bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between TYK2 polymorphisms and susceptibility to autoimmune rheumatic diseases: a meta-analysis
Authors: Lee Y H , Bae S-C 
Published: March 2016

Objective This study aimed to explore whether TYK2 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis on the association between TYK2 polymorphisms and autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Results Twelve studies with a total of 16,335 patients and 30,065 controls were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed an association between rheumatic diseases and the 2 allele of the TYK2 rs2304256 (OR = 0.885, 95% CI = 0.802–0.978, p = 0.016). Furthermore, stratification by ethnicity identified a significant association between this polymorphism and rheumatic diseases in Caucasians (OR = 0.822, 95% CI = 0.706–0.889, p = 9.5 × 10−7), but not in Asians (OR = 1.127, 95% CI = 0.835–1.522, p = 0.434). Meta-analysis by rheumatic disease type revealed a significant association between the 2 allele of the TYK2 rs2304256 and SLE in Caucasians (OR = 0.737, 95% CI = 0.673–0.808, p < 1.0 × 10−8) but not in Asians (OR = 1.211, 95% CI = 0.813–1.804, p = 0.347). Meta-analysis revealed that the rs12720356 polymorphism was associated with susceptibility to rheumatic diseases in Caucasians (OR = 0.812, 95% CI = 0.661–0.997, p = 0.046) but not in Asians. Interestingly, the rs280519 polymorphism was significantly associated with susceptibility to SLE both in Caucasians and Asians. However, no associations were found between the rs12720270, rs280500, rs280523 and rs8108236 polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatic diseases. Conclusions This meta-analysis demonstrates that the TYK2 rs2304256 and rs12720356 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to rheumatic diseases, rs2304256 polymorphism is associated with SLE in Caucasians, and rs280519 polymorphism is associated with SLE in Caucasians and Asians.
Using Statistical Forecasting to Optimize Staff Scheduling in Healthcare Organizations
Authors: Ganguly Anirban , Nandi Saikat 
Published: March 2016

Modern-day business environment of healthcare organizations demands the maximization of operational effectiveness and quality with optimal cost. Therefore, healthcare executives are often required to make difficult decisions based on subjective experience and judgement. An example of such a decision is scheduling of resources to fulfil demand for service. The effective use of statistical forecasting can lead to better personnel scheduling decisions based on estimates of patient arrival rates, resulting in improvement in quality of service as well as reduction of cost. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the typical steps involved in applying forecasting techniques in patient care: This demonstration involves use of statistical techniques like Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to identify factors driving demand, and Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) to develop a forecasting model for optimal staff scheduling in healthcare organizations based on patient arrival rates. The models are developed and subsequently tested on a set of real data gathered from a regional hospital located in the US. Statistically significant difference in average patient count was found among different days of the week. The findings of the research suggests that resources like cleaning personnel can be better utilized by allocating different proportions of resources to different parts of the week, based on the understanding of different patient load over these time periods.
Client Experiences With Shelter and Community Care Services in the Netherlands
Authors: Asmoredjo Jolanda , Beijersbergen Mariëlle D. , Wolf Judith R. L. M. 
Published: March 2016

Purpose: To gain insight into client experiences with shelter or community care services for homeless people, homeless youth, and abused women and identify priority improvement areas. Methods: Seven hundred and forty-four clients rated their experiences and 116 clients rated the services’ importance. Results: Clients had most positive experiences with the client–worker relationship and least positive experiences with the results of services. Abused women’s service providers scored higher than homeless adults and youth service providers. Day and night shelters scored lowest, followed by crisis shelters, supported housing, and outreaching teams. The results of care have the highest need for quality improvement for homeless adults and youth. Discussion: Clients’ experiences with shelter and community care services in the Netherlands are generally positive, with a strong client–worker relationship forming the basis of good quality care. Monitoring outcomes and increasing the focus on results are integrated in recent approaches aimed at improving the quality of shelter care.
Incisura Morphology as a Risk Factor for Syndesmotic Malreduction
Authors: Cherney Steven M. , Spraggs-Hughes Amanda G. , McAndrew Christopher M. , Ricci William M. , Gardner Michael J. 
Published: March 2016

