bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nebivolol Ameliorates Cisplatin‐Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats
Authors: Morsy Mohamed A. , Heeba Gehan H. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractTreatment with cisplatin is associated with dose‐limiting side effects, mainly nephrotoxicity. On the other hand, nebivolol, a β1‐adrenoceptor antagonist, exhibits vasodilatory and antioxidative properties. This study aimed to determine whether nebivolol possesses a protective effect against cisplatin nephrotoxicity and explore many mechanisms underlying this potential effect. Nephrotoxicity was induced in Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (6 mg/kg) on day 2. Nebivolol (10 mg/kg) was administered orally for 7 consecutive days. Nebivolol showed a nephroprotective effect as demonstrated by the significant reduction in the elevated levels of serum creatinine and urea as well as renal levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide products (nitrite/nitrate), inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha, caspase‐3, angiotensin II and endothelin‐1 with a concurrent increase in renal levels of reduced glutathione and endothelial nitric oxide synthase compared to untreated rats. Histopathological examination confirmed the nephroprotective effect of nebivolol. Pre‐treatment with Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester, the non‐specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, partially altered the protection afforded by nebivolol. In conclusion, nebivolol protects rats against cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity that is most likely through its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects as well as by abrogation of the augmented angiotensin II and endothelin‐1 levels.
Recurrence rate of lentigo maligna after micrographically controlled staged surgical excision
Authors: de Vries K. , Greveling K. , Prens L.M. , Munte K. , Koljenović S. , van Doorn M.B.A. , Prens E.P. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryBackgroundLentigo maligna is a slowly growing melanoma in situ. Current guidelines advise wide local excision with a margin of 5 mm as the treatment of first choice, which has recurrence rates ranging from 6% to 20%.ObjectivesTo determine retrospectively the recurrence rate of lentigo maligna after staged surgical excision.MethodsRecords of all patients with lentigo maligna treated with our method of staged surgical excision between 2002 and 2011 were retrieved. To identify recurrences we used the computer program Sympathy, which is linked to PALGA, a nationwide network and registry of histo- and cytopathology in the Netherlands.ResultsWe identified 100 patients, who were treated with staged surgical excision with 100% immunohistopathological control of lateral margins. Digital pictures were used to facilitate orientation during the several stages of surgery. After a mean follow-up of 60 months, four patients had a recurrence, after 37, 58, 74 and 77 months of follow-up.ConclusionsStaged surgical excision is superior in clearance and recurrence rates to wide local excision for lentigo maligna and should be considered as the treatment of first choice in national and international guidelines.
Cool and hot executive function as predictors of aggression in early childhood: Differentiating between the function and form of aggression
Authors: Poland Sarah E. , Monks Claire P. , Tsermentseli Stella 
Published: November 2015

Executive function (EF) has been implicated in childhood aggression. Understanding of the role of EF in aggression has been hindered, however, by the lack of research taking into account the function and form of aggression and the almost exclusive focus on cool EF. This study examined the role of cool and hot EF in teacher reported aggression, differentiating between reactive and proactive as well as physical and relational aggression. Children (N = 106) completed laboratory tasks measuring cool (inhibition, planning, working memory) and hot EF (affective decision‐making, delay of gratification). Cool, but not hot, EF significantly contributed to understanding of childhood aggression. Inhibition was a central predictor of childhood aggression. Planning and working memory, in contrast, were significant independent predictors of proactive relational aggression only. Added to this, prosocial behaviour moderated the relationship between working memory and reactive relational aggression. This study therefore suggests that cool EF, particularly inhibition, is associated with childhood aggression across the different functions and forms.
