bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of laparoscopic resection of large niches in the uterine caesarean scar on symptoms, ultrasound findings and quality of life: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Vervoort AJMW , Vissers J , Hehenkamp WJK , Brölmann HAM , Huirne JAF 
Published: July 2017

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a laparoscopic niche resection on niche‐related symptoms and/or fertility‐related problems, ultrasound findings and quality of life.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingUniversity hospital.PopulationWomen with a large niche (residual myometrium <3 mm) and complaints of either postmenstrual spotting, dysmenorrhoea, intrauterine fluid accumulation and/or difficulties with embryo transfer due to distorted anatomy.MethodsWomen filled out questionnaires and a validated menstrual score chart at baseline and 6 months after the laparoscopic niche resection. At baseline and between 3 and 6 months follow up niches were evaluated by transvaginal ultrasound.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was reduction of the main problem 6 months after the intervention. Secondary outcomes were complications, menstrual characteristics, dysmenorrhoea, niche measurements, intrauterine fluid, surgical outcomes, satisfaction and quality of life.ResultsIn all, 101 women underwent a laparoscopic niche resection. In 80 women (79.2%) the main problem was improved or resolved. Postmenstrual spotting was significantly reduced by 7 days at 6 months follow up compared with baseline. Dysmenorrhoea and discomfort related to spotting was also significantly reduced. The residual myometrium was increased significantly at follow up. The intrauterine fluid was resolved in 86.9% of the women with intrauterine fluid at baseline; 83.3% of women were (very) satisfied. The physical component of quality of life increased, the mental component did not change.ConclusionsA laparoscopic niche resection reduced postmenstrual spotting, discomfort due to spotting, dysmenorrhoea and the presence of intrauterine fluid in the majority of women and increased the residual myometrium.Tweetable abstractLaparoscopic niche resection reduces niche‐related problems and enlarges the residual myometrium.
The functional potential and active populations of the pit mud microbiome for the production of Chinese strong‐flavour liquor
Authors: Tao Yong , Wang Xiang , Li Xiangzhen , Wei Na , Jin Hong , Xu Zhancheng , Tang Qinglan , Zhu Xiaoyu 
Published: July 2017

SummaryThe popular distilled Chinese strong‐flavour liquor (CSFL) is produced by solid fermentation in the ground pit. Microbes inhabiting in the pit mud (PM) on the walls of the fermentation pit are responsible for the production of caproic acid (CA) that determines the quality of CSFL to a large degree. However, little is known about the active microbial populations and metabolic potential of the PM microbiome. Here, we investigated the overall metabolic features of the PM microbiome and its active microbial components by combining metagenomics and MiSeq‐sequencing analyses of the 16S rRNA genes from DNA and RNA (cDNA). Results showed that prokaryotes were predominant populations in the PM microbiome, accounting for 95.3% of total metagenomic reads, while eukaryotic abundance was only 1.8%. The dominant prokaryotic phyla were Firmicutes, Euryarchaeota, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, accounting for 48.0%, 19.0%, 13.5%, 2.5% and 2.1% of total metagenomic reads respectively. Most genes encoding putative metabolic pathways responsible for the putative CA production via chain elongation pathway were detected. This indicated that the PM microbiome owned functional potential for synthesizing CA from ethanol or lactate. Some key genes encoding enzymes involved in hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis pathways were detected in the PM metagenome, suggesting the possible occurrence of interspecies hydrogen transfer between CA‐producing bacteria and methanogens. The 16S rDNA and 16S rRNA profiles showed that the Clostridial cluster IV, Lactobacillus, Caloramator, Clostridium, Sedimentibacter, Bacteroides and Porphyromonas were active populations in situ, in which Clostridial cluster IV and Clostridium were likely involved in the CA production. This study improved our understandings on the active populations and metabolic pathways of the PM microbiome involved in the CA synthesis in the CSFL fermentation.