Background: The goal of this study was to objectively assess if rotational or translational syndesmotic malreduction is associated with certain syndesmotic morphologies. Prior studies based on subjective assessment of syndesmotic morphology and reduction have not shown any difference between groups. Methods: Thirty-five prospectively recruited patients with operatively treated syndesmotic injuries were recruited at an Urban Level I Trauma Center. Patients underwent postoperative bilateral computed tomographic (CT) scans of the ankle to assess incisura depth and syndesmotic reduction. The uninjured extremity was used as a control. Side-to-side differences of syndesmotic reduction were measured at several anatomic points and compared to the incisura depth. Results: There was a significant correlation between more shallow syndesmoses and increased anterior translation of the fibula in the incisura ( r = −0.63, P ≤ .001). Six of 8 patients with “shallow” (≤2.5 mm) incisura were anteriorly malreduced greater than or equal to 1.5 mm compared to the contralateral ankle. The anterior malreduction rate in those with a shallow incisura was significantly greater than in the “non-shallow” patients ( P < .001). There were 9 patients with incisurae greater than or equal to 4.5 mm deep. Five of the “deep” patients had posterior malreductions greater than or equal to 1.5 mm. The posterior malreduction rate in the “deep” group was significantly greater than the “non-deep” patients ( P = .02). There was a significant correlation between increasing syndesmotic depth and increased malrotation ( r = .46, P = .01). Conclusion: Syndesmotic morphology was found to be associated with specific malreduction patterns. Shallow syndesmoses were correlated with anterior fibular malreduction, and were less likely to be malrotated. Conversely, deep syndesmoses predisposed to posterior sagittal plane and rotational malalignment. Preoperative CT scans that assess the syndesmosis morphology may allow surgeons to alter reduction strategies to avoid syndesmotic malreduction. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Citicoline retards myopia progression following form deprivation in guinea pigs
Authors: Mao Junfeng , Liu Shuangzhen , Fu Chunyan 
Published: March 2016

The retinal dopaminergic system is involved in the myopic shift following form deprivation. Citicoline has been demonstrated to stimulate the dopaminergic system in the brain and retina. Furthermore, citicoline has been used in many neurogenic diseases, such as senile cognitive impairment, stroke and Parkinson's disease as well as in amblyopia and glaucoma. Our aim was to investigate the effect of citicoline on the refractive state and retinal dopamine level in form deprivation myopia of guinea pigs. Guinea pigs, at an age of four weeks, were randomly divided into normal control, deprivation, deprived + citicoline and deprived + vehicle groups. Form deprivation myopia was induced by a translucent eye shield covering the right eye. Citicoline was injected intraperitoneally twice a day (500 mg/kg, 9 am and 9 pm) for 10 days. In vitro, retinal explants were cultured with citicoline for 24 h, with a final citicoline concentration of 100 µmol/L. The ocular refractive parameters and retinal dopamine content were measured. After occlusion for 10 days, the form-deprived eyes became myopic with an increase in axial length and a decrease in retinal dopamine content. The intraperitoneal injection of citicoline reduced the myopic degree (from −3.25 ± 0.77D to −0.62 ± 0.47D, P < 0.001) and partially raised retinal dopamine levels (from 0.55 ± 0.21 ng to 0.81 ± 0.24 ng, P < 0.01) in the form-deprived eyes. After 24 h of culturing retinal explants with citicoline, retinal dopamine content increased significantly (from 0.42 ± 0.14 ng to 0.62 ± 0.21 ng, P < 0.05). These results demonstrated that an intraperitoneal injection of citicoline could retard the myopic shift induced by form deprivation in guinea pigs, which was mediated by an increase in the retinal dopamine levels.
Characterization of cutaneous and articular sensory neurons
Authors: da Silva Serra Ines , Husson Zoé , Bartlett Jonathan D. , Smith Ewan St. John 
Published: March 2016

