bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Review article: maximising quality of life while aspiring for quantity of life in end‐stage liver disease
Authors: Bhanji R. A. , Carey E. J. , Watt K. D. 
Published: May 2017

SummaryBackgroundWith recent advances in the management of chronic liver disease and its complications, the long‐term survival in cirrhosis has improved. Therefore, the number of individuals who will spend a significant proportion of their life with end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) may continue to rise. Thus, more attention to quality of life (QOL) and its integration with traditional clinical endpoints is needed.AimsRecently, there have been many studies looking at treatment outcomes and their impact on the QOL in patients with ESLD. The aim of this review was to summarise and compare the insights gained from these intervention studies and to make concise recommendations to further promote and improve QOL in this patient population.MethodsA literature search was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science. Search terms “Quality of life” “Cirrhosis” and “end‐stage liver disease” were used as MeSH terms or searched in the title of the article.ResultsThese studies uniformly show significant improvement in health‐related QOL (HRQOL) with management of malnutrition, hepatic encephalopathy and ascites. Thus, early recognition and management of these complications are keys to better serve our patients. Early involvement of palliative care also leads to improved quality of end‐of‐life care.ConclusionsComplications of cirrhosis including malnutrition, encephalopathy, ascites and variceal bleeding lead to a decrease in HRQOL. Assessment of HRQOL has an important implication for the patient. The findings of this review illuminate the importance of using consistent tools to accurately assess QOL in patients with ESLD.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: risk factors for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease suggest a shared altered metabolic and cardiovascular profile between lean and obese patients
Authors: Sookoian S. , Pirola C. J. 
Published: May 2017

SummaryBackgroundThe pathogenesis of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with the co‐occurrence of multiple pathological conditions characterising the metabolic syndrome (MetS), obesity in particular. However, NAFLD also develops in lean subjects, whose risk factors remain poorly defined.MethodsWe performed a meta‐analysis of 15 studies, along with the data pertaining to our own population (n=336 patients). Data from lean (n=1966) and obese (n=5938) patients with NAFLD were analysed; lean (n=9946) and obese (n=6027) subjects without NAFLD served as controls.ResultsRelative to the lean non‐NAFLD controls, lean patients with NAFLD were older (3.79±0.72 years, P=1.36×10−6) and exhibited the entire spectrum of the MetS risk factors. Specifically, they had a significant (P=10−10) increase in plasma glucose levels (6.44±1.12 mg/dL) and HOMA‐IR (0.52±0.094‐unit increment), blood lipids (triglycerides: 48.37±3.6, P=10−10 and total cholesterol: 7.04±3.8, mg/dL, P=4.2×10−7), systolic (5.64±0.7) and diastolic (3.37±0.9) blood pressure (mm Hg), P=10−10, and waist circumference (5.88±0.4 cm, P=10−10); values denote difference in means±SE. Nevertheless, the overall alterations in the obese group were much more severe when compared to lean subjects, regardless of the presence of NAFLD. Meta‐regression suggested that NAFLD is a modifier of the level of blood lipids.ConclusionLean and obese patients with NAFLD share a common altered metabolic and cardiovascular profile. The former, while having normal body weight, showed excess of abdominal adipose tissue as well as other MetS features.
Glyphosate, steam and cutting for non‐native plant control in Alberta fescue grassland restoration
Authors: Stover Holly J. , Naeth M. Anne , Wilkinson Sarah R. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractQuestionWhat are the effects of cutting, glyphosate application and steam application on abundance and diversity of non‐native grasses and forbs and non‐target native grasses and forbs in restoration of a complex disturbed fescue grassland?LocationWaterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada.MethodsCutting, glyphosate application and steam application treatments were implemented at three disturbed sites in an incomplete block design with a control. Plant communities were evaluated for four growing seasons, one before and three after management treatment implementation.ResultsGlyphosate reduced non‐native grass cover for three growing seasons following application and non‐native forbs for one growing season. Glyphosate led to significant increases in non‐native forb cover, more than double pre‐existing values 2 and 3 yr after application. Native species abundance and diversity were more negatively impacted by glyphosate on sites with higher abundance and diversity prior to management treatments. Low frequency cutting over 2 yr did not consistently control non‐native species, steam reduced non‐native grass cover at the most heavily invaded site.ConclusionsSite‐specific conditions must be considered to develop effective control methods for non‐native species. No treatment effectively re‐established native grassland communities. Glyphosate application reduced non‐native grasses, but not non‐native forbs. When native forbs were abundant prior to management, glyphosate reduced them. Steam may have potential and should be further investigated. This is one of only a few studies to investigate methods to manage multiple non‐native species occurring with native species, rather than management of a single undesirable species, and is the first to assess steam as a management option for native grasslands.
Caregiver criticism, help‐giving, and the burden of schizophrenia among Mexican American families
Authors: Villalobos Bianca T. , Ullman Jodie , Krick Tracy Wang , Alcántara Darcy , Kopelowicz Alex , López Steven R. 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivesThis study tested an attribution model of help‐giving in family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia as it relates to caregivers’ reported burden. We hypothesized (a) that caregivers’ attributions of their ill relatives’ responsibility for their symptoms would be associated with more negative and less positive affective reactions, (b) that affective reactions would be related to perceptions of administered support, and (c) that support would in turn predict greater burden.MethodsWe examined 60 family caregivers of Mexican origin living in Southern California. Mexican Americans were chosen because of their high degree of contact with their ill relative, thereby facilitating the examination of help‐giving and burden. Contrary to past studies, caregivers’ attributions and affective stance were assessed independently, the former based on self‐report and the latter based on codes drawn from the Camberwell Family Interview. Caregiver burden was assessed at baseline and one year later.ResultsPath analyses showed partial support for the attribution model of help‐giving. Specifically, attributions of responsibility negatively predicted caregiver's warmth, which in turn predicted more administered support. Contrary to hypotheses, attributions were not associated with caregiver criticism, and criticism was positively related to administered support. In addition, caregiver support was not related to burden at either baseline or a year later. Criticism was a significant predictor of burden at follow‐up through burden at baseline.ConclusionThe emotional stance of caregivers predicts burden independent of the help they provide. Caregiver criticism not only predicts negative patient outcomes but can predict negative caregiver outcomes as well.Practitioner points

