bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of dermoscopy on melanoma detection in the practice of dermatologists in Europe: results of a pan‐European survey
Authors: Forsea A.M. , Tschandl P. , Zalaudek I. , del Marmol V. , Soyer H.P. ,   Eurodermoscopy Working Group, Argenziano G. , Geller A.C. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBackgroundDermoscopy is a widely used technique that can increase the sensitivity and specificity of melanoma detection. Information is lacking on the impact of dermoscopy use on the detection of melanoma in the real‐life practice of European dermatologists.ObjectiveTo identify factors that influence the benefit of using dermoscopy for increasing melanoma detection and lowering the number of unnecessary biopsies in the practice of European dermatologists.MethodsWe conducted a survey of dermatologists registered in 32 European countries regarding the following: the demographic and practice characteristics, dermoscopy training and use, opinions on dermoscopy and the self‐estimated impact of dermoscopy use on the number of melanomas detected and the number of unnecessary biopsies performed in practice.ResultsValid answers were collected for 7480 respondents, of which 6602 reported using dermoscopy. Eighty‐six per cent of dermoscopy users reported that dermoscopy increased the numbers of melanomas they detected, and 70% reported that dermoscopy decreased the number of unnecessary biopsies of benign lesions they performed. The dermatologists reporting these benefits were more likely to have received dermoscopy training during residency, to use dermoscopy frequently and intensively, and to use digital dermoscopy systems and pattern analysis compared to dermatologists who did not perceive any benefit of dermoscopy for the melanoma recognition in their practice.ConclusionsImproving dermoscopy training, especially during residency and increasing access to digital dermoscopy equipment are important paths to enhance the benefit of dermoscopy for melanoma detection in the practice of European dermatologists.
Clostridium butyricum B1 alleviates high‐fat diet‐induced steatohepatitis in mice via enterohepatic immunoregulation
Authors: Zhou Da , Pan Qin , Liu Xiao‐Lin , Yang Rui‐Xu , Chen Yuan‐Wen , Liu Chang , Fan Jian‐Gao 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBackground and AimEnterohepatic immunologic derangement is associated with non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis. Here, we investigated whether Clostridium butyricum B1 (CB) would be an effective immune‐targeted substance to attenuate steatohepatitis in mice.MethodsThirty mice were randomized into a control group fed with common forage, a high‐fat diet (HFD) group fed an HFD for 16 weeks, and an HFD + CB group treated with CB for the latter 8 weeks. Inflammation‐associated or metabolism‐associated genes in the liver or epididymal fat tissue were quantified; intrahepatic and intestinal immune factors were detected. Further short‐chain fatty acids in the cecal contents or liver were measured, and differentiations of T cells in vitro were analyzed.ResultsCharacteristics of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis in the HFD group were obvious and were significantly attenuated in the HFD + CB group. The messenger RNA levels of monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 and tumor necrosis factor‐α in the liver and epididymal fat tissue were increased in the HFD group compared with the control group and were downregulated in the HFD + CB group. Intrahepatic and intestinal interferon‐γ and interleukin (IL)‐17 were significantly increased, whereas forkhead box P3, IL‐4, and IL‐22 were significantly decreased in the HFD group compared with the control group. However, these intrahepatic or intestinal immune changes were reversed after CB intervention. Furthermore, butyrate in the cecal content and liver of the HFD + CB group was significantly elevated. An in vitro investigation showed that sodium butyrate promoted CD4+ T cell differentiation into Th2, Th22, or Treg, whereas it inhibited CD4+ T cell differentiation into Th1 or Th17 under a cytokine milieu, which was mimicked by Trichostatin A.ConclusionClostridium butyricum B1 could attenuate HFD‐induced steatohepatitis in mice partially through butyrate‐induced enterohepatic immunoregulation.
Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Function in Healthy Horses and in Horses with Heart Disease Using Pulsed‐Wave Tissue Doppler Imaging
Authors: Koenig T.R. , Mitchell K.J. , Schwarzwald C.C. 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundAssessment of left ventricular (LV) function by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is not well established in horses with heart disease.ObjectivesTo describe the use of pulsed‐wave (PW) TDI for the assessment of LV function, establish reference intervals, investigate effects of mitral regurgitation (MR), aortic regurgitation (AR), and primary myocardial disease (MD), and provide proof of concept for the use of PW TDI in Warmblood horses with heart disease.AnimalsThirty healthy horses, 38 horses with MR, 25 with AR, 8 with MD.MethodsEchocardiograms were retrospectively analyzed. Reference intervals were calculated. PW TDI indices of healthy horses and horses with MR, AR, and MD were compared by one‐way ANOVA and Dunnett's test.ResultsA complete set of PW TDI variables could be obtained in 94 of 101 horses. Variables corresponding to isovolumic intervals were most difficult to measure. Valvular regurgitation influenced variables describing isovolumic contraction and ejection. Horses with MD had significantly shortened ETm(−118.5 [−154.1 to −82.9] ms; mean difference [95% CI of difference of means]), increased PEPm/ETm(0.11 [0.05 to 0.17]), prolonged IMPm(0.28 [0.18 to 0.37]), increasedS1(8.9 [5.2 to 12.6] cm/s), and decreasedE1(−2.6 [−4.7 to −0.5] cm/s),Em(−14.2 [−19.9 to −8.5] cm/s), andEm/Amratio (−1.6 [−2.6 to −0.6]).Conclusions and Clinical ImportancePulsed‐wave TDI might be useful for detection of LV dysfunction in horses with primary MD. The clinical value of TDI in horses with MR and AR remains uncertain.
