bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pressure dressings in mastoid and middle ear surgery: are they necessary? A retrospective review of patient outcomes
Authors: O'Brien Justin Xavier , Ruskin Olivia , Price Tim 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundThe application of mastoid pressure dressings following mastoid and middle ear surgery is widely practised to reduce the risk of haematoma and seroma. There are a number of minor morbidities associated with use of the dressings, as well as a financial cost associated with an overnight stay in hospital or a return appointment for removal of the dressings. The benefit of having these dressings in situ overnight is questionable.MethodsA retrospective review of 133 patients who had their mastoid dressing removed 2 h after their procedure was undertaken at our Hospital. The patient records were scanned for procedure‐related morbidities, and perioperative data were analysed.ResultsNo haematomas or seromas occurred in any of the 133 patients studied. Minor morbidities associated with prolonged use of mastoid pressure dressings were avoided.ConclusionRemoval of mastoid pressure dressings 2 h following ear surgery is safe and effective. Furthermore, a mastoid dressing should not be a factor in the decision as to whether to treat a patient as a day case or overnight admission.
Cross‐sectional study of randomly selected 18‐year‐old students showed that body mass index was only associated with sleep duration in girls
Authors: Kjartansdottir Ingibjorg , Arngrimsson Sigurbjorn A. , Bjarnason Ragnar , Olafsdottir Anna S. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAimThis study investigated the associations, by sex, between sleep and adiposity, dietary habits, cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic risk in 18‐year‐old students.MethodsWe carried out a cross‐sectional study of 199 randomly chosen, healthy 18‐year‐old students (53% girls) in Iceland's capital region. The data collection took place in the winter months of 2012 to 2015. The anthropometric measurements were body mass index, waist circumference and body fat percentage. Sleep duration and dietary habits were self‐reported. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured on a stationary bicycle. A subsample of 152 participants gave blood samples.ResultsA quarter of the adolescents failed to reach the minimum recommended sleep duration of seven hours per night on weekdays. In girls, the average sleep score was associated with body mass index and waist circumference, after adjusting for cardiorespiratory fitness and unhealthy eating scores. In boys, the average sleep score was not associated with anthropometric measurements, but cardiorespiratory fitness was an independent predictor (p < 0.001). No associations were found between average sleep scores and metabolic profiles in either sex.ConclusionSleep duration and adiposity only appeared to be associated in girls and were independent of cardiorespiratory fitness and unhealthy eating. Sleep duration was not related to metabolic risk.
Purine‐related metabolites and their converting enzymes are altered in frontal, parietal and temporal cortex at early stages of Alzheimer's disease pathology
Authors: Alonso‐Andrés Patricia , Albasanz José Luis , Ferrer Isidro , Martín Mairena 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAdenosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, guanosine and inosine levels were assessed by HPLC, and the activity of related enzymes 5′‐nucleotidase (5′‐NT), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) measured in frontal (FC), parietal (PC) and temporal (TC) cortices at different stages of disease progression in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in age‐matched controls. Significantly decreased levels of adenosine, guanosine, hypoxanthine and xanthine, and apparently less inosine, are found in FC from the early stages of AD; PC and TC show an opposing pattern, as adenosine, guanosine and inosine are significantly increased at least at determinate stages of AD whereas hypoxanthine and xanthine levels remain unaltered. 5′‐NT is reduced in membranes and cytosol in FC mainly at early stages but not in PC, and only at advanced stages in cytosol in TC. ADA activity is decreased in AD when considered as a whole but increased at early stages in TC. Finally, PNP activity is increased only in TC at early stages. Purine metabolism alterations occur at early stages of AD independently of neurofibrillary tangles and β‐amyloid plaques. Alterations are stage dependent and region dependent, the latter showing opposite patterns in FC compared with PC and TC. Adenosine is the most affected of the assessed purines.
