allocation of Red List assessments to guide conservation of biodiversity in a rapidly changing world
Authors: Hermoso Virgilio , Januchowski‐Hartley Stephanie Renee , Linke Simon , Dudgeon David , Petry Paulo , McIntyre Peter 
Published: February 2017

AbstractTheIUCNRed List is the most extensive source of conservation status assessments for species worldwide, but important gaps in coverage remain. Here, we demonstrate the use of a spatial prioritization approach to efficiently prioritize species assessments to achieve increased and up‐to‐date coverage efficiently. We focus on freshwater fishes, which constitute a significant portion of vertebrate diversity, although comprehensive assessments are available for only 46% of species. We usedmarxanto identify ecoregions for future assessments that maximize the coverage of species while accounting for anthropogenic stress. We identified a set of priority regions that would help assess one‐third (ca 4000 species) of all freshwater fishes in need of assessment by 2020. Such assessments could be achieved without increasing current investment levels. Our approach is suitable for any taxon and can help ensure that species threat assessments are sufficiently complete to guide global conservation efforts in a rapidly changing world.
Online information search behaviour of physicians
Authors: Mikalef Patrick , Kourouthanassis Panos E. , Pateli Adamantia G. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundAlthough doctors increasingly engage in online information seeking to complement their medical practice, little is known regarding what online information sources are used and how effective they are.ObjectiveGrounded on self‐determination and needs theory, this study posits that doctors tend to use online information sources to fulfil their information requirements in three pre‐defined areas: patient care, knowledge development and research activities. Fulfilling these information needs is argued to improve doctors' perceived medical practice competence.MethodsPerforming PLS‐SEM analysis on primary survey data from 303 medical doctors practicing in four major Greek hospitals, a conceptual model is empirically tested.ResultsUsing authoritative online information sources was found to fulfil all types of information needs. Contrarily, using non‐authoritative information sources had no significant effect. Satisfying information requirements relating to patient care and research activities enhanced doctors' perceptions about their medical practice competence. In contrast, meeting knowledge development information needs had the opposite result.DiscussionConsistent with past studies, outcomes indicate that doctors tend to use non‐authoritative online information sources; yet their use was found to have no significant value in fulfilling their information requirements.ConclusionsAuthoritative online information sources are found to improve perceived medical practice competence by satisfying doctors' diverse information requirements.
To translate or to develop a measure? The case of a new Arabic measure of organizational justice
Authors: Gadelrab Hesham F. , Alkhadher Othman 
Published: February 2017

AbstractOne of the most prominent and widely used self‐reporting scales for assessing organizational justice perceptions was developed by Colquitt (2001). This scale has been used internationally and has therefore been translated into several languages including Arabic. In a recent study, after conducting a careful review of organizational justice literature to ensure its relevance to Arabic culture, Alkhadher and Gadalreb () developed a new Arabic measure of organizational justice (AMOJ) perceptions and found evidence of a four‐factor scale structure. The purpose of this study is to compare the Arabic version of Colquitt's measure of organizational justice (AVCMOJ) with the AMOJ in terms of predictive power using various outcome measures used by Colquitt (2001). The two scales were administered to 781 Kuwaiti employees (47.6% males) from the public sector. A multiple‐sample confirmatory factor analysis supports the four‐dimensional structure for both AVCMOJ and AMOJ measures. Cronbach's alpha obtained for subscales was found to range between 0.72 and 0.85. The predictive power of the three AMOJ dimensions (distributional, procedural, and informational) was found to be higher than that of the AVCMOJ. The results of the present study raise issues of scale development against the translation of well‐developed scales. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
Kinetics of cooking of unsoaked and presoaked split peas (Cajanus cajan)
Authors: Shinde Yogesh H. , Amogha V. , Pandit Aniruddha B. , Joshi Jyeshtharaj B. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractCooking methods used currently are about 10–15% thermally efficient. To develop better efficient methods of cooking, it is desirable to understand the kinetics of cooking. Experiments were performed with both unsoaked and presoaked split‐peas (commonly known as Dhal in India) at three different temperatures (90 °C, 94 °C, and 98 °C). It has been found that Dhal does not cook at 90 °C even after 120 min of cooking time. Pre‐soaking of Dhal does not found to reduce the time required for cooking. In the present work, the rate of water absorption and hardness of cooked Dhal grains were measured. Both the measurements were used for the estimation of cooking kinetics. The rate constants for cooking of unsoaked and presoaked Dhal were found to be ∼ 4 × 10−4 s−1 at 94 °C and ∼8 × 10−4 s−1 at 98 °C. Regime of operation for cooking of Dhal is found to be diffusion controlled based on swelling particle model of (Singhal et al., 2012).Practical applicationsAbout 40 % of the total energy consumed in the developing World (population more than 4 billion) is used for cooking. In developing countries, where 70 % of the population resides in rural areas, open pan cooking method (efficiency ∼15%) is still the most widely used. Pressure cooker development has improved the thermal efficiency to some extent. There is an urgent need to employ an energy efficient engineering solution for preparing hygienic, nutritious meals, which also has advantages of energy efficiency, ease of operation and efficient resource utilization. In order to design any efficient cooking device, kinetics of cooking for particular food material must be studied. Shinde et al., (2016), Joshi et al., (2012) have designed the energy efficient batch and continuous cookers. Presented work utilizes simple method for determining kinetics of spilt peas, which can be easily extended to obtain kinetics of any other food material.
Nurses can play an active role in the early diagnosis of exposure keratopathy in intensive care patients
Authors: Kocaçal Güler Elem , Eşer İsmet , Eğrilmez Sait 
Published: February 2017

AimThis study was conducted in order to determine nurses' ability to diagnose exposure keratopathy reliably in the early stage in intensive care patients.MethodsThis methodological and descriptive study was carried out between 2011 and 2012 in the Neurology and Anesthesiology and Reanimation Intensive Care Units of a teaching hospital in western Turkey. The sample consisted of 4354 ocular assessments in 156 corneas of 78 patients. A patient identification form and a fluorescein test patient tracking chart were used in the data collection. The corneas of the patients were checked by a fluorescein dye test by the same nurse and ophthalmologist.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 59 ± 15.5 years and 47.4% of them were female. The consistency between the nurse and the ophthalmologist was almost perfect in terms of determining the presence of exposure keratopathy, characteristics, and the grade of corneal staining. Exposure keratopathy was detected at a rate of 2% by the ophthalmologist. A significant relationship was found between the presence of lagophthalmos and the development of exposure keratopathy. A positive correlation was found between the grade of corneal staining and the degree of the eyelid position of the patients and the duration of mechanical ventilation therapy.ConclusionAfter eye care and assessment training, intensive care nurses can play an effective role in detecting early‐stage exposure keratopathy in intensive care patients.