Real‐Time 3‐Dimensional Echocardiographic Assessment of Effective Regurgitant Orifice Area in Dogs With Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease
Authors: Tidholm A. , Bodegård‐Westling A. , Höglund K. , Häggström J. , Ljungvall I. 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundEffective regurgitant orifice area (EROA), calculated from the vena contracta width (VCW) as the narrowest portion of the proximal regurgitant jet, might be used to estimate severity of mitral regurgitation. However, this simplified assumption only holds when the EROA is circular, which might not be true in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD).HypothesisEffective regurgitant orifice area in dogs with MMVD is noncircular, and using color Doppler real‐time 3‐dimensional (RT3D) echocardiography, measured EROA in the en face view will be significantly different from calculated EROA.AnimalsHundred and fifty‐eight privately owned dogs with naturally occurring MMVD.Materials and MethodsProspective observational study comparing en face view of EROA with calculated EROA using VCW in 4‐chamber (4Ch) and 2‐chamber (2Ch) view only or combined 4Ch and 2Ch views using RT3D echocardiography.ResultsThe calculated EROA using the 2Ch view showed a systematic underestimation of 17% compared with the measured en face EROA corrected for body surface area. The calculated EROA using 4Ch and 4Ch + 2Ch views showed less agreement with the en face EROA, and the difference between methods increased with increasing EROA. The difference between calculated and measured EROA showed a systematic underestimation of the calculated EROA by 36% (4Ch) and 33% (4Ch + 2Ch), respectively, compared to measured en face EROA.Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceWhen replacing measured EROA with calculated EROA using VCW measurements, the 2Ch view is preferred in dogs with MMVD.
Public Attitudes toward Fiscal Consolidation: Evidence from a Representative German Population Survey
Authors: Hayo Bernd , Neumeier Florian 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThe poor state of public finances in many countries has led to calls for fiscal consolidation. In practice, implementing concrete consolidation measures appears to meet with public resistance, suggesting that the success of consolidation efforts strongly depends on the popularity of the chosen measures. To identify public attitudes toward fiscal consolidation and alternative consolidation measures, we conducted a survey among 2,000 German citizens. Applying ordered and multinominal logit models, we test theory‐based hypotheses about the determinants of individual attitudes toward public debt. We find that, inter alia, personal economic situation, time preferences, fiscal illusion, and trust in politicians exert a significant impact on attitudes toward fiscal consolidation and preferences for alternative consolidation measures.
Shear‐induced platelet aggregation and distribution of thrombogenesis at stenotic vessels
Authors: Kamada Hiroki , Imai Yohsuke , Nakamura Masanori , Ishikawa Takuji , Yamaguchi Takami 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTObjectiveSIPA, which is mediated by vWF, is a key mechanism in arterial thrombosis under an abnormally high shear rate of blood flow. We investigated the influence of SIPA on thrombogenesis, focusing on alterations in blood flow at stenotic vessels.MethodsWe carried out a computer simulation of thrombogenesis in stenotic vessels at three different injury positions (ie, upstream, apex, and downstream of the stenosis) to evaluate the effect of SIPA.ResultsThe results demonstrated that thrombus volume increased downstream of the stenosis. In particular, growth was enhanced significantly as blood flow velocity and severity of stenosis increased. The influence of SIPA was induced by continuous exposure to high shear rate; thus, SIPA had a greater effect from the apex to downstream of the stenosis along the vessel wall. The asymmetry of the impact of SIPA contributed to the distribution of the thrombus. Furthermore, we found that the degree of SIPA was prolonged in a stenotic vessel with a distal injury, whereas it was moderate with thrombus growth in a nonstenosed vessel. This occurred because platelets and vWF that underwent a high shear rate around the apex were transported to the region downstream of the stenosis.ConclusionsThese results suggest that thrombus formation downstream of the stenosis is easily affected by SIPA and hemodynamics.
