bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Age, BMI, Gender and Lumbar Level on T1ρ Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Lumbar Discs in Healthy Asymptomatic Adults
Authors: Gübitz Raphael , Lange Tobias , Gosheger Georg , Heindel Walter , Allkemper Thomas , Stehling Christoph , Gerss Joachim , Kanthak Christian , Schulte Tobias 
Published: September 2017

Purpose To assess the T1ρ range of lumbar intervertebral discs in healthy asymptomatic individuals at 1.5 T and to investigate the influence of age, body mass index (BMI), gender, and lumbar level on T1ρ relaxation.
Materials and Methods In a prospective study, a total of 81 volunteers aged 20 – 80 years were included in this study and divided into three age groups (A: 20 – 39y; B: 40 – 59y; C: 60 – 80y). All of the volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 T with acquisition of sagittal T1ρ images. The calculated T1ρ relaxation times were correlated with age, BMI, gender, and lumbar level relative to the total disc, the annulus fibrosus, and the nucleus pulposus.
Results Age had a significant influence on T1ρ relaxation times at all lumbar levels, with increasing age being associated with reduced relaxation times. There was also a significant difference between age groups A vs. C and B vs. C (P = 0.0008 and P = 0.0149, respectively). No significant differences in T1ρ relaxation time were observed between men and women (P > 0.05). BMI showed a significant negative correlation with T1ρ relaxation times (P < 0.0001). Analysis of the lumbar level revealed a significant decrease in relaxation times from L1/2 to L5 / S1 (P = 0.0013).
Conclusion Increasing age correlated significantly with advanced lumbar disc degeneration in asymptomatic individuals, particularly in those aged 60 or older. Increasing BMI correlated significantly with increasing degeneration. The lower discs showed more degeneration than the upper ones.
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Implicit stereotypes and the predictive brain: cognition and culture in “biased” person perception
Authors: Hinton Perry 
Published: September 2017

AbstractOver the last 30 years there has been growing research into the concept of implicit stereotypes. Particularly using the Implicit Associations Test, it has been demonstrated that experimental participants show a response bias in support of a stereotypical association, such as “young” and “good” (and “old” and “bad”) indicating evidence of an implicit age stereotype. This has been found even for people who consciously reject the use of such stereotypes, and seek to be fair in their judgement of other people. This finding has been interpreted as a “cognitive bias”, implying an implicit prejudice within the individual. This article challenges that view: it is argued that implicit stereotypical associations (like any other implicit associations) have developed through the ordinary working of “the predictive brain”. The predictive brain is assumed to operate through Bayesian principles, developing associations through experience of their prevalence in the social world of the perceiver. If the predictive brain were to sample randomly or comprehensively then stereotypical associations would not be picked up if they did not represent the state of the world. However, people are born into culture, and communicate within social networks. Thus, the implicit stereotypical associations picked up by an individual do not reflect a cognitive bias but the associations prevalent within their culture—evidence of “culture in mind”. Therefore to understand implicit stereotypes, research should examine more closely the way associations are communicated within social networks rather than focusing exclusively on an implied cognitive bias of the individual.
China and global economic stratification in an interdependent world
Authors: Grell-Brisk Marilyn 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThis article examines the contemporary rise of China and its new role on the global stage within the context of semiperipheral mobility. Unlike earlier discourse on the rise of China that revolved around questions of hegemonic ascent, the focus here is on the impact of China’s advancement within the structural confines of the modern capitalist world-economy. What happens when a country like China, which makes up close to 20% of the world’s population, moves from peripheral state to semiperipheral state in a short period of time? Immanuel Wallerstein had argued that stratification of the world-economy took the shape of a three-layered structure with majority of the world’s population at the bottom, a decidedly smaller middle stratum, and a small percentage at the top of the hierarchy. Through an examination of global economic stratification from 1990 through 2015, China’s movement into the semiperiphery is shown to dramatically change the shape of this three-layered structure. This change that sometimes causes the distribution to appear quad-modal or multimodal is primarily because of the movement of more of the world’s population into the middle stratum of world-economy. This massive movement toward the middle is unprecedented. Furthermore, this new shape of the stratified world economy, will create an increasing amount of pressure on the countries in the middle that may translate into open military aggression and/or at the same time, a rise in regional and multilateral organizations such as the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas.
Race, Vigilant Coping Strategy, and Hypertension in an Integrated Community
Authors: Hines Anika L , Pollack Craig E , LaVeist Thomas A , Thorpe Roland J 
Published: September 2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Vigilant coping refers to individuals who, potentially as a result of experiencing discrimination in the past, proactively prepare for the possibility that they will be discriminated against or mistreated because of their race. The extent to which vigilant coping is linked with hypertension, a highly prevalent condition with well-documented racial/ethnic disparities, remains largely unknown.

METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities (EHDIC) study—Southwest Baltimore (n = 715). We used a series of multivariate logistic regression models to evaluate vigilance as a potential mediator or moderator of the association between race, discrimination, and hypertension within the context of a racially integrated community.

RESULTS
There was no difference in prevalence of hypertension between African-Americans and Whites in this sample (66.8 vs. 66.2; P = 0.86). A higher proportion of African-Americans reported discrimination (41.1 vs. 22.9; P &lt; 0.0001) and vigilance (67.3 vs. 46.9; P &lt; 0.0001) compared to Whites; however, neither measure was associated with hypertension. In stratified analyses, bothersome discrimination alongside vigilant coping was associated with higher odds of hypertension among African-Americans and lower odds among Whites.

CONCLUSIONS
Overall, prevalence of hypertension was high and there were no racial differences in this racially integrated community. Discrimination, vigilance, and hypertension were differently associated among African-Americans and Whites. Studying lived experiences in integrated communities may illuminate how structural inequalities impact the health of African-Americans more broadly. Further, raising awareness of social factors as they relate to hypertension may help to inform clinical management of low-income patients.
LncRNA TUG1 sponges miR-204-5p to promote osteoblast differentiation through upregulating Runx2 in aortic valve calcification
Authors: Yu Cong , Li Lifu , Xie Fei , Guo Shichao , Liu Fayuan , Dong Nianguo , Wang Yongjun 
Published: September 2017

Abstract

Aims
Emerging evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a vital role in cardiovascular physiology and pathology. Although the lncRNA TUG1 is implicated in atherosclerosis, its function in calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) remains unknown.

Methods and results
In this study, we found that TUG1 was highly expressed in human aortic valves and primary valve interstitial cells (VICs). Moreover, TUG1 knockdown induced inhibition of osteoblast differentiation in CAVD both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, silencing of TUG1 increased the expression of miR-204-5p and subsequently inhibited Runx2 expression at the post-transcriptional level. Importantly, TUG1 directly interacted with miR-204-5p and downregulation of miR-204-5p efficiently reversed the suppression of Runx2 induced by TUG1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Thus, TUG1 positively regulated the expression of Runx2, through sponging miR-204-5p, and promoted osteogenic differentiation in CAVD.

