bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circulating microRNA signature of steroid‐induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head
Authors: Li Zheng , Jiang Chao , Li Xingye , Wu William K.K. , Chen Xi , Zhu Shibai , Ye Chanhua , Chan Matthew T.V. , Qian Wenwei 
Published: December 2017

AbstractObjectivesSteroid‐induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common orthopaedic disease of which early detection remains clinically challenging. Accumulating evidences indicated that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) plays vital roles in the development of several bone diseases. However, the association between circulating miRNAs and steroid‐induced ONFH remains elusive.Materials and methodsmiRNA microarray was performed to identify the differentially abundant miRNAs in the serums of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with steroid‐induced ONFH as compared with SLE control and healthy control group. We predicted the potential functions of these differentially abundant miRNAs using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses and reconstructed the regulatory networks of miRNA‐mRNA interactions.ResultsOur data indicated that there were 11 differentially abundant miRNAs (2 upregulated and 9 downregulated) between SLE‐ONFH group and healthy control group and 42 differentially abundant miRNAs (14 upregulated and 28 downregulated) between SLE‐ONFH group and SLE control group. We also predicted the potential functions of these differentially abundant miRNAs using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses and reconstructed the regulatory networks of miRNA‐mRNA interactions.ConclusionsThese findings corroborated the idea that circulating miRNAs play significant roles in the development of ONFH and may serve as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.
Pharmacogenetic Analysis of the Model‐Based Pharmacokinetics of Five Anti‐HIV Drugs: How Does This Influence the Effect of Aging?
Authors: Chen Jingxian , Akhtari Farida S. , Wagner Michael J. , Suzuki Oscar , Wiltshire Tim , Motsinger‐Reif Alison A. , Dumond Julie B. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAnalysis of aging and pharmacogenetics (PGx) on antiretroviral pharmacokinetics (PKs) could inform precision dosing for older human HIV‐infected patients. Seventy‐four participants receiving either atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/RTV) or efavirenz (EFV) with tenofovir/emtricitabine (TFV/FTC) provided PK and PGx information. Aging‐PGx‐PK association and interaction analyses were conducted using one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple linear regression, and Random Forest ensemble methods. Our analyses associated unbound ATV disposition with multidrug resistance protein (MRP)4, RTV with P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp), and EFV with cytochrome P450 (CYP)2B6 and MRP4 genetic variants. The clearance and cellular distribution of TFV were associated with P‐gp, MRP2, and concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNTs), and FTC parameters were associated with organic cation transporters (OCTs) and MRP2 genetic variants. Notably, p16INK4a expression, a cellular aging marker, predicted EFV and FTC PK when genetic factors were adjusted. Both age and p16INK4a expression interacted with PGx on ATV and TFV disposition, implying potential dose adjustment based on aging may depend on genetic background.
The Advantage of Natural Farming as an Eco‐Friendly Way of Living: Practice and Discourse on the “Learners’ Fields” in Fukuoka, Japan
Authors: Fukuda Kaoru 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis article is based on participant‐observation research among a small group of people who practice Natural Farming (Shizennō) in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Natural Farming differs from organic farming in that practitioners do not plow the land, use fertilizers or agrochemicals, or try to eliminate weeds and insects. The members of the group chose this method primarily to improve self‐sufficiency in an ecological way, but they were also attracted to the way of life working closely with and “in harmony with” nature. This research reveals that, although the productivity of Natural Farming per land area is about the same as that of mainstream organic farming, the higher labor intensity hinders commercialization. The absence of commercial intention, however, appears to be an “advantage” that makes Natural Farming easy to start for laypersons. Above all, Natural Farming gives practitioners not only an improved self‐sufficiency, but a feeling that they are getting to know the essence of nature.
Contiguous verrucous proliferations in syringocystadenoma papilliferum: A retrospective analysis with additional evaluation via mutation‐specific BRAFV600E immunohistochemistry
Authors: Friedman Ben J. , Sahu Joya , Solomides Charalambos C. , Connolly Deirdre M. , Lee Jason B. 
Published: December 2017