A matter of hierarchy: activation of orfamide production by the post‐transcriptional Gac‐Rsm cascade of Pseudomonas protegens CHA0 through expression upregulation of the two dedicated transcriptional regulators
Authors: Sobrero Patricio Martín , Muzlera Andrés , Frescura Julieta , Jofré Edgardo , Valverde Claudio 
Published: July 2017

SummaryIn this work, we surveyed the genome of P. protegens CHA0 in order to identify novel mRNAs possibly under the control of the Gac‐Rsm cascade that might, for their part, serve to elucidate as‐yet‐unknown functions involved in the biocontrol of plant pathogens and/or in cellular processes required for fitness in natural environments. In view of the experimental evidence from former studies on the Gac‐Rsm cascade, we developed a computational screen supported by a combination of sequence, structural and evolutionary constraints that led to a dataset of 43 potential novel mRNA targets. We then confirmed several mRNA targets experimentally and next focused on two of the respective genes that are physically linked to the orfamide biosynthetic gene cluster and whose predicted open‐reading frames resembled cognate LuxR‐type transcriptional regulators of cyclic lipopeptide clusters in related pseudomonads. In this report, we demonstrate that in strain CHA0, orfamide production is stringently dependent on a functional Gac‐Rsm cascade and that both mRNAs encoding transcriptional regulatory proteins are under direct translational control of the RsmA/E proteins. Our results have thus revealed a hierarchical control over the expression of orfamide biosynthetic genes with the final transcriptional control subordinated to the global Gac‐Rsm post‐transcriptional regulatory system.
Impact of pre‐operative health‐related quality of life on outcomes after heart surgery
Authors: Norkienė Ieva , Urbanaviciute Indre , Kezyte Greta , Vicka Vaidas , Jovaisa Tomas 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundLong‐term improvement in health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) is one of the most important outcomes of cardiac surgery. The aim of this study is to define the impact of perioperative patient and procedural variables on HRQOL dynamics, a year after cardiac surgery.MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing elective on‐pump cardiac surgery were enrolled in this prospective observational cohort study. Patients completed the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) questionnaire a day before surgery and once again a year after surgery. The effect size method was used to determine whether treatment resulted in the improvement of HRQOL.ResultsA total of 67.3% of patients achieved long‐term improvement in HRQOL. Significant negative association was identified between Physical and Mental Component Summary scores (PCS/MCS) and long‐term outcomes. Pre‐operative PCS were 40.7 ± 13.7 for improvers and 56.6 ± 14.4 for non‐improvers; MCS were 45.8 ± 12.1 and 65.2 ± 13.7, respectively (P < 0.001 for all). There were no statistically significant differences in pre‐operative risk factors, demographics, operative factors or post‐operative variables between the two groups.ConclusionAmong those completing this study, one in three patients did not experience long‐term HRQOL improvements following cardiac surgery. Multivariate analysis confirmed that higher pre‐operative PCS and MCS are independent predictors of worse HRQOL a year after surgery. Further research should focus on establishing the prevalence of this phenomenon worldwide and develop targeted interventions to improve long‐term self‐perceived quality of life for patients with relatively good pre‐operative health.
Robotic mitral valve plasty for mitral regurgitation after blunt chest trauma in Barlow's disease
Authors: Ishikawa Norihiko , Watanabe Go , Tarui Tatsuya , Horikawa Takahumi , Seguchi Ryuta , Kiuchi Ryuta , Tomita Shigeyuki , Ohtake Hiroshi , Kawachi Kenji 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWe successfully treated a case of mitral regurgitation due to chest trauma in Barlow's disease. A 71‐year‐old man was admitted with severe mitral regurgitation after blunt compression of the chest by a heavy object 5 months earlier. Preoperative examination revealed wide chordae tendineae rupture and myxomatous changes to the bileaflets. Neo‐chordae reconstruction of the anterior mitral leaflet using loop technique, triangular resection of the posterior mitral leaflet, and ring annuloplasty was performed via surgical robot. Robotic mitral valve plasty for severe mitral regurgitation due to chest trauma in Barlow's disease was achieved safely with good clinical and excellent cosmetic results.