Osimertinib in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor T790M advanced non‐small cell lung cancer selected using cytology samples
Authors: Kiura Katsuyuki , Yoh Kiyotaka , Katakami Nobuyuki , Nogami Naoyuki , Kasahara Kazuo , Takahashi Toshiaki , Okamoto Isamu , Cantarini Mireille , Hodge Rachel , Uchida Hirohiko 
Published: January 2018

Osimertinib is a potent, irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) selective for EGFR‑TKI sensitizing (EGFRm) and T790M resistance mutations. The primary objective of the cytology cohort in the AURA study was to investigate safety and efficacy of osimertinib in pretreated Japanese patients with EGFR T790M mutation‐positive non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with screening EGFR T790M mutation status determined from cytology samples. The cytology cohort was included in the Phase I dose expansion component of the AURA study. Patients were enrolled based on a positive result of T790M by using cytology samples, and received osimertinib 80 mg in tablet form once daily until disease progression or until clinical benefit was no longer observed at the discretion of the investigator. Primary endpoint for efficacy was objective response rate (ORR) by investigator assessment. Twenty‐eight Japanese patients were enrolled into the cytology cohort. At data cut‐off (February 1, 2016), 12 (43%) were on treatment. Investigator‐assessed ORR was 75% (95% confidence interval [CI] 55, 89) and median duration of response was 9.7 months (95% CI 3.8, not calculable [NC]). Median progression‐free survival was 8.3 months (95% CI 4.2, NC) and disease control rate was 96% (95% CI 82, 100). The most common all‐causality adverse events were paronychia (46%), dry skin (46%), diarrhea (36%) and rash (36%). Osimertinib provided clinical benefit with a manageable safety profile in patients with pretreated EGFR T790M mutation‐positive NSCLC whose screening EGFR T790M mutation‐positive status was determined from cytology samples. (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01802632).
Preparation and evaluation of effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus of radiolabeled ampicillin‐loaded graphene oxide nanoflakes
Authors: Yurt Fatma , Ersöz Onur Alp , Harputlu Ersan , Ocakoglu Kasim 
Published: January 2018

Ampicillin is a one of effective antibiotics against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. This study aimed to label ampicillin‐loaded graphene oxide nanoflake (AMP‐GO) with 99mTc and evaluate of its in vitro binding to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Firstly, ampicillin was loaded into graphene oxide nanoflake prepared. AMP‐GO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques, and the amount of loaded ampicillin onto GO was determined by UV‐Vis absorption spectroscopy. AMP and AMP‐GO were labeled with 99mTc using stannous chloride reducing agent. Labeling efficiency of 99mTc‐AMP‐GO was found to be 97.66 ± 2.06%. 99mTc‐AMP‐GO has higher binding efficiencies to both S. aureus and E. coli than 99mTc‐AMP. 99mTc‐AMP‐GO could be promising candidate as agent infection nuclear imaging. Furthermore, in vivo studies of 99mTc‐AMP‐GO with infected rats are planned to be performed.
Modern management of T1 rectal cancer by transanal endoscopic microsurgery: a 10‐year single‐centre experience
Authors: Jones H. J. S. , Hompes R. , Mortensen N. , Cunningham C. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAimMinimally invasive, organ‐sparing surgery has been used increasingly for early rectal cancer in recent years. However, local recurrence remains a concern. This study presents a 10‐year single‐centre experience of recurrence after local excision for T1 rectal cancer.MethodData were collected prospectively on all patients undergoing local excision by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) in a single institution. Data covering a 10‐year period were analysed.ResultsIn all, 192 patients underwent TEM for rectal cancer; 70 of these had T1 tumour in the TEM specimen and did not have preoperative radiotherapy. Four were managed with completion surgery following TEM and a further six had radiotherapy; 60 underwent surveillance alone. Local recurrence occurred in six patients; three underwent salvage surgery. Estimated local recurrence at 3 years was 7.2% for the surveillance alone group.ConclusionsLocal recurrence rates were lower than previous studies. Better preoperative assessment, more effective local excision surgery and postoperative radiotherapy may be contributory factors to a better‐than‐predicted outcome. Local excision should be offered as part of standard of care for T1 rectal cancer in the presence of good preoperative selection and meticulous surveillance.