Positive clinical implications

In family treatment, it is important to address caregiver criticism not only because of its relationship to poor clinical outcomes of ill relatives but also because of its relationship to greater caregiver burden.

Integrating a balanced rationale for family interventions – to improve ill relatives’ and caregivers’ outcomes – may promote further engagement of both parties as some caregivers may be additionally motivated to improve their own well‐being, and some ill relatives may appreciate more equitably distributing the treatment focus.

Limitations

The caregiver sample was in general low in criticism; therefore, the findings may not be generalizable to families with a higher degree of criticism.

There was a 35% sample attrition at the one‐year follow‐up.
Does training of fellows affect peri‐operative outcomes of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy?
Authors: Khene Zine‐Eddine , Peyronnet Benoit , Bosquet Elise , Pradère Benjamin , Robert Corentin , Fardoun Tarek , Kammerer‐Jacquet Solène‐Florence , Verhoest Grégory , Rioux‐Leclercq Nathalie , Mathieu Romain , Bensalah Karim 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of fellows’ involvement on the peri‐operative outcomes of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN).Materials and MethodsWe analysed 216 patients who underwent RAPN for a small renal tumour. We stratified our cohort into two groups according to the involvement of a fellow surgeon during the procedure: expert surgeon operating alone (expert group) and fellow operating under the supervision of the expert surgeon (fellow group). Peri‐operative data were compared between the two groups. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of fellows’ involvement on peri‐operative and postoperative outcomes. Trifecta and margins ischaemia complications (MIC) score achievement rates were used to assess the quality of surgery in both the expert and fellow groups. Trifecta was defined as a combination of warm ischaemia time <25 min, negative surgical margins and no peri‐operative complications. MIC score was defined as negative surgical margins, ischaemia time <20 min, and absence of complications grade ≥3.ResultsFellows were involved in a total of 89 procedures (41%). Patients’ characteristics were similar in the two groups. Operating time and warm ischaemia time (WIT) were longer in the fellow group (180 vs 120 min, P < 0.001, and 18 vs 14 min, P = 0.002, respectively). Length of hospital stay (LOS) was longer in the fellow group (5 vs 4.3 days; P = 0.05) and patients in this group had higher estimated blood loss (EBL; 400 vs 300 mL; P = 0.01), but this had no impact on transfusion rate (14% vs 11%; P = 0.43). Positive surgical margin rates were similar in the fellow and expert groups (2.2% vs 3.1%; P = 0.70). Major complications were more frequent in the fellow group (12.3% vs 6.3%), but the difference was not significant (P = 0.10). In multivariable analysis, fellow involvement was predictive of longer WIT (β = 0.22; P = 0.003) and operating time (β = 0.49; P < 0.001), but was not associated with EBL (β = 0.12, P = 0.09) or LOS (β = 0.12, P = 0.11). Finally, fellow involvement was associated with a lower rate of trifecta and MIC score accomplishment (odds ratio [OR] 0.53, P = 0.05 and OR 0.46, P = 0.01, respectively).ConclusionTraining fellows to perform RAPN is associated with longer operating time and WIT but does not appear to compromise other peri‐operative outcomes.
The interplay between autophagy and tumorigenesis: exploiting autophagy as a means of anticancer therapy
Authors: Lorente Juan , Velandia Carolina , Leal Jose A. , Garcia‐Mayea Yoelsis , Lyakhovich Alex , Kondoh Hiroshi , LLeonart Matilde E. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTIn wild‐type cells, autophagy represents a tumour‐suppressor mechanism, and dysfunction of the autophagy machinery increases genomic instability, DNA damage, oxidative stress and stem/progenitor expansion, which are events associated with cancer onset. Autophagy occurs at a basal level in all cells depending on cell type and cellular microenvironment. However, the role of autophagy in cancer is diverse and can promote different outcomes even in a single tumour. For example, in hypoxic tumour regions, autophagy emerges as a protective mechanism and allows cancer cell survival. By contrast, in cancer cells surrounding the tumour mass, the induction of autophagy by radio‐ or chemotherapy promotes cell death and significantly reduces the tumour mass. Importantly, inhibition of autophagy compromises tumorigenesis by mechanisms that are not entirely understood. The aim of this review is to explain the apparently contradictory role of autophagy as a mechanism that both promotes and inhibits tumorigenesis using different models. The induction/inhibition of autophagy as a mechanism for cancer treatment is also discussed.
Hypothesis: High salt intake as an inflammation amplifier might be involved in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders
Authors: Abdoli Amir 
Published: May 2017