Cardiac vagal tone, a non‐invasive measure of parasympathetic tone, is a clinically relevant tool in Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Brock C. , Jessen N. , Brock B. , Jakobsen P. E. , Hansen T. K. , Rantanen J. M. , Riahi S. , Dimitrova Y. K. , Dons‐Jensen A. , Aziz Q. , Drewes A. M. , Farmer A. D. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimsTo compare a novel index of parasympathetic tone, cardiac vagal tone, with established autonomic variables and to test the hypotheses that (1) cardiac vagal tone would be associated with established time and frequency domain measures of heart rate and (2) cardiac vagal tone would be lower in people with Type 1 diabetes than in a matched healthy cohort and lower still in people with established neuropathy.MethodsCardiac vagal tone is a validated cardiometrically derived index of parasympathetic tone. It is measured using a standard three‐lead electrocardiogram which connects, via Bluetooth, to a smartphone application. A 5‐min resting recording of cardiac vagal tone was undertaken and observational comparisons were made between 42 people with Type 1 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy and 23 without peripheral neuropathy and 65 healthy people. In those with neuropathy, 24‐h heart rate variability values were compared with cardiac vagal tone. Correlations between cardiac vagal tone and clinical variables were also made.ResultsCardiac vagal tone was lower in people with established neuropathy and Type 1 diabetes in comparison with healthy participants [median (interquartile range) linear vagal scale 3.4 (1.6–5.5 vs 7.0 (5.5–9.6); P < 0.0001]. Cardiac vagal tone was positively associated with time (r = 0.8, P < 0.0001) and frequency domain markers of heart rate variability (r = 0.75, P < 0.0001), representing established measures of parasympathetic function. Cardiac vagal tone was negatively associated with age (r=–0.32, P = 0.003), disease duration (r=–0.43, P < 0.0001) and cardiovascular risk score (r=–0.32, P = 0.006).ConclusionsCardiac vagal tone represents a convenient, clinically relevant method of assessing parasympathetic nervous system tone, potentially facilitating the earlier identification of people with Type 1 diabetes who should undergo formal autonomic function testing.
Diabetes and risk of occupational injury: a cohort study
Authors: Kouvonen A. , Kivimäki M. , Pentti J. , Aalto V. , Oksanen T. , Virtanen M. , Vahtera J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimsTo investigate if diabetes is associated with a higher risk of occupational (workplace or commuting) injury.MethodsMedication data from the Finnish Prescription Register were used to identify diabetes cases in 2004 in a large employee cohort (the Finnish Public Sector study). These data were linked to injury records obtained from the Federation of Accident Insurance Institutions. A total of 1020 diabetes cases (median age 52 years, range 20 to 65 years; 66% women) and their 5234 age‐ and sex‐matched controls were followed up until 2011. Sex‐stratified Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for age, occupational status, obesity and health behaviours, were applied. Because of the small number of men in the cohort, injury types and locations were only examined among women.ResultsDuring the median follow‐up of 6.7 years, 25% of the participants with diabetes (n=252) and 20% of those without (n=1051) experienced an occupational injury. The association between diabetes and injury was stronger in women than men (P=0.048). Diabetes was associated with a higher risk of workplace (hazard ratio 1.37, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.69) and commuting (hazard ratio 1.36, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.79) injury in women. With regard to different injury types and locations, diabetes was associated with bone fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains, and injuries to upper and lower extremities. In men, there was an association between insulin‐treated diabetes and commuting injury (hazard ratio 3.14, 95% CI 1.52 to 6.49).ConclusionsDiabetes was associated with workplace and commuting injuries in women. Men with insulin‐treated diabetes had a higher risk of commuting injuries.