Level of evidence, sponsorship, conflict of interest policy and commercial impact of PubMed‐listed clinical urolithiasis‐related trials in 2014
Authors: Schoenthaler Martin , Miernik Arkadiusz , Wilhelm Konrad , Schlager Daniel , Schoeb Dominik Stefan , Adams Fabian , Dahm Philipp , Hein Simon 
Published: November 2015

ObjectivesTo evaluate published trials on urolithiasis regarding level of evidence, type of sponsorship and declared conflicts of interest (COIs), and to elucidate a potential commercial impact.Materials and MethodsWe performed a systematic PubMed® literature search using a predefined Boolean search term to identify PubMed‐listed clinical research studies on urolithiasis in 2014 (fourth quarter). All authors screened the results for eligibility criteria and two independent reviewers evaluated and performed data extraction of predefined endpoints, including level of evidence, declaration of COI and sponsorship/funding (as indicated in the published print version), and commercial impact.ResultsA total of 110 clinical trials in urolithiasis listed in PubMed met the inclusion criteria. Levels of evidence 1, 2, 3 and 4 were found in 15%, 14%, 21% and 51% of trials, respectively. A COI was indicated in a total of 90% of publications, 93% of which declared no existing conflict of interest. Sponsorship was indicated in 36% of publications, 55% of which stated public funding, 33% institutional funding, 10% industrial funding and 2% both public and industrial funding. A total of 11% of the published trials were rated as having a high commercial impact.ConclusionThe present study provides evidence of increasing levels of evidence for published clinical trials on urolithiasis in 2014 (as compared with earlier data). Ninety percent of publications indicated conflicts of interest, whereas sponsoring of studies was declared only by one‐third. A considerable number of trials involved issues of high commercial impact. Recently established legal programmes and voluntary acts on self‐reporting of financial relationships will enhance transparency in the future; however, increased public funding will be needed to further promote the quality of trials on urolithiasis.
Secular trends in parent‐reported television viewing among children in the United States, 2001–2012
Authors: Loprinzi P. D. , Davis R. E. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractObjectiveExamine trends in parent‐reported television (TV) viewing among preschoolers (2–5 years) and children (6–11 years) between 2001 and 2012.MethodsData from the 2001–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used. The analytic sample included 5724 preschoolers and 7104 children. Parent proxy of TV viewing at each of the six 2‐year cycles was assessed.ResultsStatistically significant decreases in mean TV viewing between 2001 and 2012 were observed for preschoolers of nearly all gender, race‐ethnicity and poverty combinations (exception of Mexican American boys), with the largest decrease occurring among non‐Hispanic white boys (29% decrease; 2.24 h/day in 2001–2002 to 1.59 h/day in 2011–2012; P = .01). There was evidence of progressive decrease in mean TV viewing among children, but not to the extent that occurred among the preschool population. Across the six respective cycles for the entire preschool sample, the proportion watching <2 h/day of TV was: 34.9, 34.2, 43.9, 43.4, 39.1 and 49.2 (Ptrend < .001). For children, the respective proportions were: 32.9, 25.2, 38.2, 36.5, 38.1 and 36.6 (Ptrend = .01).ConclusionsStatistically significant decreases in mean TV viewing between 2001 and 2012 were observed for preschoolers and children. However, a relatively large proportion of parents report their children watching 2 or more hours/day of TV.
Differential modulation of claudin 4 expression and myosin light chain phosphorylation by thyroid function in lung injury
Authors: Varedi Masoumeh , Pajouhi Naser , Owji Mohammad , Naghibalhossaini Fakhraddin , Omrani Gholam H. R. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBackgroundTrauma and ventilator‐induced lung injury is often associated with endothelial–epithelial barriers breakdown, which may lead to multiple system organ failure (MSOF) and death in critically ill patients. Although molecular mechanism involved in MSOF is not known, junctional opening is believed to happen. In vitro, thyroid hormones inhibit myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and may, thus, inhibit cellular contraction and junctional opening. Trauma is also associated with tissue hypo‐thyroid state. Therefore, we examined the effects of thyroid function on expression of phospho‐MLC (pp‐MLC) and claudin 4 (Clud4), key proteins involved in regulation of junctional tightness, in lung injury.MethodsRats were rendered hypo‐thyroid (Hypo) or hyperthyroid (Hyper) by adding methimazole or levo‐thyroxine, respectively, to their drinking water. Untreated euthyroid (Eue) animals were used as control. Lung pp‐MLC and Clud4 proteins were assessed by western blotting and in situ immunodetection, respectively. Lung injury was induced by high tidal volume mechanical ventilation.ResultsLung injury was significantly enhanced in Hypo animals and attenuated in Hyper animals. Parallel changes in expression of lung pp‐MLC were detected. Alterations in lung histomorphology correlated with the level of pp‐MLC. Expression of alveolar and bronchiolar Clud4 protein was differentially affected by the state of thyroid gland.ConclusionsOur data suggest that thyroid function plays significant role in lung injury perhaps by modulating expression of the proteins involved in junctional tightness. Besides, they strongly support the idea that the tissue hypo‐thyroid state may contribute to endothelial–epithelial barriers breakdown associated with trauma.