Role of mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter in remifentanil‐induced postoperative allodynia
Authors: Lu Aizhu , Lei Hongyi , Li Le , Lai Luying , Liang Wenbin , Xu Shiyuan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOpioid‐induced hyperalgesia (OIH) and allodynia is a well‐known phenomenon and refers to the pain sensitization in patients after prolonged opioid exposure. OIH limits the use of opioids in pain control, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully clear. This study investigated the role of mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) in remifentanil (a commonly used opioid analgesic)‐induced allodynia. Using a rat model of OIH, we found that incision‐ and remifentanil‐induced mechanical allodynia were remarkably attenuated by pretreatment with Ru360, a specific MCU antagonist, suggesting a critical role of MCU in both incision‐ and opioid‐induced allodynia. In addition, imaging studies with Rhod‐2 (a mitochondrial Ca2+ dye) in spinal tissues demonstrated increased mitochondrial Ca2+ level in response to incision and remifentanil infusion, which was attenuated by Ru360. Western blot and immunohistochemistry showed that pNR [phosphorylated N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor] and pERK (phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase) are increased during both incision‐induced hyperalgesia and remifentanil‐induced hyperalgesia, and again the increases in pNR and pERK were remarkably attenuated by Ru360. Together, our data demonstrate that MCU plays a critical role in remifentanil‐induced postoperative mechanical allodynia, with NMDA receptor and ERK as possible downstream effectors. Our findings provide novel mechanisms for remifentanil‐induced mechanical allodynia and encourage future studies to examine the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter as a potential therapeutic target for prevention of OIH.
Socratic inquiry and the “What‐is‐F?” question
Authors: Clark Justin C. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn raising the “What‐is‐F?” question, commentators disagree about whether Socrates is asking a conceptual question (about the meaning of a virtue‐term “F”) or a causal question (about how F fits into the causal network of the world). I argue that the contexts surrounding Socrates' two most prominent examples of adequate answers confirm that the “What‐is‐F?” question is a conceptual question in both the Meno and Euthyphro, but a causal question in the Laches and Protagoras. The “What‐is‐F?” question is multifunctional. Plato's Socrates consistently employs two separate vocabularies in connection with these two types of questions. By outlining their vocabularies, and by examining other important contextual signals, I pave the way for readers to distinguish between conceptual and causal investigation in the “dialogues of definition.”
Full‐field characterization of a fatigue crack: Crack closure revisited
Authors: Tong J. , Alshammrei S. , Wigger T. , Lupton C. , Yates J.R. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe full‐field of a fatigue crack, ahead and behind the crack tip, has been examined in this work using Digital Image Correlation. We measured, in situ, the surface crack opening displacements at selected locations behind the crack tip and the evolution of the near‐tip displacements and strains ahead of the crack tip, during loading and unloading in a model material of a standard compact tension specimen. In addition, the stress intensity factor for the compact tension specimen was also estimated from the Williams' series expansion by using the displacements obtained from Digital Image Correlation as a function of applied load. The results present a complete picture of the crack tip field at the selected load levels, where events both ahead and behind of the crack tip were studied for the first time in crack driving and attenuation effects. We hope that the results provide some fundamental insights into the full‐field behaviour of a crack tip under cyclic loading conditions and shed light on the phenomenon of crack closure and its relevance to fatigue crack driving force ΔKunder small‐scale yielding conditions.
A potential role for the silent information regulator 2 homologue 1 (SIRT1) in periapical periodontitis
Authors: Kudo H. , Takeichi O. , Hatori K. , Makino K. , Himi K. , Ogiso B. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAimTo investigate the role played by silent information regulator 2 homologue 1 (SIRT1) during angiogenesis of periapical periodontitis.MethodologyPeriapical granulomas were subjected to dual‐colour immunofluorescence imaging and real‐time polymerase chain reactions assaying the expression levels of SIRT1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VE‐cadherin. The association between Ki‐67 and SIRT1 expression was also examined. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with a combination of lipopolysaccharide and resveratrol (a SIRT1 activator) or sirtinol (a SIRT1 inhibitor); and the levels of mRNAs encoding SIRT1, VEGF and VE‐cadherin were determined. HUVEC tube formation was assayed in the presence of resveratrol or sirtinol. The Mann–Whitney U‐test or the Tukey–Kramer test was used for statistical analysis.ResultsKi‐67‐expressing cells, including endothelial cells, lay adjacent to SIRT1‐expressing cells in periapical granulomas. In addition, SIRT1‐expressing cells were detected adjacent to VEGF‐expressing cells and VEGF‐ or VE‐cadherin‐expressing endothelial cells. SIRT1, VEGF and VE‐cadherin mRNA expression levels in periapical granulomas were significantly higher (P = 0.0054, 0.0090 and 0.0090, respectively) than those in healthy gingival tissues. HUVECs treated with resveratrol exhibited significantly higher expression of mRNAs encoding SIRT1, VEGF and VE‐cadherin (P = 0.0019, 0.00005 and 0.0045, respectively) compared with controls, but sirtinol inhibited such expression. Resveratrol caused HUVECs to form tube‐like structures, whilst sirtinol inhibited this process.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that SIRT1 may stimulate angiogenesis in periapical granulomas by triggering the proliferation of endothelial cells and inducing VEGF and VE‐cadherin expression.