AbstractSalt is an important macronutrient that plays pivotal roles in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. High salt intake is an important cause of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, recent investigations uncovered the role of excessive salt intake in the induction of severe inflammatory reactions through augmentation of T helper‐17 pathway and their inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, numerous studies have shown the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD). Here, it is hypothesized that high salt intake can increase the risk of NPD through salt‐derived neural inflammations. Therefore, this hypothesis suggests that low‐salt intake can decrease the risk of NPD. The present review discusses the potential role of excessive salt intake in the pathophysiology of NPD.
Temporal patterns of patient‐reported trismus and associated mouth‐opening distances in radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Thor M. , Olsson C. E. , Oh J. H. , Hedström J. , Pauli N. , Johansson M. , Deasy J. O. , Finizia C. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractObjectivesTo identify temporal patterns of patient‐reported trismus during the first year post‐radiotherapy, and to study their associations with maximal interincisal opening distances (MIOs).DesignSingle institution case series.SettingUniversity hospital ENT clinic.ParticipantsOne hundred and ninety‐six subjects who received radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) with or without chemotherapy in 2007‐2012 to a total dose of 64.6/68 Gy in 38/34 fractions, respectively. All subjects were prospectively assessed for mouth‐opening ability (Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire (GTQ), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ‐H&N35), and MIO) pre‐RT and at 3, 6 and 12 months after RT.Main outcome measuresCorrelations between temporally robust GTQ symptoms and MIO as given by Pearson's correlation coefficients (Pr); temporally robust GTQ‐symptom domains as given by factor analysis; rates of trismus with respect to baseline by risk ratios (RRs).ResultsFour temporally robust domains were identified: Eating (3‐7 symptoms), Jaw (3‐7), Pain (2‐5) and Quality of Life (QoL, 2‐5), and included 2‐3 persistent symptoms across all post‐RT assessments. The median RR for a moderate/severe (>2/>3) cut‐off was the highest for Jaw (3.7/3.6) and QoL (3.2/2.9). The median Pr between temporally robust symptoms and MIO post‐radiotherapy was 0.25‐0.35/0.34‐0.43/0.24‐0.31/0.34‐0.50 for Eating/Jaw/Pain/QoL, respectively.ConclusionsMouth‐opening distances in patients with HNC post‐RT can be understood in terms of associated patient‐reported outcomes on trismus‐related difficulties. Our data suggest that a reduction in MIO can be expected as patients communicate their mouth‐opening status to interfere with private/social life, a clinical warning signal for emerging or worsening trismus as patients are being followed after RT.
Using a Bayesian network to clarify areas requiring research in a host–pathogen system
Authors: Bower D.S. , Mengersen K. , Alford R.A. , Schwarzkopf L. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBayesian network analyses can be used to interactively change the strength of effect of variables in a model to explore complex relationships in new ways. In doing so, they allow one to identify influential nodes that are not well studied empirically so that future research can be prioritized. We identified relationships in host and pathogen biology to examine disease‐driven declines of amphibians associated with amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). We constructed a Bayesian network consisting of behavioral, genetic, physiological, and environmental variables that influence disease and used them to predict host population trends. We varied the impacts of specific variables in the model to reveal factors with the most influence on host population trend. The behavior of the nodes (the way in which the variables probabilistically responded to changes in states of the parents, which are the nodes or variables that directly influenced them in the graphical model) was consistent with published results. The frog population had a 49% probability of decline when all states were set at their original values, and this probability increased when body temperatures were cold, the immune system was not suppressing infection, and the ambient environment was conducive to growth of B. dendrobatidis. These findings suggest the construction of our model reflected the complex relationships characteristic of host–pathogen interactions. Changes to climatic variables alone did not strongly influence the probability of population decline, which suggests that climate interacts with other factors such as the capacity of the frog immune system to suppress disease. Changes to the adaptive immune system and disease reservoirs had a large effect on the population trend, but there was little empirical information available for model construction. Our model inputs can be used as a base to examine other systems, and our results show that such analyses are useful tools for reviewing existing literature, identifying links poorly supported by evidence, and understanding complexities in emerging infectious‐disease systems.
