bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of HIV testing recommendations in specialty guidelines for the management of HIV indicator conditions
Authors: Lord E , Stockdale AJ , Malek R , Rae C , Sperle I , Raben D , Freedman A , Churchill D , Lundgren J , Sullivan AK ,   the British Association of Sexual Health HIV (BASHH)/British HIV Association (BHIVA) guideline review group for the Optimising Testing and Linkage to Care for HIV across Europe (OptTEST) project by HIV in Europe
Published: August 2016

ObjectivesEuropean guidelines recommend HIV testing for individuals presenting with indicator conditions (ICs) including AIDS‐defining conditions (ADCs). The extent to which non‐HIV specialty guidelines recommend HIV testing in ICs and ADCs is unknown. Our aim was to pilot a methodology in the UK to review specialty guidelines and ascertain if HIV was discussed and testing recommended.MethodsUK and European HIV testing guidelines were reviewed to produce a list of 25 ADCs and 49 ICs. UK guidelines for these conditions were identified from searches of the websites of specialist societies, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) website, the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) website, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network (SIGN) website and the British Medical Journal Best Practice database and from Google searches.ResultsWe identified guidelines for 12 of 25 ADCs (48%) and 36 of 49 (73%) ICs. In total, 78 guidelines were reviewed (range 0–13 per condition). HIV testing was recommended in six of 17 ADC guidelines (35%) and 24 of 61 IC guidelines (39%). At least one guideline recommended HIV testing for six of 25 ADCs (24%) and 16 of 49 ICs (33%). There was no association between recommendation to test and publication year (P = 0.62).ConclusionsThe majority of guidelines for ICs do not recommend testing. Clinicians managing ICs may be unaware of recommendations produced by HIV societies or the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV infection among these patients. We are piloting methods to engage with guideline development groups to ensure that patients diagnosed with ICs/ADCs are tested for HIV. We then plan to apply our methodology in other European settings as part of the Optimising Testing and Linkage to Care for HIV across Europe (OptTEST) project.
Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using a Second‐Generation Cryoballoon in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: One‐Year Outcome Using a Single Big‐Balloon 3‐Minute Freeze Technique
Authors: MIYAZAKI SHINSUKE , HACHIYA HITOSHI , NAKAMURA HIROAKI , TANIGUCHI HIROSHI , TAKAGI TAKAMITSU , HIRAO KENZO , IESAKA YOSHITO 
Published: August 2016

Cryoballoon Ablation of PAFBackgroundThe second‐generation cryoballoon (CB) has been recently introduced into clinical use for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Data on the feasibility, long‐term outcome, and optimal freeze cycle are still limited. We assessed the 1‐year clinical outcome after second‐generation CB ablation with single 3‐minute freeze techniques, and clinical variables associated with AF recurrence.MethodsA total of 108 paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients undergoing cryothermal PVI were enrolled. PVI was performed with one 28‐mm CB using single 3‐minute freeze techniques without bonus applications. Fourteen‐day consecutive monitoring was done after discharge to detect early AF recurrences (ERAFs).ResultsOut of 425 PVs, 409 (96.2%) were isolated using exclusively CBs, and 16 required touch‐up ablation. Transient phrenic nerve injury, pericardial tamponade, and 50% PV stenosis occurred in 9, 1, and 1 patients, respectively. No PV stenosis >50% was observed in any patients. The total procedure and fluoroscopic times were 82.9 ± 26.4 and 26.2 ± 14.8 minutes, respectively. ERAFs were detected in 51 (47.2%) patients. At 1‐year after single and repeat procedures, 71.6% and 84.3% of the patients were free from recurrent AF off antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), respectively. Eighteen patients underwent repeat procedures (median 6.0 [4.0–9.3] months post procedure), and 68.6% of PVs were still isolated. Cox's proportional models determined that ERAFs were significantly associated with AF recurrence (HR = 7.236; 95%CI = 2.753–19.016; P < 0.0001). AF‐freedom off AADs at 1‐year after single procedures was 90.8% and 50.3% in patients without and with ERAFs.ConclusionsSecond‐generation CB ablation using single 3‐minute freeze techniques appears feasible in PAF patients. ERAFs were significant factors for predicting clinical outcomes.