Dietary approach to stop hypertension diet and cardiovascular risk factors among 10‐ to 18‐year‐old individuals
Authors: Farhadnejad H. , Asghari G. , Mirmiran P. , Azizi F. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryBackgroundCurrent evidence available on the association between Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and cardiovascular risk in adolescents is controversial.ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to assess the association between DASH diet and cardiovascular risk factors after 3 years of follow‐up among Tehranian adolescents.MethodsA population‐based cohort study was conducted on 628 subjects, aged 10–18 years, selected from among participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. The DASH score was determined on the basis of eight components using a valid and reliable food‐frequency questionnaire at baseline. Anthropometric and lipid profile data were measured at baseline and after a 3‐year follow‐up.ResultsMean (SD) age of the study population (46.6% men) was 14.1 (2.5) years. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, including sex, age, physical activity and total calorie intake, the risk of general obesity (OR = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.15–0.76) and central obesity (OR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.14–0.84) in the highest quintile of DASH score were significantly lower than in subjects in the lowest quintile. However, DASH score was not associated with risk of incident dyslipidaemia in our study (OR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.30–1.82). The higher DASH score was inversely associated with 3‐year changes in body mass index and waist circumference during the study period (P for trend <0.05). However, there was no significant association between the higher score of this diet with 3‐year changes in lipid profiles.ConclusionAdherence to the DASH diet was associated with decreased risk of central and general obesity, whereas higher DASH diet score was not associated with risk of dyslipidaemia in adolescents.
The Effect of Anti‐Discrimination Policies on Middle Eastern and North African Immigrants in 24 European Countries
Authors: Kislev Elyakim 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn light of the new wave of immigrants and asylum seekers from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to Europe, this article investigates some of the challenges of the previous phases of immigration of MENA immigrants in order to propose how best to address the needs of the new one. In particular, this article looks at the relationship between different types of anti‐discrimination policy and the levels of perceived discrimination among first‐ and second‐generation MENA immigrants to Europe. This research uses hierarchical models to integrate data from the European Social Survey (ESS) and the Migrant Integration Policy Index. Findings show that enforcement mechanisms are most efficient in reducing feelings of discrimination among veteran and second‐generation MENA immigrants, while broad and well defined anti‐discrimination policies are highly effective among newcomers.
Geographic and racial representation and reported success rates of studies of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: Findings from the SMASH‐AF meta‐analysis study cohort
Authors: Leef George C. , Perino Alexander C. , Cluckey Andrew , Yunus Fahd N. , Askari Mariam , Heidenreich Paul A. , Narayan Sanjiv M. , Wang Paul J. , Turakhia Mintu P. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIntroductionWe performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis of geographic and racial representation and reported success rates of studies of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods and resultsWe searched PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from 1/1/1990 to 8/1/2016 for trials and observational studies reporting AF ablation outcomes. Major exclusion criteria were insufficient reporting of outcomes, non‐English language articles, and ablation strategies that were not prespecified and uniform. We described geographic and racial representation and single‐procedure ablation success rates by country, controlling for patient demographics and study design characteristics. The analysis cohort included 306 studies (49,227 patients) from 28 countries. Over half of the paroxysmal (PAF) and nonparoxysmal AF (NPAF) treatment arms were conducted in 5 and 3 countries, respectively. Reporting of race or ethnicity demographics and outcomes were rare (1 study, 0.3%) and nonexistent, respectively. Unadjusted success rates by country ranged from 63.5% to 83.0% for PAF studies and 52.7% to 71.6% for NPAF studies, with substantial variation in patient demographics and study design. After controlling for covariates, South Korea and the United States had higher PAF ablation success rates, with large residual heterogeneity. NPAF ablation success rates were statistically similar by country.ConclusionsStudies of AF ablation have substantial variation in patient demographics, study design, and reported outcomes by country. There is limited geographic representation of trials and observational studies of AF ablation and a paucity of race‐ or ethnicity‐stratified results. Future AF ablation studies and registries should aim to have broad representation by race, geography, and ethnicity to ensure generalizability.