The use of methadone to facilitate opioid weaning in pediatric critical care patients: a systematic review of the literature and meta‐analysis
Authors: Dervan Leslie A. , Yaghmai Beryl , Watson Robert Scott , Wolf Fredric M. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryBackgroundContinuous opioid infusion therapy is commonly utilized in the pediatric intensive care setting to treat pain and facilitate tolerance of invasive therapies. Transitioning to methadone is one common strategy for weaning from continuous opioid infusions, but in practice this transition can be challenging, and many children still experience iatrogenic withdrawal.AimWe reviewed the literature to evaluate the best available evidence to guide methadone therapy in this setting, and to summarize associated adverse events.MethodsWe included all studies of methadone used to facilitate weaning from continuous opioid infusions in pediatric critical care patients, including medical, cardiac, and surgical patients, excluding case reports and studies treating neonatal abstinence syndrome, or acute or chronic pain. Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases from inception to May 2015 were queried; references of included works and conference proceedings were also reviewed. Two authors independently extracted data from each study. Meta‐analysis with fixed‐ and random‐effects models was used to pool results of studies when applicable.ResultsTwelve studies involving 459 patients met criteria for inclusion. A wide variety of methadone dosing and taper strategies were reported. Mean inpatient methadone taper times varied widely, from 4.3 to 26.2 days. Excessive sedation was the most frequently reported adverse event, occurring in up to 16% of patients. Withdrawal occurred in 27% of patients among studies reporting this outcome. In three of three studies in which a new methadone protocol was introduced, a decreased proportion of patients experienced withdrawal (standardized mean difference, SMD = −0.60, 95% CI = −0.998 to −0.195, P = 0.004).ConclusionWe did not identify sufficient evidence to recommend any particular methadone weaning strategy, or to recommend methadone over other medications or prescribed infusion weaning, for successful weaning of continuous opioid infusions in the pediatric intensive care setting.
Undifferentiated embryonic cell transcription factor 1 (UTF1) and deleted in azoospermia‐like (DAZL) expression in the testes of donkeys
Authors: Lee YS , Jung HJ , Yoon MJ 
Published: January 2017

ContentsPutative markers for each specific germ cell stage can be a useful tool to study the fate and functions of these cells. Undifferentiated embryonic cell transcription factor 1 (UTF1) is a putative marker for undifferentiated spermatogonia in humans, rats and horses. The deleted in azoospermia‐like (DAZL) protein is also expressed by differentiated spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes in several species. However, whether the expression patterns of these molecular markers are identical and applicable to donkeys remains to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of UTF1 and DAZL in donkey testicular tissue, using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Testicular samples were collected from routine field castration of donkeys in Korea. The reproductive stages (pre‐ or post‐puberty) of the testes were determined from the morphological characteristics of cross‐sections of the seminiferous tubules. For IHC, the UTF1 and DAZL primary antibodies were diluted at 1:100 and 1:200, respectively. The immunolabelling revealed that UTF1 was expressed in approximately 50% of spermatogonia in the pre‐pubertal stage, whereas its expression was limited to an early subset of spermatogonia in the post‐pubertal stage. DAZL was expressed in some, but not all, spermatogonia in the pre‐pubertal spermatogonia, and interestingly, its expression was also observed in spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes in the post‐pubertal stage. Co‐immunolabelling of the germ cells with both UTF1 and DAZL revealed three types of protein expression patterns at both reproductive stages, namely UTF1 only, DAZL only and both UTF1 and DAZL. These protein molecules were not expressed in Sertoli and Leydig cells. In conclusion, a co‐immunolabelling system with UTF1 and DAZL antibodies may be used to identify undifferentiated (UTF1 only), differentiating (UTF1 and DAZL), and differentiated spermatogonia (DAZL only) in donkey testes.
Reproductive performance of breeder quails fed diets supplemented with L‐cysteine‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Mohammadi H , Farzinpour A , Vaziry A 
Published: January 2017

ContentsThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of L‐cysteine‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles on reproductive performance in breeder quails. The five treatment diets consisted of (i) negative control diet not supplemented with iron, (ii) positive control diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg of Fe3O4 and (iii) experimental diets supplemented with 0.6, 6 and 60 mg/kg of L‐cysteine‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles. A total of 100 seven‐day‐old quail chicks were weighed and randomly placed to five groups of five replicate cages. Four quails (one male and three females) were raised in each cage (50 × 15 × 17 cm). Egg production, feed consumption and egg weight were recorded daily and calculated on a hen per day basis. Egg components, fertility, hatchability and day‐old chicks hatched from their eggs were measured at the end of the experiment. The percentage of egg production and egg mass of the 6 mg/kg Fe3O4‐Cys NPs group were significantly higher than those of the control groups. Throughout the experimental period, the highest weekly egg weight was recorded for the 60 mg/kg Fe3O4‐Cys NPs group. Fertility was improved by diet supplemented with iron, both FeSO4 and Fe3O4‐Cys NPs. The breeder fed Fe3O4‐Cys NPs had the highest day‐old chicks weight. The results of this study showed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles that were coated by L‐cysteine could improve availability and utilization of iron in diet. Finally, it was proposed that Fe3O4‐Cys NPs could be used as feed additives in quails.