BackgroundSyringocystadenoma papilliferum (SCAP) is an uncommon cutaneous adnexal proliferation. There have been several reports describing collision lesions of SCAP and verruca, although little is known about the frequency of this association. Molecular testing has revealed the BRAFV600E mutation in a large proportion of SCAP cases, although its expression pattern has not been previously evaluated.MethodsIn this retrospective analysis, we explored the potential histopathological association between verruca and SCAP. We also evaluated mutation‐specific BRAFV600E expression in these lesions by immunohistochemistry. Cases of SCAP diagnosed over a 7‐year period were closely reviewed for the presence of contiguous verrucous proliferations. Additional sections were cut and stained using the BRAFV600E‐specific clone VE1 antibody.ResultsContiguous verrucous proliferations were identified in 9 out of 12 identified cases. Furthermore, expression of the BRAFV600E mutation was identified in 7 out of 12 cases. Interestingly, in SCAP associated with endophytic verrucous proliferations (n = 4), expression of BRAFV600E was found in both the glandular and the contiguous hyperplastic squamous epithelium.ConclusionOverall, these findings suggest that contiguous verrucous proliferations in SCAP are common. Both components of the neoplasm may express the BRAFV600E mutation, which is suggestive of a common origin.
Use and effectiveness of a fixed‐ratio combination of insulin degludec/liraglutide (IDegLira) in a real‐world population with type 2 diabetes: Results from a European, multicentre, retrospective chart review study
Authors: Price Hermione , Blüher Matthias , Prager Rudolf , Phan Tra‐Mi , Thorsted Brian L. , Schultes Bernd ,   for the EXTRA study group
Published: December 2017

AimsTo describe the real‐world use and effectiveness of IDegLira, a fixed‐ratio combination of the basal insulin degludec, and the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) liraglutide.Materials and MethodsThis European, multicentre, retrospective chart review comprised adults (n = 611) with type 2 diabetes, who started IDegLira ≥6 months before data collection. Clinical characteristics were assessed at baseline (defined as the most recent recording during the 6 months before the first IDegLira prescription) and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (± 45 days for each time point) after commencing IDegLira, where data were available.ResultsBaseline regimens included non‐injectable medications (19%), basal insulin (19%), GLP‐1RA (10%), free combination therapy (insulin/GLP‐1RA, 24%) and multiple daily‐dose insulin injections (MDI, 28%), all ± oral antidiabetic drugs. After 6 months, significant glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) reductions were observed in patients overall and in all subgroups (−10 mmol/mol [−0.9%] overall; P < .0001), and a significant reduction in mean body weight (−0.7 kg; P < .05) was observed in patients overall and in patients receiving MDI (−2.4 kg; P < .0001). The mean IDegLira dose was 22, 30 and 32 dose steps at initiation, and at 6 and 12 months follow‐up, respectively. In total, only 67 patients reached the maximum 50 dose steps, with most coming from the free combination therapy (n = 31) or MDI (n = 15) baseline regimen groups. Hypoglycaemia rates were reduced by 82% (rate ratio 0.18; P < .0001) in the 6‐month period after vs before IDegLira initiation. Overall, a total of 12 patients experienced 15 events in the 6 months after IDegLira initiation.ConclusionIn real‐world practice, after 6 months and at a moderate dose, IDegLira resulted in substantial reductions in HbA1c and body weight, with a reduced risk of hypoglycaemia.
Reversibility of myocardial metabolism and remodelling in morbidly obese patients 6 months after bariatric surgery
Authors: Hannukainen Jarna C. , Lautamäki Riikka , Pärkkä Jussi , Strandberg Marjatta , Saunavaara Virva , Hurme Saija , Soinio Minna , Dadson Prince , Virtanen Kirsi A. , Grönroos Tove , Forsback Sarita , Salminen Paulina , Iozzo Patricia , Nuutila Pirjo 
Published: December 2017

AimsTo study myocardial substrate uptake, structure and function, before and after bariatric surgery, to clarify the interaction between myocardial metabolism and cardiac remodelling in morbid obesity.MethodsWe studied 46 obese patients (age 44 ± 10 years, body mass index [BMI] 42 ± 4 kg/m2), including 18 with type 2 diabetes (T2D) before and 6 months after bariatric surgery and 25 healthy age‐matched control group subjects. Myocardial fasting free fatty acid uptake (MFAU) and insulin‐stimulated myocardial glucose uptake (MGU) were measured using positron‐emission tomography. Myocardial structure and function, and myocardial triglyceride content (MTGC) and intrathoracic fat were measured using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.ResultsThe morbidly obese study participants, with or without T2D, had cardiac hypertrophy, impaired myocardial function and substrate metabolism compared with the control group. Surgery led to marked weight reduction and remission of T2D in most of the participants. Postoperatively, myocardial function and structure improved and myocardial substrate metabolism normalized. Intrathoracic fat, but not MTGC, was reduced. Before surgery, BMI and MFAU correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy, and BMI, age and intrathoracic fat mass were the main variables associated with cardiac function. The improvement in whole‐body insulin sensitivity correlated positively with the increase in MGU and the decrease in MFAU.ConclusionsIn the present study, obesity and age, rather than myocardial substrate uptake, were the causes of cardiac remodelling in morbidly obese patients with or without T2D. Cardiac remodelling and impaired myocardial substrate metabolism are reversible after surgically induced weight loss and amelioration of T2D.
Postnatal separation prevents the development of prenatal stress‐induced anxiety in association with changes in oestrogen receptor and oxytocin immunoreactivity in female mandarin vole (Microtus mandarinus) offspring
Authors: He Fengqin , Wang Zijian , Guo Guanlin 
Published: December 2017