Background A wide range of stimuli can activate sensory neurons and neurons innervating specific tissues often have distinct properties. Here, we used retrograde tracing to identify sensory neurons innervating the hind paw skin (cutaneous) and ankle/knee joints (articular), and combined immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology analysis to determine the neurochemical phenotype of cutaneous and articular neurons, as well as their electrical and chemical excitability. Results Immunohistochemistry analysis using RetroBeads as a retrograde tracer confirmed previous data that cutaneous and articular neurons are a mixture of myelinated and unmyelinated neurons, and the majority of both populations are peptidergic. In whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons, voltage-gated inward currents and action potential parameters were largely similar between articular and cutaneous neurons, although cutaneous neuron action potentials had a longer half-peak duration (HPD). An assessment of chemical sensitivity showed that all neurons responded to a pH 5.0 solution, but that acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) currents, determined by inhibition with the nonselective acid-sensing ion channel antagonist benzamil, were of a greater magnitude in cutaneous compared to articular neurons. Forty to fifty percent of cutaneous and articular neurons responded to capsaicin, cinnamaldehyde, and menthol, indicating similar expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), and transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8), respectively. By contrast, significantly more articular neurons responded to ATP than cutaneous neurons. Conclusion This work makes a detailed characterization of cutaneous and articular sensory neurons and highlights the importance of making recordings from identified neuronal populations: sensory neurons innervating different tissues have subtly different properties, possibly reflecting different functions.
Exploration of the barriers of reporting nursing errors in intensive care units: A qualitative study
Authors: Peyrovi Hamid , Nikbakht Nasrabadi Alireza , Valiee Sina 
Published: March 2016

Aim The aim of this study was to explore the barriers to reporting nursing errors in intensive care units in Iranian hospitals. Methods A descriptive qualitative analysis design was used. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 16 nurses working in four general intensive care units in Kurdistan province, Iran. Interviews were transcribed and finally analysed through conventional content analysis. Results There are four major barriers to the reporting of errors by nurses working in Iranian critical care units: (a) saving professional reputation and preventing stigma; (b) fear of consequences – punishment, legal problems and organisational misconduct; (c) feelings of insecurity – pointing a finger at nurses and lack of managerial support and (d) not investigating the root cause of error. Conclusions The findings revealed the need to support and provide security to nurses and to consider and find the cause of error occurrence. Managers must provide the required personal, professional and legal support for nurses to encourage them to effectively report errors, discover the root cause of errors and take measures to prevent them.
Are campus food environments healthy? A novel perspective for qualitatively evaluating the nutritional quality of food sold at foodservice facilities at a Brazilian university
Authors: Pulz Isadora Santos , Martins Paula Andréa , Feldman Charles , Veiros Marcela Boro 
Published: March 2016

Aims: The purpose of this novel study was to evaluate the food environment at a Brazilian university, encompassing 6 restaurants and 13 snack bars. The investigation uniquely analyses the food environment (barriers, facilitators, type of foods and prices). This was a food-based analysis of the nutritional quality of the products sold on campus. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used, applying the classic Nutrition Environment Measures Survey–Restaurants (NEMS-R) adapted for Brazil and an original methodology to evaluate and classify qualitatively the nutritional quality and characteristics of the food. A census of all campus food environments was applied. Results: The main results show most food and beverage products were made with processed ingredients and had a lower nutritional quality and price when compared with similar products made on premises, that is, processed iced tea compared with fresh tea ( p < .001), fried refined flour salgados compared with baked wholegrain flour salgados ( p < .001) and refined flour biscuits compared with those made with whole grains ( p = .028). Only 16% of the outlets provided food ingredients or nutritional information of products available. Conclusion: The overall options for healthy food choices and good nutritional quality on campus were mostly limited by the availability and higher prices of products. These findings could be used to develop new policy perspectives for the offering of healthy food items and to facilitate better food choices among students in a healthier food environment.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs improve cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Syngle Ashit , Verma Inderjeet , Krishan Pawan , Syngle Vijaita 
Published: March 2016