Prevalence and characteristics of paediatric Type 2 diabetes in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: O'Dea M. I. , O'Connell S. M. , O'Grady M. J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo establish the prevalence of paediatric Type 2 diabetes in the Republic of Ireland and describe patient demographics, initial presentation, management, outcomes, comorbidities and complications.MethodsUsing a standardized proforma we conducted a cross‐sectional survey of children and adolescents aged < 16 years with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes between October and December 2015 in each of the 19 centres in the Republic of Ireland responsible for the care of children with diabetes.ResultsTwelve cases of Type 2 diabetes were identified, giving a prevalence in children aged <16 years of 1.2/100 000 (95% CI 0.6 to 2). Six of these children (50%) were white, two (33%) of whom were members of the travelling community. Four (33%) were of black ethnicity. The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in traveller children was 16.1/100 000 (95% CI 1.9 to 58.1) and was similar to that in black children, a known high‐risk group, which was 13.3/100 000 (95% CI 3.6 to 34.1). The median current HbA1c value was 51 mmol/mol (6.8%) and four (33%) of the children achieved the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes target HbA1c of ≤48 mmol/mol (6.5%). Seven (59%) children were managed on metformin monotherapy, three (25%) were managed on insulin and metformin in combination, and two (16%) were receiving dietary management.ConclusionThis was the first national study to estimate the prevalence of childhood Type 2 diabetes in Ireland. Despite their white ethnicity, traveller children appear to be a high‐risk group, but this finding requires further study.
Effects of adding biochar on the properties and nitrogen bioavailability of an acidic soil
Authors: Wang Z. Y. , Chen L. , Sun F. L. , Luo X. X. , Wang H. F. , Liu G. C. , Xu Z. H. , Jiang Z. X. , Pan B. , Zheng H. 
Published: July 2017

Biochar has attracted global attention because of its widespread application to improve soil quality and enhance soil productivity. Five types of biochar were prepared from peanut shells at 200–600°C by slow pyrolysis, and their physicochemical properties were investigated. Biochar was produced at 300 and 400°C, PBC300 and PBC400, respectively. The two forms of biochar were evaluated as soil amendments with an incubation and a pot experiment in a soil that had become acidified because of excessive use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers. The PBC300 and PBC400 additions significantly decreased the soil bulk density and increased the pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil organic matter (SOM) content. Both types of biochar significantly decreased NH4+‐N and NO3−‐N contents as a result of N immobilization, reduced nitrification because of the enhanced microbial activity (determined by the fluorescein diacetate method) and reduced the abundance of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB). The growth of maize (Zea mays L.) was stimulated and, compared with the unamended soil, the biomass increased by 15.2–32.7% following the addition of PBC300 or PBC400. Maize root morphology (e.g. length and tips) and the properties of the rhizosphere soil (e.g. CEC and pH) were improved by the addition of biochar, leading to enhance N bioavailability by decreasing NAE (N accumulation efficiency) and increasing NUE (N utilization efficiency). In general, the ameliorating effects of PBC400 on the acidic soil were superior to those of PBC300. These results indicate that producing a specific type of biochar based on pyrolytic temperature might be an alternative strategy for selecting the most appropriate biochar for a specific soil.HighlightsBiochar was selected for an acidic soil based on the pyrolytic temperature.
Biochar decreased the soil bulk density and increased the soil pH, CEC and SOM.
Biochar slowed nitrification by decreasing the abundance of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB).
Adding biochar stimulated maize growth and improved N bioavailability.
Predictors of cognitive function in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma following stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation surgery
Authors: Sonoda Masaki , Masuda Hiroshi , Shirozu Hiroshi , Ito Yosuke , Akazawa Kohei , Asano Eishi , Kameyama Shigeki 
Published: July 2017

SummaryObjectiveTo determine the predictors of cognitive function in patients with drug‐resistant gelastic seizures (GS) related to hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) before and after stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation surgery (SRT).MethodsWe studied 88 patients with HH who underwentSRTbetween October 1997 and December 2014. Patients received neuropsychological tests preoperatively and postoperatively. Based on the preoperative measures, patients were categorized as “high‐functioning” (full‐scale intelligence quotient [FSIQ] ≥70; n = 48) and “low‐functioning” group (FSIQ<70; n = 40). Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses determined the clinical, electroencephalography (EEG), and imaging factors associated with preoperative cognitive function as well as postoperative cognitive change.ResultsEighty‐seven patients (98.8%) were followed postoperatively for an average of 3.3 years, and 75 (85.2%) of them achievedGSremission at the last hospital visit. Neuropsychological performance was significantly improved after surgery in both groups. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that a smallerHHsize (p = 0.002) and a smaller number of antiepileptic drugs (p < 0.001) were preoperatively associated with better neuropsychological performance. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that better postoperative improvement in cognition was associated with a shorter duration of epilepsy (p = 0.03).SignificanceCognitive impairment related to epileptic encephalopathy may improve followingSRTin substantial proportions ofHHpatients. Reduced improvement in postoperative cognitive function in patients with longer duration of epilepsy warrants further studies to determine if earlierSRTprovides a greater chance of postoperative cognitive improvement in patients withHH.