Conclusion
All together, the evidence generated by our study elucidates the role of lncRNA TUG1 as a miRNA sponge in CAVD, and sheds new light on lncRNA-directed diagnostics and therapeutics in CAVD.
Genome assembly and transcriptome resource for river buffalo, Bubalus bubalis (2n = 50)
Authors: Williams John L , Iamartino Daniela , Pruitt Kim D , Sonstegard Tad , Smith Timothy P L , Low Wai Yee , Biagini Tommaso , Bomba Lorenzo , Capomaccio Stefano , Castiglioni Bianca , Coletta Angelo , Corrado Federica , Ferré Fabrizio , Iannuzzi Leopoldo , Lawley Cynthia , Macciotta Nicolò , McClure Matthew , Mancini Giordano , Matassino Donato , Mazza Raffaele , Milanesi Marco , Moioli Bianca , Morandi Nicola , Ramunno Luigi , Peretti Vincenzo , Pilla Fabio , Ramelli Paola , Schroeder Steven , Strozzi Francesco , Thibaud-Nissen Francoise , Zicarelli Luigi , Ajmone-Marsan Paolo , Valentini Alessio , Chillemi Giovanni , Zimin Aleksey 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
Water buffalo is a globally important species for agriculture and local economies. A de novo assembled, well-annotated reference sequence for the water buffalo is an important prerequisite for studying the biology of this species, and is necessary to manage genetic diversity and to use modern breeding and genomic selection techniques. However, no such genome assembly has been previously reported. There are 2 species of domestic water buffalo, the river (2n = 50) and the swamp (2n = 48) buffalo. Here we describe a draft quality reference sequence for the river buffalo created from Illumina GA and Roche 454 short read sequences using the MaSuRCA assembler. The assembled sequence is 2.83 Gb, consisting of 366 983 scaffolds with a scaffold N50 of 1.41 Mb and contig N50 of 21 398 bp. Annotation of the genome was supported by transcriptome data from 30 tissues and identified 21 711 predicted protein coding genes. Searches for complete mammalian BUSCO gene groups found 98.6% of curated single copy orthologs present among predicted genes, which suggests a high level of completeness of the genome. The annotated sequence is available from NCBI at accession GCA_000471725.1.
Barriers to the success of an electronic pharmacovigilance reporting system in Kenya: an evaluation three years post implementation
Authors: Agoro Oscar O , Kibira Sarah W , Freeman Jenny V , Fraser Hamish S F 
Published: September 2017

Abstract

Objective
Electronic pharmacovigilance reporting systems are being implemented in many developing countries in an effort to improve reporting rates. This study sought to establish the factors that acted as barriers to the success of an electronic pharmacovigilance reporting system in Kenya 3 years after its implementation.

Materials and Methods
Factors that could act as barriers to using electronic reporting systems were identified in a review of literature and then used to develop a survey questionnaire that was administered to pharmacists working in government hospitals in 6 counties in Kenya.

Results
The survey was completed by 103 out of the 115 targeted pharmacists (89.5%) and included free-text comments. The key factors identified as barriers were: unavailable, unreliable, or expensive Internet access; challenges associated with a hybrid system of paper and electronic reporting tools; and system usability issues. Coordination challenges at the national pharmacovigilance center and changes in the structure of health management in the country also had an impact on the success of the electronic reporting system.

Discussion
Different personal, organizational, infrastructural, and reporting system factors affect the success of electronic reporting systems in different ways, depending on the context. Context-specific formative evaluations are useful in establishing the performance of electronic reporting systems to identify problems and ensure that they achieve the desired objectives.

Conclusion
While several factors hindered the optimal use of the electronic pharmacovigilance reporting system in Kenya, all were considered modifiable. Effort should be directed toward tackling the identified issues in order to facilitate use and improve pharmacovigilance reporting rates.
Long-term Safety of Pregnancy Following Breast Cancer According to Estrogen Receptor Status
Authors: Lambertini Matteo , Kroman Niels , Ameye Lieveke , Cordoba Octavi , Pinto Alvaro , Benedetti Giovanni , Jensen Maj-Britt , Gelber Shari , Del Grande Maria , Ignatiadis Michail , de Azambuja Evandro , Paesmans Marianne , Peccatori Fedro A , Azim Hatem A 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
Safety of pregnancy in women with history of estrogen receptor (ER)–positive breast cancer remains controversial. In this multicenter case–control study, 333 patients with pregnancy after breast cancer were matched (1:3) to 874 nonpregnant patients of similar characteristics, adjusting for guaranteed time bias. Survival estimates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis; groups were compared with the log-rank test. All reported P values were two-sided. At a median follow-up of 7.2 years after pregnancy, no difference in disease-free survival was observed between pregnant and nonpregnant patients with ER-positive (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70 to 1.26, P = .68) or ER-negative (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.53 to 1.06, P = .10) disease. No overall survival (OS) difference was observed in ER-positive patients (HR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.60 to 1.18, P = .32); ER-negative patients in the pregnant cohort had better OS (HR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.36 to 0.90, P = .01). Abortion, time to pregnancy, breastfeeding, and type of adjuvant therapy had no impact on patients’ outcomes. This study provides reassuring evidence on the long-term safety of pregnancy in breast cancer survivors, including those with ER-positive disease.
Seizure Outcome After Surgical Resection of Insular Glioma
Authors: Wang Doris D , Deng Hansen , Hervey-Jumper Shawn L , Molinaro Annette A , Chang Edward F , Berger Mitchel S 
Published: September 2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND
A majority of patients with insular tumors present with seizures. Although a number of studies have shown that greater extent of resection improves overall patient survival, few studies have documented postoperative seizure control after insular tumor resection.