Background: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a significant risk predictor for sudden cardiac death in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. As yet, there is no therapeutic treatment of CAN in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Even now, the impact of the most commonly employed disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy on CAN in PsA is not known. Hence, we investigated the impact of DMARDs on CAN in PsA. Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, 20 patients of PsA and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. CAN was diagnosed by applying the five cardiovascular reflex tests according to Ewing. Parasympathetic dysfunction was established by performing three tests: heart-rate response to deep breathing, standing, and Valsalva tests. Sympathetic dysfunction was examined by applying two tests: blood pressure response to standing, and handgrip tests. Disease severity was assessed by the 28-joint-count disease activity score (DAS-28) and the disease activity score in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA). Results: Cardiovascular reflex tests were impaired significantly among the PsA patients compared with well-matched healthy subjects ( p < 0.05). Parasympathetic dysfunction was more prominent than sympathetic dysfunction. After 12 weeks treatment, parasympathetic dysfunction (heart rate response to deep breath and standing) significantly ( p < 0.05) improved in patients with PsA, while there was no significant improvement in sympathetic function. Conclusion: These study results suggests parasympathetic autonomic dysfunction is more prominent than sympathetic dysfunction in PsA. Synthetic DMARDs improved parasympathetic dysfunction in PsA.
A PPAR‐gamma agonist protects from radiation‐induced intestinal toxicity
Authors: Mangoni Monica , Sottili Mariangela , Gerini Chiara , Desideri Isacco , Bastida Cinzia , Pallotta Stefania , Castiglione Francesca , Bonomo Pierluigi , Meattini Icro , Greto Daniela , Cappelli Sabrina , Di Brina Lucia , Loi Mauro , Biti Giampaolo , Livi Lorenzo 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveBecause of its anti‐inflammatory, anti‐fibrotic, anti‐apoptotic and anti‐neoplastic properties, the PPAR‐γ agonist rosiglitazone is an interesting drug for investigating for use in the prevention and treatment of radiation‐induced intestinal damage. We aimed to evaluate the radioprotective effect of rosiglitazone in a murine model of acute intestinal damage, assessing whether radioprotection is selective for normal tissues or also occurs in tumour cells.MethodsMice were total‐body irradiated (12 Gy), with or without rosiglitazone (5 mg/kg/day). After 24 and 72 hours, mice were sacrificed and the jejunum was collected. HT‐29 human colon cancer cells were irradiated with a single dose of 2 (1000 cells), 4 (1500 cells) or 6 (2000 cells) Gy, with or without adding rosiglitazone (20 µM) 1 hour before irradiation. HT‐29‐xenografted CD1 mice were irradiated (16 Gy) with or without rosiglitazone; tumour volumes were measured for 33 days.ResultsRosiglitazone markedly reduced histological signs of altered bowel structures, that is, villi shortening, submucosal thickening, necrotic changes in crypts, oedema, apoptosis, and inflammatory infiltrate induced by irradiation. Rosiglitazone significantly decreased p‐NF‐kB p65 phosphorylation and TGFβ protein expression at 24 and 72 hours post‐irradiation and significantly decreased gene expression of Collagen1, Mmp13, Tnfα and Bax at 24 hours and p53 at 72 hours post‐irradiation. Rosiglitazone reduced HT‐29 clonogenic survival, but only produced a slight reduction of xenograft tumour growth.ConclusionRosiglitazone exerts a protective effect on normal tissues and reduces alterations in bowel structures and inflammation in a radiation‐induced bowel toxicity model, without interfering with the radiation effect on HT‐29 cancer cells. PPAR‐γ agonists should be further investigated for their application in abdominal and pelvic irradiation.
Phases in the Ni–Sb–As system which occur in the Bon Accord oxide body, Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa
Authors: Tredoux M. , Zaccarini F. , Garuti G. , Miller D. E. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAn oxide-silicate occurrence, containing >40 wt.% NiO whole rock and showing enrichment in the platinum-group elements and antimony, was investigated at high magnification. Many phases with grain sizes generally <100 μm were observed; electron microprobe analysis indicated that, although some of these are known minerals in Ni–Sb–As space (such as breithauptite and orcelite), most of them cluster around the following compositions: Ni3Sb, Ni3(Sb,As), Ni3As, Ni5(Sb,As)2, Ni7(Sb,As)3 and Ni11(Sb,As)8. Such phases have been observed in synthetic systems, but up to now not in nature. The data reported here therefore probably represent the compositions of new minerals.
Long-term multilineage engraftment of autologous genome-edited hematopoietic stem cells in nonhuman primates
Authors: Peterson Christopher W. , Wang Jianbin , Norman Krystin K. , Norgaard Zachary K. , Humbert Olivier , Tse Collette K. , Yan Jenny J. , Trimble Richard G. , Shivak David A. , Rebar Edward J. , Gregory Philip D. , Holmes Michael C. , Kiem Hans-Peter 
Published: March 2016