Upholding Shared Values in the EU: What Role for the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights?
Authors: Toggenburg Gabriel N. , Grimheden Jonas 
Published: August 2016

AbstractRespect for the values laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) was one of the primary reasons that led to the establishment of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). While neither the Treaties nor the Regulation establishing FRA envisage an explicit role for the FRA with respect to Article 7 TEU, its assistance may be sought in this context even though the contours of such an eventual assistance remains to be clarified. By contrast, the European Commission may approach the FRA should the Commission require its assistance with respect to the application of the framework it adopted in 2014. The Council and the Parliament could similarly require the FRA's assistance. It is however submitted that a more structured dialogue and the regular provision of data and analysis, including via the FRA, would make the EU system of monitoring respect for EU values within the EU itself more operational and help prevent double standards.
The effect of the application of manual pressure before the administration of intramuscular injections on students' perceptions of postinjection pain: a semi‐experimental study
Authors: Öztürk Deniz , Baykara Zehra Gocmen , Karadag Ayise , Eyikara Evrim 
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of applying manual pressure before intramuscular injection and compare it with the standard injection technique in terms of reducing the young adult student's postinjection pain.BackgroundThe administration of intramuscular injections is a procedure performed by nurses and one that causes anxiety and pain for the patient. Nurses have ethical and legal obligations to mitigate injection‐related pain and the nurses' use of effective pain management not only provides physical comfort to the patients, but also improves the patients' experience.DesignComparative experimental study.MethodsThis study was conducted with first‐year university students (n = 123) who were scheduled for hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination via deltoid muscle injection. Students were randomly assigned to the groups. Comparison group students (n = 60) were given an injection using the conventional method, that is without manual pressure being applied prior to the injection. The experimental group students (n = 63) received manual pressure at the vaccination site immediately before injection for a period of 10 seconds. The two techniques were used randomly. The subjects were given pressure to the injection site, and perceived pain intensity was measured using Numerical Rating Scale.ResultsFindings demonstrate that students experienced significantly less pain when they received injections with manual pressure compared with the standard injection technique. The postinjection average pain score in the comparison group was higher than that in the experimental group (p < 0·05).ConclusionsThis study's results show that the application of manual pressure to the injection site before intramuscular injections reduces postinjection pain intensity in young adult students (p < 0·05). Based on these results before the injection, applying manual pressure to the adult's intramuscular injection site is recommended.Relevance to clinical practiceApplying pressure to the injection area is a simple and cost‐effective method to reduce the pain associated with injection.
Diversifying selection is the dominant factor affecting the geographical variation of MHC class II genes in the Omei tree frog
Authors: Li J. , Shen H. , Wang H. , Zhao M. , Luo Z. , Wu H. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractGenes encoding the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are excellent candidates for elucidating adaptive variation because of their essential role in immune function. Hypotheses for how genetic variations of MHC genes are maintained include balancing selection, diversifying selection and neutral events; however, which of these forces are dominant remains controversial. In this study, we determined the preliminary forces that shaped MHC geographical variation in Omei tree frog by comparing with neutral microsatellites. The results revealed high genetic diversity and significant population differentiation in MHC genes of this species. The differentiation patterns of MHC and microsatellites were uncorrelated. Stronger level of genetic differentiation in MHC genes compared with that in microsatellites (based on comparison in both genetic differentiation patterns and strength of isolation by distance patterns) indicates the effects of diversifying selection on the geographical variation of MHC genes. Considering the significant evidence of positive selection acting on antigen‐binding sites, we presumed that selection pressures may be mainly from locally different pathogens when gene flow is restricted. The results of this study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary forces that maintain MHC geographical variation among natural populations.