Testing for thresholds of ecosystem collapse in seagrass meadows
Authors: Connell Sean D. , Fernandes Milena , Burnell Owen W. , Doubleday Zoë A. , Griffin Kingsley J. , Irving Andrew D. , Leung Jonathan Y.S. , Owen Samuel , Russell Bayden D. , Falkenberg Laura J. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAlthough the public desire for healthy environments is clear‐cut, the science and management of ecosystem health has not been as simple. Ecological systems can be dynamic and can shift abruptly from one ecosystem state to another. Such unpredictable shifts result when ecological thresholds are crossed; that is, small cumulative increases in an environmental stressor drive a much greater change than could be predicted from linear effects, suggesting an unforeseen tipping point is crossed. In coastal waters, broad‐scale seagrass loss often occurs as a sudden event associated with human‐driven nutrient enrichment (eutrophication). We tested whether the response of seagrass ecosystems to coastal nutrient enrichment is subject to a threshold effect. We exposed seagrass plots to different levels of nutrient enrichment (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) for 10 months and measured net production. Seagrass response exhibited a threshold pattern when nutrient enrichment exceeded moderate levels: there was an abrupt and large shift from positive to negative net leaf production (from approximately 0.04 leaf production to 0.02 leaf loss per day). Epiphyte load also increased as nutrient enrichment increased, which may have driven the shift in leaf production. Inadvertently crossing such thresholds, as can occur through ineffective management of land‐derived inputs such as wastewater and stormwater runoff along urbanized coasts, may account for the widely observed sudden loss of seagrass meadows. Identification of tipping points may improve not only adaptive‐management monitoring that seeks to avoid threshold effects, but also restoration approaches in systems that have crossed them.
Socioeconomic status and hippocampal volume in children and young adults
Authors: Yu Qijing , Daugherty Ana M. , Anderson Dana M. , Nishimura Mayu , Brush David , Hardwick Amanda , Lacey William , Raz Sarah , Ofen Noa 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAn individual's socioeconomic status (SES) is often viewed as a proxy for a host of environmental influences. SES disparities have been linked to variance in brain structures particularly the hippocampus, a neural substrate of learning and memory. However, it is unclear whether the association between SES and hippocampal volume is similar in children and adults. We investigated the relationship between hippocampal volume and SES in a group of children (n = 31, age 8–12 years) and a group of young adults (n = 32, age 18–25 years). SES was assessed with four indicators that loaded on a single factor, therefore a composite SES scores was used in the main analyses. Hippocampal volume was measured using manual demarcation on high resolution structural images. SES was associated with hippocampal volume in the children, but not in adults, suggesting that in childhood, but not adulthood, SES‐related environmental factors influence hippocampal volume. In addition, hippocampal volume, but not SES, was associated with scores on a memory task, suggesting that net effects of postnatal environmental factors, captured by SES, are more distal determinants of memory performance than hippocampal volume. Longitudinal investigation of the association between SES, hippocampal volume and cognitive functioning may further our understanding of the putative neural mechanisms underlying SES‐related environmental effects on cognitive development.
Multinational business and host countries in times of crisis: Courtaulds, Glanzstoff, and Italy in the interwar period
Authors: Cerretano Valerio 
Published: May 2017

AbstractDespite the considerable attention granted to the history of international business, we still have a limited knowledge of the historical impact of multinationals on host economies. This article presents the case of the giant Italian rayon firm Snia Viscosa which was acquired by its direct rivals, Courtaulds in the UK and the German firm Glanzstoff, in 1927. Italian deflation which underpinned the return of the country to the gold standard between 1925 and 1927 and the parlous financial conditions of Snia Viscosa proved incentives in what seemed to be a fire sale investment. This investment mitigated the credit crunch and allowed Snia Viscosa to have access to foreign rayon expertise. Evidence suggests that the regime and economic nationalism exerted some pressure on foreign interests and were instrumental in the abandonment of plans intended to reduce Italian rayon output dramatically. One contribution of this article is its use of business history to illustrate how recessions can reshape foreign direct investment flows and the tensions that may arise between domestic business interests and foreign stakeholders during recessions. In addition, the history of Snia Viscosa shows the importance of foreign interests and multinationals in the long‐term industrialization of Italy.