AbstractOestrogen has both anxiogenic and anxiolytic effects because of variation in opposing action on alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) estrogen receptors in the medial preoptic area (mPOA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and medial amygdala (MeA). Oxytocin (OT) reverses some of the anxiogenic effects of oestrogen in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON). Because anxiety disorders are twice as common in women as in men, and oestrogen and OT are more important in females, we examined interactions between prenatal restraint stress (GS) and postnatal early short‐term maternal separation (MS) and female mandarin vole behaviour, estrogen receptors and OT. The results show that adult female offspring from GS/noMS mothers showed increased anxiety in open‐field and elevated plus‐maze tests and had lower serum 17‐beta‐oestradiol (E2) levels than female offspring from GS/MS, noGS/MS and noGS/noMS mothers. GS/noMS females had more immunoreactive neurons for ERα in several brain regions and less ERβ‐ and OT‐immunoreactive neurons in brain areas compared to GS/MS, noGS/MS and noGS/noMS offspring. Interestingly, noGS/MS and GS/MS offspring were similar to noGS/noMS offspring in that they did not develop anxiety as adults. We propose that MS alters the serum concentration of E2 and that the ERβ/ERα ratio and OT level in the brain may be responsible for the decrease in anxiety‐like behaviour in adult female offspring initially exposed to anxiety‐inducing conditions via an adverse foetal environment.
Atypical presentations of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors
Authors: Stark Jessica , Friedman Elliott , Thompson Stephen , Von Allmen Gretchen , Bhattacharjee Meenakshi , Tandon Nitin 
Published: December 2017

SummaryDysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNETs) are World Health Organization grade 1 neoplasms, typically present as isolated cortical lesions with no associated edema. We present 3 rare cases of DNETs that were atypical in location (all were subcortical and 1 was bilateral), 2 of which displayed substantial growth over time. All 3 cases presented with seizures that were not well controlled on medications, followed by a successful cure of the epilepsy when these lesions were removed. These cases uniquely illustrate that DNETs can be present throughout the brain and may generate seizures even in a subcortical location, possibly due to containing neurons with the potential for aberrant microcircuitry. The slow, nonmalignant proliferation of these lesions may engage epileptogenic networks, leading to the onset of seizures. These cases carry implications for the management of these surgically treatable lesions. Thus far, there have only been a handful of cases of growth reported in nonmalignant DNETs, and 2 of these cases displayed growth over the interval of monitoring.
Resident Fathers' Positive Engagement, Family Poverty, and Change in Child Behavior Problems
Authors: Lee Jin‐kyung , Schoppe‐Sullivan Sarah J. 
Published: December 2017

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of fathers' positive engagement as a protective factor in the development of children's behavior problems and whether this buffering effect differs by family poverty status.BackgroundChildren who have behavior problems at early ages are more likely to show persistent behavior problems over time. Fathers' roles in the development and persistence of child behavior problems have been less investigated than mothers' roles.MethodLongitudinal survey data from 762 constant‐resident‐father families participating in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study were used. Mothers reported on children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems when the focal child was 5 and 9 years of age, and fathers reported on their frequency of positive engagement with children at child age 5. Data were analyzed using moderated moderation regression analyses.ResultsChildren living in greater family poverty at age 5 showed more internalizing and externalizing behavior problems at age 9, but greater positive engagement by fathers weakened the association between family poverty and children's later behavior problems. Moreover, fathers' positive engagement appeared to disrupt continuity in internalizing behavior problems from early to middle childhood for children in families living below the poverty level.ConclusionFathers' positive engagement may serve as a protective factor for children's social–emotional development.ImplicationsEmphasizing fathers' positive engagement in prevention and intervention programs designed to lower children's risk for behavior problems may have potential value.
Inhibition of spinal p38 MAPK prevents articular neutrophil infiltration in experimental arthritis via sympathetic activation
Authors: Kanashiro Alexandre , Franchin Marcelo , Bassi Gabriel Shimizu , Reis Santana Dênis Augusto , Cunha Thiago Mattar , Cunha Fernando Queiróz , Ulloa Luis , Rodrigues Gerson Jonathan 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe central nervous system controls the innate immunity by modulating efferent neuronal networks. Recently, we have reported that central brain stimulation inhibits inflammatory responses. In the present study, we investigate whether spinal p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) affects joint inflammation in experimental arthritis. Firstly, we observed that intra‐articular administration of zymosan in mice induces the phosphorylation of the spinal cord p38 MAPK. In addition, we demonstrated that spinal p38 MAPK inhibition with intrathecal injection of SB203580, a conventional and well‐characterized inhibitor, prevents knee joint neutrophil recruitment, edema formation, experimental score and cytokine production. This local anti‐inflammatory effect was completely abolished with chemical sympathectomy (guanethidine) and beta‐adrenergic receptors blockade (nadolol). In conclusion, our results suggest that pharmacological strategies involving the modulation of spinal p38 MAPK circuit can prevent joint inflammation via sympathetic networks and beta‐adrenoceptors activation.
Output Growth Decomposition in the Presence of Input Quality Effects: A Stochastic Frontier Approach
Authors: Rim Limam Yasmina , Garzarelli Giampaolo , Miller Stephen M. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHow do physical capital accumulation and total factor productivity (TFP) individually add to economic growth? We approach this question from the perspective of the quality of physical capital and labor, namely the age of physical capital and human capital. We build a unique dataset by explicitly calculating the age of physical capital for each country and each year of our time frame and estimate a stochastic frontier production function incorporating input quality in five regions of countries (Africa, East Asia, Latin America, South Asia and West). Physical capital accumulation generally proves much more important than either the improved quality of factors or TFP growth in explaining output growth. The age of capital decreases growth in all regions except in Africa, while human capital increases growth in all regions except in East Asia.
In situ evaluation of surface roughness and micromorphology of temporary soft denture liner materials at different time intervals
Authors: Araújo Célio U. , Basting Roberta T. 
Published: December 2017