Distinguishing Arctic charr with different stress coping styles by visual screening of spottiness – reliability and consistency over time
Authors: Brännäs E. , Backström T. , Nilsson J. , Carlberg H. , Stien L. H. , Magnhagen C. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe salmonid fish Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus shows pronounced individual variation in skin colouration and density of carotenoid‐based spots. It has earlier been shown that spot density is a heritable trait, and may be used as an indicator of stress coping style in Arctic charr. Individuals with few spots tend to be more aggressive and less responsive to stress (proactive) than those with many spots (reactive). Here, we evaluate the potential of grading individuals into proactive and reactive individuals by the density of light‐coloured spots. This non‐invasive method would be useful for selective breeding and to reduce within‐treatment variation in biological research. Our aim was to investigate stability of spot density over time and to compare methods to estimate spottiness on Arctic charr, using photographs as well as live fish. The consistency of spot density was significant over a period of 8 months, but with stronger correlations between September and December than between May and September. Also, repeatability of spot number was higher between the two last months than when including May. The spots were more stable on the left than the right side, thus, it is more reliable to estimate spottiness on the left side. There was a significant relationship between the ratio of spotted area (rsa) from automated image analysis and number of spots from visual counts. Both methods fitted well into a visual grading into three categories (few, medium and many spots). In another test, a large number of live fish were visually categorized according to spot density. The previous validation process, in combination with a significant family effect showed that large numbers of fish can be effectively graded.
Plasticity and consistency of behavioural responses to predation risk in laboratory environments
Authors: Heynen M. , Borcherding J. , Bunnefeld N. , Magnhagen C. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe individual animal is currently a major focus of behavioural research and an increasing number of studies raise the question of how between‐individual behavioural consistency and behavioural plasticity interact. Applying the reaction norm concept on groups, our study addresses both of these aspects in one framework and within an animal's natural social environment. Risk‐taking behaviour in 1‐year‐old perch Perca fluviatilis was assayed in aquarium experiments before and after the fish were subjected to the presence or absence of a piscivorous predator for 3 weeks. To analyse the inter‐individual behavioural variation across the repeated measurements, we dissected the behavioural change across the predator treatment into individual constant and plastic components using hierarchical mixed‐effects models. During the predator treatment, juvenile perch increased in boldness and decreased in vigilance, the magnitude of these behavioural changes was influenced by group composition. However, the behavioural changes were not influenced by the presence of a predator, indicating the difficulties in generating realistic long‐term predation pressure in the laboratory. Individuals differed in the relative increase in boldness across the predator treatment and, thus, varied in the shape of their reaction norms. In accordance, the best linear unbiased predictors, extracted from the random effects of separate linear mixed‐effects models for the data before and after the predator treatment were only weakly correlated. Hence, between‐individual variation seems to change under laboratory conditions and therewith not necessarily represents the initially present ‘natural’ variation, giving important implications for the conduction and interpretation of behavioural experiments.
Density dependence, climate and fires determine population fluctuations of the spur‐thighed tortoiseTestudo graeca
Authors: Rodríguez‐Caro R. C. , Lima M. , Anadón J. D. , Graciá E. , Giménez A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPopulation fluctuations are driven by a combination of multiple factors, which can be classified into endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous factors are directly related to density‐dependent forces, whereas exogenous factors are environmental drivers (e.g. climate). Several studies have reported the effects of endogenous and exogenous factors using exponential population models in mammals, birds or insects, but few works have explored the effects on reptiles, specifically in tortoises. In this study, we developed logistic population growth models to decipher the role of these factors on the population dynamics of the spur‐thighed tortoiseTestudo graeca. The role of environmental drivers in the distribution, movement, survival, reproduction or individual growth has been described for this species in previous works, but no studies have examined the effects of both endogenous and exogenous factors in population growth rates. Using long‐term data ofT. graecain southeastern Iberian Peninsula (1999–2013), we fitted non‐linear logistic models with endogenous and exogenous effects. The results showed that endogenous processes are important drivers of the population dynamics of this species, and that exogenous factors, such as freezing hours in winter, also directly affect the population growth rate. Intolerance of extreme winter temperatures may especially affect hatchlings and juvenile tortoises. Our models also showed that perturbations (i.e. a fire occurred during the monitoring period) have a lasting impact by reducing the carrying capacity of the population. This study shows that simple quantitative approaches based on population dynamic theory are useful for deciphering the ecological mechanisms underlying dynamics of tortoise populations.