Burke–Fahn–Marsden dystonia severity, Gross Motor, Manual Ability, and Communication Function Classification scales in childhood hyperkinetic movement disorders including cerebral palsy: a ‘Rosetta Stone’ study
Authors: Elze Markus C , Gimeno Hortensia , Tustin Kylee , Baker Lesley , Lumsden Daniel E , Hutton Jane L , Lin Jean‐Pierre S‐M 
Published: November 2015

AimHyperkinetic movement disorders (HMDs) can be assessed using impairment‐based scales or functional classifications. The Burke–Fahn–Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale‐movement (BFM‐M) evaluates dystonia impairment, but may not reflect functional ability. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) are widely used in the literature on cerebral palsy to classify functional ability, but not in childhood movement disorders. We explore the concordance of these three functional scales in a large sample of paediatric HMDs and the impact of dystonia severity on these scales.MethodChildren with HMDs (n=161; median age 10y 3mo, range 2y 6mo–21y) were assessed using the BFM‐M, GMFCS, MACS, and CFCS from 2007 to 2013. This cross‐sectional study contrasts the information provided by these scales.ResultsAll four scales were strongly associated (all Spearman's rank correlation coefficient rs>0.72, p<0.001), with worse dystonia severity implying worse function. Secondary dystonias had worse dystonia and less function than primary dystonias (p<0.001). A longer proportion of life lived with dystonia is associated with more severe dystonia (rs=0.42, p<0.001).InterpretationThe BFM‐M is strongly linked with the GMFCS, MACS, and CFCS, irrespective of aetiology. Each scale offers interrelated but complementary information and is applicable to all aetiologies. Movement disorders including cerebral palsy can be effectively evaluated using these scales.
McLean OnTrack: a transdiagnostic program for early intervention in first‐episode psychosis
Authors: Shinn Ann K. , Bolton Kirsten W. , Karmacharya Rakesh , Lewandowski Kathryn E. , Yuksel Cagri , Baker Justin T. , Chouinard Virginie‐Anne , Pingali Samira M. , Bye Hilary , Cederbaum Katherine , Öngür Dost 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimsMost programs specializing in the treatment of first‐episode psychosis in the United States focus on schizophrenia. However, many early psychosis patients do not fit into this diagnostic category. Here we describe McLean OnTrack, an intensive outpatient treatment program that accepts all comers with first‐episode psychosis.MethodsWe assessed baseline characteristics of patients in the 2.5 years since program initiation. We examined how initial referral diagnoses compare with current diagnoses, calculating the proportion of diagnostic changes.ResultsAt 2.5 years, patients in McLean OnTrack consist of 30 (33.0%) individuals with primary psychotic disorder, 40 (44.0%) with affective psychosis, 19 (20.9%) with psychotic disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) who do not meet full criteria for either category and two (2.2%) individuals with no psychosis. Although patients with affective psychosis had higher pre‐morbid functioning, all three categories of psychosis had similar rates of prior hospitalizations and substance use. The retention rate in the psychotic disorder NOS group was lower than that in affective and primary psychotic disorders. Finally, diagnoses changed over the course of treatment in 50.5% of patients.ConclusionsDiagnostic heterogeneity appears to be the norm among patients with first‐episode psychosis, and diagnoses commonly evolve over the illness course. Baseline indices of illness severity were similar across categories and suggest the need for early intervention, irrespective of specific diagnosis. We discuss the benefits and challenges of a transdiagnostic approach to early intervention in first‐episode psychosis, treating patients who share many but not all characteristics.