Natural diversity in vegetative and reproductive investments of perennial ryegrass is shaped by the climate at the place of origin
Authors: Barre P. , Ruttink T. , Muylle H. , Lootens P. , Sampoux J.‐P. , Rohde A. , Combes D. , Roldán‐Ruiz I. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIn forage grasses, vegetative and reproductive investments are major determinants of yield and persistence. A survey of the diversity of vegetative and reproductive investment traits was carried out on 213 perennial ryegrass genotypes, representing 51 natural European accessions. Plants were phenotyped for traits related to leaf elongation, tillering, reproductive investment and heading date, at two locations with markedly different climates. Strong genetic effects for all traits were found. Interactions between genotype and location were moderate. Plants showed stronger spring leaf growth, lower numbers of tillers and higher reproductive investments at Lusignan (France) than at Melle (Belgium). Plant growth rate and tillering capacity were genetically nearly independent suggesting breeding for both traits simultaneously and independently should be possible. A high genetic diversity was observed for all traits. This diversity was structured in three main clusters. One cluster comprised early‐flowering genotypes with high reproductive investments and high spring growth rates. The remaining genotypes fell into two clusters based on differences in tillering capacity. Clear links were found between traits and the climatic conditions of the region of origin of the accessions. Autumn growth rate was positively correlated with solar radiation at the region of origin in October and February.
Service user involvement in the coproduction of a mental health nursing metric: The Therapeutic Engagement Questionnaire
Authors: Chambers Mary , McAndrew Susan , Nolan Fiona , Thomas Ben , Watts Paul , Kantaris Xenya 
Published: July 2017

AbstractService users’ involvement in mental health service research is increasingly acknowledged as important, yet, whilst involving users of mental health services as research participants is commonplace, seeking out their experience and indeed their “expertise” to facilitate the development of tools to be used within mental health services is in its infancy. This article describes the involvement and views of service users in the development of a nursing metric—the Therapeutic Engagement Questionnaire. It presents their role in the three stages of development: generation, statement reduction and authentication.
The medline UK filter: development and validation of a geographic search filter to retrieve research about the UK from OVID medline
Authors: Ayiku Lynda , Levay Paul , Hudson Tom , Craven Jenny , Barrett Elizabeth , Finnegan Amy , Adams Rachel 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundA validated geographic search filter for the retrieval of research about the United Kingdom (UK) from bibliographic databases had not previously been published.ObjectivesTo develop and validate a geographic search filter to retrieve research about the UK from OVID medline with high recall and precision.MethodsThree gold standard sets of references were generated using the relative recall method. The sets contained references to studies about the UK which had informed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. The first and second sets were used to develop and refine the medline UK filter. The third set was used to validate the filter. Recall, precision and number‐needed‐to‐read (NNR) were calculated using a case study.ResultsThe validated medline UK filter demonstrated 87.6% relative recall against the third gold standard set. In the case study, the medline UK filter demonstrated 100% recall, 11.4% precision and a NNR of nine.ConclusionA validated geographic search filter to retrieve research about the UK with high recall and precision has been developed. The medline UK filter can be applied to systematic literature searches in OVID medline for topics with a UK focus.
Traces of the Trinity in the Old Testament: From Individual Texts to the Nature of Revelation
Authors: Huijgen Arnold 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis article uncovers traces of the Trinity in the Old Testament. Different from traditional exegesis, it is argued that alleged allusions to God's plurality in specific texts, and examples of personified agents such as the Angel of the Lord, are less important and often inconclusive. The nature of Old Testament ‘monotheism’, however, supports trinitarian logic, and important traces of the Trinity are demonstrated in in‐depth structures of Old Testament theology: the anthropomorphic character of revelation, the second commandment, God's name as narrative self‐identification and the tendency of God's coming to his people.