Prognostic relevance of miR‐137 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sakabe Tomohiko , Azumi Junya , Umekita Yoshihisa , Toriguchi Kan , Hatano Etsuro , Hirooka Yasuaki , Shiota Goshi 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBackground & AimsCancer stem cells (CSCs) play a pivotal role in progression, metastasis and recurrence of cancer. Therefore, it is clinically useful to identify the relevant CSC marker that is associated with prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and clarify its genetic and biological characteristics.MethodsExpression of four CSC markers, CD13, EpCAM, CD44 and CD44v9, was examined in 99 HCC patients. Biological and cDNA/miRNA microarray data were compared among CD44‐positive/‐negative HCC cells and normal hepatic cells. The significance of the representative miRNAs was examined with regard to prognosis of additional 110 HCC patients.ResultsCD44‐positive HuH7 cells proliferated faster and showed a greater sphere forming ability than CD44‐negative HuH7 cells. CD44‐positive HuH7 cells exhibited higher expression of specific genes involved in resistance to reactive oxygen species, anticancer drugs and tumour invasion than CD44‐negative HCC cells. Higher expression of six miRNAs was observed in CD44‐positive HuH7 cells, CD44‐negative HuH7 cells, and human normal hepatic cells in that order. Of the six miRNAs, miR‐137 was closely associated with overall and cancer‐specific survivals, as well as with invasion of hepatic vein, hepatic artery, portal vein and bile duct, and alpha‐foetoprotein in additional 110 HCC patients.ConclusionsmiR‐137 may serve as a prognostic marker in patients with HCC and may be a potential target for the elimination of liver CSCs.
A user‐friendly means to scale from the biochemistry of photosynthesis to whole crop canopies and production in time and space – development of Java WIMOVAC
Authors: Song Qingfeng , Chen Dairui , Long Stephen P. , Zhu Xin‐Guang 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWindows Intuitive Model of Vegetation response to Atmosphere and Climate Change (WIMOVAC) has been used widely as a generic modular mechanistically rich model of plant production. It can predict the responses of leaf and canopy carbon balance, as well as production in different environmental conditions, in particular those relevant to global change. Here, we introduce an open source Java user‐friendly version of WIMOVAC. This software is platform independent and can be easily downloaded to a laptop and used without any prior programming skills. In this article, we describe the structure, equations and user guide and illustrate some potential applications of WIMOVAC.
Safety of Bifidobacterium breve (BBG‐01) in preterm infants
Authors: Kitajima Hiroyuki , Hirano Shinya 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBackgroundSince 1982, viable cells of Bifidobacterium breve (BBG‐01) have been used in pediatric patients for clinical conditions such as intractable infantile diarrhea, preterm status, and pediatric surgery. Although the efficacy of BBG‐01 has been widely reported, adverse events related to the use of BBG‐01 have been reported in very few cases.MethodsIn order to trace adverse events seen by 109 doctors in 88 medical institutions where BBG‐01 was used, a questionnaire survey of the number of occurrences and details of each case was conducted.ResultsEighty‐six clinicians (70 institutions) responded to the questionnaire (response rate, 78.9%). Number of respondents according to department of diagnosis (no. BBG‐01‐treated infants) was as follows: pediatrics, 29 respondents (10 938 patients); premature and newborn medicine, 26 (10 677 patients); obstetrics and gynecology, 1 (1212 patients) and pediatric surgery, 22 (169 patients). More than 90% of the total BBG‐01‐treated patients (23 092 patients) were in the departments of premature and newborn medicine and pediatrics, and BBG‐01 had been used mainly in preterm infants and children with intractable diarrhea. Adverse events occurred in two extremely premature infants with functional ileus due to starch aggregates as vehicle, and in two surgical neonates with bacteremia caused by B. breve genetically identical to BBG‐01, and no serious adverse events with poor outcome were reported.ConclusionAdverse events related to the use of BBG‐01 have an extremely low incidence and are mild in severity, thus ensuring the superior safety of this preparation.