Central olfactory processing in patients with disorders of consciousness
Authors: Nigri A. , Ferraro S. , Bruzzone M. G. , Nava S. , D'Incerti L. , Bertolino N. , Sattin D. , Leonardi M. , Lundström J. N. ,   CRC – Coma Research Centre members
Published: November 2015

Background and purposePrevious studies have demonstrated that individuals suffering from disorder of consciousness (DOC) maintain some minor neural processing of percepts mediated by senses that early in their pathway intersect the thalamus, a key dysfunctional area in DOC patients. Here the degree of sensory preservation within the olfactory system, a system that lacks an obligatory thalamic relay, and its relationship to the consciousness level in DOC patients of various etiologies was assessed.MethodsClinical Coma Recovery Scale – Revised (CRS‐R) as well as cerebral responses to odors by means of functional magnetic resonance were obtained in a group of vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (n = 26) patients, minimally conscious state (n = 7) patients and healthy controls (n = 25).ResultsA majority of vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome patients (58%) and 100% of minimally conscious state patients demonstrated a significant preservation of olfactory neural processing, manifested by activation within the piriform cortex, an area considered as a primary olfactory region. Degree of preservation of olfactory processing differed linearly in line with the patients’ etiologies where groups demonstrating greater conscious awareness demonstrated more significant processing. Viewed over all DOC patients, there was a significant negative association between odor‐related activity in the orbitofrontal cortex and CRS‐R scores.ConclusionsIt is demonstrated that DOC patients exhibit a significant preservation of olfactory neural processing with a clear relationship to etiopathologies and clinical measures even years after of chronification of DOC.
An economic evaluation of the ketogenic diet versus care as usual in children and adolescents with intractable epilepsy: An interim analysis
Authors: de Kinderen Reina J. A. , Lambrechts Danielle A. J. E. , Wijnen Ben F. M. , Postulart Debby , Aldenkamp Albert P. , Majoie Marian H. J. M. , Evers Silvia M. A. A. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryObjectivesTo gain insight into the cost‐effectiveness of the ketogenic (KD) diet compared with care as usual (CAU) in children and adolescents with intractable epilepsy, we conducted an economic evaluation from a societal perspective, alongside a randomized controlled trial.MethodsParticipants from a tertiary epilepsy center were randomized into KD (intervention) group or CAU (control) group. Seizure frequency, quality adjusted life years (QALYs), health care costs, production losses of parents and patient, and family costs were assessed at baseline and during a 4‐month study period and compared between the intervention and control groups. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) (i.e., cost per QALY and cost per responder), and cost‐effectiveness acceptability curves (CEACs) were calculated and presented.ResultsIn total, 48 children were included in the analyses of this study (26 KD group). At 4 months, 50% of the participants in the KD group had a seizure reduction ≥50% from baseline, compared with 18.2 of the participants in the CAU group. The mean costs per patient in the CAU group were €15,245 compared to €20,986 per patient in the KD group, resulting in an ICER of €18,044 per responder. We failed, however, to measure any benefits in terms of QALYs and therefore, the cost per QALY rise high above any acceptable ceiling ratio. It might be that the quality of life instruments used in this study were not sufficiently sensitive to detect changes, or it might be that being a clinical responder is not sufficient to improve a patient's quality of life. Univariate and multivariate sensitivity analyses and nonparametric bootstrapping were performed and demonstrated the robustness of our results.SignificanceThe results show that the KD reduces seizure frequency. The study did not find any improvements in quality of life and, therefore, unfavorable cost per QALY ratio's resulted.
Melting barriers to faunal exchange across ocean basins
Authors: McKeon C. Seabird , Weber Michele X. , Alter S. Elizabeth , Seavy Nathaniel E. , Crandall Eric D. , Barshis Daniel J. , Fechter‐Leggett Ethan D. , Oleson Kirsten L. L. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAccelerated loss of sea ice in the Arctic is opening routes connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for longer periods each year. These changes may increase the ease and frequency with which marine birds and mammals move between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean basins. Indeed, recent observations of birds and mammals suggest these movements have intensified in recent decades. Reconnection of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean basins will present both challenges to marine ecosystem conservation and an unprecedented opportunity to examine the ecological and evolutionary consequences of interoceanic faunal exchange in real time. To understand these changes and implement effective conservation of marine ecosystems, we need to further develop modeling efforts to predict the rate of dispersal and consequences of faunal exchange. These predictions can be tested by closely monitoring wildlife dispersal through the Arctic Ocean and using modern methods to explore the ecological and evolutionary consequences of these movements.