OBJECTIVE
To (1) characterize seizure control rates in patients undergoing insular tumor resection, (2) identify predictors of seizure control, and (3) evaluate the association between seizure recurrence and tumor progression.

METHODS
The study population included adults who had undergone resection of insular gliomas between 1997 and 2015 at our institution. Preoperative seizure characteristics, tumor characteristics, surgical factors, and postoperative seizure outcomes were reviewed.

RESULTS
One-hundred nine patients with sufficient clinical data were included in the study. At 1 yr after surgery, 74 patients (68%) were seizure free. At final follow-up, 42 patients (39%) were seizure free. Median time to seizure recurrence was 46 mo (95% confidence interval 31-65 mo). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that greater extent of resection (hazard ratio = 0.2899 [0.1129, 0.7973], P = .0127) was a significant predictor of seizure freedom. Of patients who had seizure recurrence and tumor progression, seizure usually recurred within 3 mo prior to tumor progression. Repeat resection offered additional seizure control, as 8 of the 22 patients with recurrent seizures became seizure free after reoperation.

CONCLUSION
Maximizing the extent of resection in insular gliomas portends greater seizure freedom after surgery. Seizure recurrence is associated with tumor progression, and repeat operation can provide additional seizure control.
Sedation and Mobilization During Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Respiratory Failure: An International Survey
Authors: Marhong Jonathan D. , DeBacker Julian , Viau-Lapointe Julien , Munshi Laveena , Del Sorbo Lorenzo , Burry Lisa , Fan Eddy , Mehta Sangeeta 
Published: September 2017

Objectives:
To characterize sedation, analgesia, delirium, and mobilization practices in patients supported with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe acute respiratory failure.

Design:
Cross-sectional electronic survey administered January 2016 to March 2016.

Setting:
Three-hundred ninety-four extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers registered with the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.

Subjects:
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation medical directors and program coordinators.

Interventions:
None.

Measurements and Main Results:
We analyzed responses from 209 respondents (53%), mostly from academic centers (63%); 41% respondents provide venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to adults exclusively. Following venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation, 97% respondents administer sedative/analgesic infusions, and the sedation target was “sedated” or “very sedated” for 59%, “calm and cooperative” for 25%, and “unarousable” for 16%. Use of daily sedation interruption and a sedation/analgesia protocol was reported by 51% and 39%, respectively. Midazolam (48%) and propofol (19%) were reported as the most frequently used sedatives; fentanyl (44%) and morphine (20%) the most frequent opioids. Use of a delirium scale was reported by 55% respondents. Physical therapy was reported by 84% respondents, with 41% initiating it within 72 hours after cannulation. Mobilization goals varied from range of motion exercises (81%) to ambulation (22%). The most frequently perceived barriers to mobilization were hemodynamic instability, hypoxemia, and dependency on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.

Conclusions:
The majority of respondents reported targeting moderate to deep sedation following cannulation, with the use of sedative and opioid infusions. There is considerable variability surrounding early physical therapy and mobilization goals for patients with acute respiratory failure supported by venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Cell-Free Plasma Hemoglobin and Male Gender Are Risk Factors for Acute Kidney Injury in Low Risk Children Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Kim-Campbell Nahmah , Gretchen Catherine , Callaway Clifton , Felmet Kathryn , Kochanek Patrick M. , Maul Timothy , Wearden Peter , Sharma Mahesh , Viegas Melita , Munoz Ricardo , Gladwin Mark T. , Bayir Hülya 
Published: September 2017

Objectives:
To determine the relationship between the production of cell-free plasma hemoglobin and acute kidney injury in infants and children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery.

Design:
Prospective observational study.

Setting:
Twelve-bed cardiac ICU in a university-affiliated children’s hospital.