Bronchoarterial ratio in never‐smokers adults: Implications for bronchial dilation definition
Authors: Diaz Alejandro A. , Young Thomas P. , Maselli Diego J. , Martinez Carlos H. , Maclean Erick S. , Yen Andrew , Dass Chandra , Simpson Scott A. , Lynch David A. , Kinney Gregory L. , Hokanson John E. , Washko George R. , San José Estépar Raul 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACT
Background and objectiveBronchiectasis manifests as recurrent respiratory infections and reduced lung function. Airway dilation, which is measured as the ratio of the diameters of the bronchial lumen (B) and adjacent pulmonary artery (A), is a defining radiological feature of bronchiectasis. A challenge to equating the bronchoarterial (BA) ratio to disease severity is that the diameters of airway and vessel in health are not established. We sought to explore the variability of BA ratio in never‐smokers without pulmonary disease and its associations with lung function.MethodsObjective measurements of the BA ratio on volumetric computed tomography (CT) scans and pulmonary function data were collected in 106 never‐smokers. The BA ratio was measured in the right upper lobe apical bronchus (RB1) and the right lower lobe basal posterior bronchus. The association between the BA ratio and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1
) was assessed using regression analysis.ResultsThe BA ratio was 0.79 ± 0.16 and was smaller in more peripheral RB1 bronchi (P < 0.0001). The BA ratio was >1, a typical threshold for bronchiectasis, in 10 (8.5%) subjects. Subjects with a BA ratio >1 versus ≤1 had smaller artery diameters (P < 0.0001) but not significantly larger bronchial lumens. After adjusting for age, gender, race and height, the BA ratio was directly related to FEV1
(P = 0.0007).ConclusionIn never‐smokers, the BA ratio varies by airway generation and is associated with lung function. A BA ratio >1 is driven by small arteries. Using artery diameter as reference to define bronchial dilation seems inappropriate.
Rethinking the Meaning of Concentration–Response Functions and the Estimated Burden of Adverse Health Effects Attributed to Exposure Concentrations
Authors: (Tony) Cox Louis Anthony 
Published: August 2016

Four articles by Anenberg et al., Fann et al., Shin et al., and Smith contribute valuable perspectives and syntheses to a large and growing literature that estimates the burden of mortality risks attributed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) based on estimated epidemiological associations, summarized as concentration–response (C–R) relations. This comment questions the use of C–R relations to predict or estimate how changing exposure concentrations would change responses in a population. C–R associations typically reflect modeling choices, and equally good choices can commonly lead to conflicting conclusions about the signs, significance, and magnitudes of C–R relations and regression coefficients. This indicates that C–R relations do not necessarily reflect underlying stable causal laws useful for making risk predictions, but only choices about how to describe past data, with no uniquely correct choice being determined by the data. Similarly, currently available C–R data typically do not suffice to make valid predictions about how future changes in concentrations will affect responses. These difficulties can be substantially overcome by model ensemble and causal graph modeling and time series methods, but these require different data and knowledge—for example, knowledge of how multiple variables depend on each other, rather than only of how one dependent variable is associated with multiple explanatory variables—than that captured by traditional C–R models or expressible by any single C–R coefficient or curve.