Dedicated biomass crops can enhance biodiversity in the arable landscape
Authors: Haughton Alison J. , Bohan David A. , Clark Suzanne J. , Mallott Mark D. , Mallott Victoria , Sage Rufus , Karp Angela 
Published: November 2015

AbstractSuggestions that novel, non‐food, dedicated biomass crops used to produce bioenergy may provide opportunities to diversify and reinstate biodiversity in intensively managed farmland have not yet been fully tested at the landscape scale. Using two of the largest, currently available landscape‐scale biodiversity data sets from arable and biomass bioenergy crops, we take a taxonomic and functional trait approach to quantify and contrast the consequences for biodiversity indicators of adopting dedicated biomass crops on land previously cultivated under annual, rotational arable cropping. The abundance and community compositions of biodiversity indicators in fields of break and cereal crops changed when planted with the dedicated biomass crops, miscanthus and short rotation coppiced (SRC) willow. Weed biomass was consistently greater in the two dedicated biomass crops than in cereals, and invertebrate abundance was similarly consistently higher than in break crops. Using canonical variates analysis, we identified distinct plant and invertebrate taxa and trait‐based communities in miscanthus and SRC willows, whereas break and cereal crops tended to form a single, composite community. Seedbanks were shown to reflect the longer term effects of crop management. Our study suggests that miscanthus and SRC willows, and the management associated with perennial cropping, would support significant amounts of biodiversity when compared with annual arable crops. We recommend the strategic planting of these perennial, dedicated biomass crops in arable farmland to increase landscape heterogeneity and enhance ecosystem function, and simultaneously work towards striking a balance between energy and food security.
HLA‐DRB1 gene polymorphisms and its associations with rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese Han women of Shaanxi province, northwest of China
Authors: Wang J. , Zhang H. , Wang G.‐Q. , Quan Y. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disease characterized by symmetric polyarthritis. This study was designed to investigate the associations between HLA‐DRB1 gene polymorphisms and RA in the Chinese Han population of Shaanxi province, northwest of China. In total, we identified 31 high‐resolution HLA‐DRB1 alleles in 109 patients with RA. Compared with the controls, the AF of HLA‐DRB1*04:05 (P = 0.000, Pc = 0.007, OR = 3.462, 95%CI: 1.749–6.852) was significantly higher in patients with RA. In addition, the patients with RA had higher allele frequency (AF) of the HLA‐DRB1*04:03 (P = 0.030, Pc = NS, OR = 4.737, 95%CI: 1.012–22.180); DRB1*04:06 (P = 0.018, Pc = NS, OR = 5.288, 95%CI: 1.145–24.422) and the shared epitope (SE) alleles (P = 0.004, Pc = NS, OR = 2.166, 95%CI: 1.279–3.667), respectively. Moreover, positive possibilities of RF and anti‐CCP were significant higher in SE‐positive patients compared to SR‐negative patients (OR = 4.787, 95%CI: 1.101–20.824; OR = 3.775, 95%CI: 1.106–12.876, respectively). Our results indicated that HLA‐DRB1*04:05, *04:03, *04:06 and SE alleles might be susceptibility allele for RA in Chinese Han population of Shaanxi province, northwest of China.
Teaching (Dissident) Theory in Crisis European Union
Authors: Parker Owen 
Published: November 2015

AbstractTeaching theory in the study of EU politics has long posed a range of pedagogical challenges, in part because of the broad range of questions that scholars have posed in relation to the EU as object of study. Often such a challenge is overcome by focusing mainly on how integration occurred/occurs and the associated classical theories of integration. However, this article argues that we do our students a disservice by ignoring an extant theoretical plurality, and perhaps never more so than in the context of the current crisis and its multiple effects. In particular, the crisis heightens the imperative for engagement with questions posed by what this special issue calls 'dissident’ theoretical approaches. Drawing on the experience of co‐authoring a textbook on EU politics, the article considers some of the ways in which we might practically include such approaches, while remaining cognizant of pedagogical constraints.