ObjectiveTo perform an in situ evaluation of surface roughness and micromorphology of two soft liner materials for dentures at different time intervals.BackgroundThe surface roughness of materials may influence the adhesion of micro‐organisms and inflammation of the mucosal tissues. The in situ evaluation of surface roughness and the micromorphology of soft liner materials over the course of time may present results different from those of in vitro studies, considering the constant presence of saliva and food, the changes in temperature and the pH level in the oral cavity.Materials and methodsForty‐eight rectangular specimens of each of the two soft liner materials were fabricated: a silicone‐based material (Mucopren Soft) and an acrylic resin‐based material (Trusoft). The specimens were placed in the dentures of 12 participants (n = 12), and the materials were evaluated for surface roughness and micromorphology at different time intervals: 0, 7, 30 and 60 days. Roughness (Ra) was evaluated by means of a roughness tester. Surface micromorphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.ResultsAnalysis of variance for randomised block design and Tukey's test showed that surface roughness values were lower in the groups using the silicone‐based material at all the time intervals (P < .0001). The average surface roughness was higher at time interval 0 than at the other intervals, for both materials (P < .0001). The surface micromorphology showed that the silicone material presented a more regular and smoother surface than the acrylic resin‐based material.ConclusionThe surface roughness of acrylic resin‐based and silicone‐based denture soft liner materials decreased after 7 days of evaluation, leading to a smoother surface over time. The silicone‐based material showed lower roughness values and a smoother surface than the acrylic resin‐based material, thereby making it preferred when selecting more appropriate material, due its tendency to promote less biofilm build‐up.
A comparison of perennial ryegrass‐ and tall fescue‐based swards with or without a cropping component for dairy production: Animal production, herbage characteristics and financial performance from a 3‐year farmlet trial
Authors: Lee J. M. , Clark D. A. , Clark C. E. F. , Waugh C. D. , Roach C. G. , Minneé E. M. K. , Glassey C. B. , Woodward S. L. , Woodfield D. R. , Chapman D. F. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPerennial ryegrass/white clover swards have some limitations in temperate grazed dairying systems. This study tested the hypothesis that farmlets based on alternative species would be equally or more profitable than those perennial ryegrass‐based, and would produce more herbage in summer‐dry conditions. Six farmlets were established; three with perennial ryegrass‐ and three with tall fescue‐based swards. For each grass species, one farmlet was solely based on grass‐clover swards while the other two had either chicory‐red clover or lucerne crops planted on 20%–25% of the area. Animal‐ and herbage performance‐related variables were measured for 3 years, and calculated financial performance was evaluated. Using tall fescue improved total annual herbage yield compared with perennial ryegrass, but animal production and operating profit were lower. This was likely due to the reduced yield and nutritive value of tall fescue during spring and an associated decline in daily milksolids production. The deficit in spring milksolids production was never recovered, despite greater herbage production from tall fescue during summer/autumn. Incorporating chicory‐red clover or lucerne crops reduced both annual herbage and milksolids production. This reduced farm income, while increasing operating expenses as the farmlets required crop renewal and more purchased supplementary feed to maintain feed supply. Under the conditions of this study (i.e., partial irrigation, high nitrogen supply), changing the forage base from perennial ryegrass to tall fescue did not improve animal production or profitability, nor did incorporation of crops on 20%–25% of the farmlet area.