Patients:
Children were prospectively enrolled during their preoperative outpatient appointment with the following criteria: greater than 1 month to less than 18 years old, procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, no preexisting renal dysfunction.

Interventions:
None.

Measurements and Main Results:
Plasma and urine were collected at baseline (in a subset), the beginning and end of cardiopulmonary bypass, and 2 hours and 24 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass in 60 subjects. Levels of plasma hemoglobin increased during cardiopulmonary bypass and were associated (p < 0.01) with cardiopulmonary bypass duration (R
2 = 0.22), depletion of haptoglobin at end and 24 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass (R
2 = 0.12 and 0.15, respectively), lactate dehydrogenase levels at end cardiopulmonary bypass (R
2 = 0.27), and change in creatinine (R
2 = 0.12). Forty-three percent of patients developed acute kidney injury. There was an association between plasma hemoglobin level and change in creatinine that varied by age (overall [R
2 = 0.12; p < 0.01]; in age > 2 yr [R
2 = 0.22; p < 0.01]; and in < 2 yr [R
2 = 0.03; p = 0.42]). Change in plasma hemoglobin and male gender were found to be risk factors for acute kidney injury (odds ratio, 1.02 and 3.78, respectively; p < 0.05).

Conclusions:
Generation of plasma hemoglobin during cardiopulmonary bypass and male gender are associated with subsequent renal dysfunction in low-risk pediatric patients, especially in those older than 2 years. Further studies are needed to determine whether specific subgroups of pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass would benefit from potential treatments for hemolysis and plasma hemoglobin–associated renal dysfunction.
Extending indication of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting
Authors: Criscitiello Carmen , Viale Giulia , Curigliano Giuseppe 
Published: September 2017

Purpose of review
A burst of recent activity has surrounded the study of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK 4/6) inhibitors for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The success of these drugs in the metastatic setting has pushed the evaluation of these agents in early-stage disease. The use of CDK 4/6 inhibitors as neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy is a hot topic and several studies are underway.

Recent findings
Ongoing studies are exploring the addition of CDK 4/6 inhibitors to endocrine therapy in early breast cancer.

Summary
Identification of the optimal treatment combinations is the goal of current research. Finding biomarkers for patients’ selection will be the goal of future research.
Assessing the Accuracy of Eyelid Measurements Utilizing the Volk Eye Check System and Clinical Measurements
Authors: Sinha Kunal R. , Yeganeh Amir , Goldberg Robert A. , Rootman Daniel B. 
Published: September 2017

Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to validate the accuracy of marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1) measurements obtained by the Volk Eye Check system, a modified smartphone that measures MRD1 automatically, relative to clinical and digital measurements.

Methods:
In this prospective observational study of adults with normal eyelids and ptosis, MRD1 was measured clinically, digitally, and automatically with the Volk device. Eyes were divided into successful versus unsuccessful Volk trial groups; successful eyes were then subdivided into control and ptosis subgroups. The primary outcome measures were mean MRD1 obtained by the 3 modalities. Secondary outcome measures included the success rate of the device and the prevalence of ptosis within the successful and unsuccessful groups.

Results:
In the overall sample of 88 eyes, clinical and digital MRD1 were not significantly different. Among eyes with successful Volk trials, significant differences in MRD1 measured by the 3 modalities were as follows: in the successful group, Volk MRD1 (3.05 mm) was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than digital MRD1 (2.68 mm); in the ptosis subgroup, Volk MRD1 (2.47 mm) was significantly higher than clinical (2.05 mm; p < 0.05) and digital MRD1 (1.91 mm; p < 0.01). Eyes in the successful group (66% of attempted collections) demonstrated significantly higher MRD1 (mean difference, 1.21 mm; p < 0.01) and were significantly less likely to demonstrate ptosis (2.7×; p < 0.05) than those in the unsuccessful group.

Conclusions:
The Volk device measures MRD1 well in normal patients but overestimates MRD1 in patients with ptosis. It may be most appropriate in assessing patients with normal or elevated eyelid position. Clinical and digital MRD1 measurements were not different than each other.