Key Points
This study is the first to show that genome-editing approaches can modify multilineage, long-term repopulating cells in a large animal model. We demonstrate that the persistence of genome-edited hematopoietic stem cells can be tracked in vivo in a mutation-specific manner.
Targeted Rho-associated kinase 2 inhibition suppresses murine and human chronic GVHD through a Stat3-dependent mechanism
Authors: Flynn Ryan , Paz Katelyn , Du Jing , Reichenbach Dawn K. , Taylor Patricia A. , Panoskaltsis-Mortari Angela , Vulic Ante , Luznik Leo , MacDonald Kelli K. P. , Hill Geoffrey R. , Nyuydzefe Melanie S. , Weiss Jonathan M. , Chen Wei , Trzeciak Alissa , Serody Jon S. , Aguilar Ethan G. , Murphy William J. , Maillard Ivan , Munn David , Koreth John , Cutler Corey S. , Antin Joseph H. , Ritz Jerome , Waksal Samuel D. , Zanin-Zhorov Alexandra , Blazar Bruce R. 
Published: March 2016

Key Points
The ROCK2 inhibitor, KD025, decreases chronic GVHD pathology in multiple murine models. KD025 inhibits STAT3 phosphorylation to decrease RORγt and Bcl6 expression in both murine and human cells.
Stability of Syk protein and mRNA in human peripheral blood basophils
Authors: MacGlashan Donald 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
In human basophils, Syk expression is 10-fold lower than most other types of leukocytes. There are indirect studies that suggest that Syk protein is highly unstable (a calculated half-life less than 15 min) in human peripheral blood basophils. Therefore, in these studies, Syk stability was directly examined. Purified basophils were metabolically labeled and a pulse–chase experimental design showed Syk protein to be stable in the time frame of 12 h (95% likelihood that half-life is more than 12 h). However, its synthetic rate was very slow (∼10-fold slower) compared with CD34-derived basophils, which have been shown to express levels of Syk consistent with other mature circulating leukocytes. Syk mRNA expression was found to be 5–30-fold lower than other cell types (CD34-derived basophils, peripheral blood eosinophils, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells). Syk protein and mRNA levels, across cell types, were relatively concordant. Syk mRNA in basophils showed a half-life of 3.5 h, which was greater than that of interleukin-4 or Fc epsilon receptor I-α mRNA (∼2 h), but somewhat shorter than Fc epsilon receptor I-β mRNA (8 h). A comparison of miR expression between CD34-derived and peripheral blood basophils demonstrated only 1 significant increase, in miR-150 (77-fold). Transfection in human embryonic kidney cells of a stabilized form of miR-150 showed that it modified expression of c-Myb mRNA but not of Syk mRNA or protein. These results suggest that low Syk expression in basophils results, not from protein instability and perhaps not from mRNA stability. Instead, the results point to the transcriptional nature of an important point of regulation.
Intestinal paracellular absorption is necessary to support the sugar oxidation cascade in nectarivorous bats
Authors: Rodriguez-Peña Nelly , Price Edwin R. , Caviedes-Vidal Enrique , Flores-Ortiz Cesar M. , Karasov William H. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT
We made the first measurements of the capacity for paracellular nutrient absorption in intact nectarivorous bats. Leptonycteris yerbabuenae (20 g mass) were injected with or fed inert carbohydrate probes l-rhamnose and d(+)-cellobiose, which are absorbed exclusively by the paracellular route, and 3-O-methyl-d-glucose (3OMD-glucose), which is absorbed both paracellularly and transcellularly. Using a standard pharmacokinetic technique, we collected blood samples for 2 h after probe administration. As predicted, fractional absorption (f) of paracellular probes declined with increasing Mr in the order of rhamnose (f=0.71)&gt;cellobiose (f=0.23). Absorption of 3OMD-glucose was complete (f=0.85; not different from unity). Integrating our data with those for glucose absorption and oxidation in another nectarivorous bat, we conclude that passive paracellular absorption of glucose is extensive in nectarivorous bat species, as in other bats and small birds, and necessary to support high glucose fluxes hypothesized for the sugar oxidation cascade.