Effects of d‐galactose‐induced ageing on the heart and its potential interventions
Authors: Bo‐Htay Cherry , Palee Siripong , Apaijai Nattayaporn , Chattipakorn Siriporn C. , Chattipakorn Nipon 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAgeing is a strong independent risk factor for disability, morbidity and mortality. Post‐mitotic cells including those in the heart are a particular risk to age‐related deterioration. As the occurrence of heart disease is increasing rapidly with an ageing population, knowledge regarding the mechanisms of age‐related cardiac susceptibility and possible therapeutic interventions needs to be acquired to prevent advancing levels of heart disease. To understand more about the ageing heart, numerous aged animal models are being used to explore the underlying mechanisms. Due to time‐consuming for investigations involving naturally aged animals, mimetic ageing models are being utilized to assess the related effects of ageing on disease occurrence. d‐galactose is one of the substances used to instigate ageing in various models, and techniques involving this have been widely used since 1991. However, the mechanism through which d‐galactose induces ageing in the heart remains unclear. The aim of this review was to comprehensively summarize the current findings from in vitro and in vivo studies on the effects of d‐galactose‐induced ageing on the heart, and possible therapeutic interventions against ageing heart models. From this review, we hope to provide invaluable information for future studies and based on the findings from experiments involving animals, we can inform possible therapeutic strategies for the prevention of age‐related heart diseases in clinical settings.
Genome‐wide scan for circulating vascular adhesion protein‐1 levels: MACROD2 as a potential transcriptional regulator of adipogenesis
Authors: Chang Yi‐Cheng , Hee Siow‐Wey , Lee Wei‐Jei , Li Hung‐Yuan , Chang Tien‐Jyun , Lin Ming‐Wei , Hung Yi‐Jen , Lee I‐Te , Hung Kuan‐Yi , Assimes Themistocles , Knowles Joshua W , Nong Jiun‐Yi , Lee Po‐Chu , Chiu Yen‐Feng , Chuang Lee‐Ming 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAims/IntroductionVascular adhesion protein‐1 (VAP‐1) is a membrane‐bound amine oxidase highly expressed in mature adipocytes and released into the circulation. VAP‐1 has been strongly implicated in several pathological processes, including diabetes, inflammation, hypertension, hepatic steatosis and renal diseases, and is an important disease marker and therapeutic target. Here, we aimed to identify the genetic loci for circulating VAP‐1 levels.Materials and MethodsWe carried out a genomic‐wide linkage scan for the quantitative trait locus of circulating VAP‐1 levels in 1,100 Han Chinese individuals from 398 families in the Stanford Asian Pacific Program for Hypertension and Insulin Resistance study. Regional association fine mapping was carried out using additional single‐nucleotide polymorphisms.ResultsThe estimated heritability of circulating VAP‐1 levels is high (h2 = 69%). The most significant quantitative trait locus for circulating VAP‐1 was located at 38 cM on chromosome 20, with a maximum empirical logarithm of odds score of 4.11 (P = 6.86 × 10−6) in females. Regional single‐nucleotide polymorphism fine mapping within a 1‐unit support region showed the strongest association signals in the MACRO domain containing 2 (MACROD2) gene in females (P = 5.38 × 10−6). Knockdown of MACROD2 significantly suppressed VAP‐1 expression in human adipocytes, as well as the expression of key adipogenic genes. Furthermore, MACROD2 expression was found to be positively associated with VAP‐1 in human visceral adipose tissue.ConclusionMACROD2 is a potential genetic determinant of serum VAP‐1 levels, probably through transcriptional regulation of adipogenesis.