Lack of effects of an equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) administration between days 9 and 15 postpartum on reproductive performance in a Holstein dairy herd
Authors: Freick M , Passarge O , Weber J 
Published: January 2017

ContentsRecently, it has been demonstrated that administration of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) in the postpartum period in dairy cows can enhance follicle growth, reduce the interval from calving to first ovulation and increase plasma estradiol concentrations, and, thus, could enhance reproductive performance in a dairy herd when administered on day 6 postpartum. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a single dose of eCG between days 9 and 15 postpartum on parameters of reproductive performance in dairy cows. German Holstein cows (n = 1937; primiparous cows: n = 748; pluriparous cows: n = 1189) in a commercial dairy farm were randomly assigned to three experimental groups. Animals within the group eCG received a single dose of 600 IU eCG intramuscularly (i.m.) between days 9 and 15 postpartum followed by an i.m. administration of 500 μg cloprostenol after 14 days. Those of treatment group PG received cloprostenol only between days 23 and 29 postpartum. Cows of the control group remained untreated. Starting on day 49 postpartum, cows were subjected to a Presynch‐Ovsynch protocol and inseminated artificially. The impact of application time (days postpartum) of eCG on the intervals calving to first service and calving to conception was statistically not significant. Outcomes of reproductive performance (i.e. first service conception rate, proportion of pregnant cows until 100 and 150 days in milk [DIM], number of inseminations until 150 DIM, calving to first service interval and calving to conception interval) did not differ significantly between treatment group eCG and group PG compared to control group. Regarding postpartum eCG administration, significant interactions between treatment and parity, season, milk yield, and early puerperal disorders, respectively, could not be shown. In conclusion, an eCG treatment of dairy cows between days 9 and 15 postpartum to increase reproductive performance cannot be recommended under the given circumstances.
Breadth of T Cell Responses After Immunization with Adenovirus Vectors Encoding Ancestral Antigens or Polyvalent Papillomavirus Antigens
Authors: Ragonnaud E. , Pedersen A. G. , Holst P. J. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractOncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are in most cases eliminated by intervention of T cells. As many other pathogens, these oncogenic HPVs belong to an ancient and diverse virus family. Therefore, we found it relevant to investigate the potential and limitations of inducing a broad response—either by inducing cross‐reactive T cells or by administering a polyvalent vaccine. To test these strategies, we designed three ancestral and two circulating sequences based on the two domains of the E1 and E2 proteins of papillomaviruses (PVs) that exhibit the highest degree of conservation in comparison with the other PV proteins. The PV sequences were fused to a T cell adjuvant, the murine invariant chain and encoded in a recombinant adenoviral vector which was administered to naïve outbred mice. By measuring T cell responses induced by these different vaccines and towards peptide pools representing three circulating strains and a putative ancestor of oncogenic HPVs, we showed that the ancestral vaccine antigen has to be approximately 90% identical to the circulating PVs before a marked drop of ~90% mean CD8+ T cell responses ensues. Interestingly, the combination of two or three type‐specific PV vaccines did not induce a significant decrease in the CD8+ T cell response to the individual‐targeted PV types. Polyvalent HPV vaccine based on the E1 and E2 proteins seem to be capable of triggering responses towards more than one type of PV while the cross‐reactivity of ancestral vaccine seems insufficient in consideration of the sequence diversity between HPV types.
Integrated omics analysis of specialized metabolism in medicinal plants
Authors: Rai Amit , Saito Kazuki , Yamazaki Mami 
Published: January 2017

SummaryMedicinal plants are a rich source of highly diverse specialized metabolites with important pharmacological properties. Until recently, plant biologists were limited in their ability to explore the biosynthetic pathways of these metabolites, mainly due to the scarcity of plant genomics resources. However, recent advances in high‐throughput large‐scale analytical methods have enabled plant biologists to discover biosynthetic pathways for important plant‐based medicinal metabolites. The reduced cost of generating omics datasets and the development of computational tools for their analysis and integration have led to the elucidation of biosynthetic pathways of several bioactive metabolites of plant origin. These discoveries have inspired synthetic biology approaches to develop microbial systems to produce bioactive metabolites originating from plants, an alternative sustainable source of medicinally important chemicals. Since the demand for medicinal compounds are increasing with the world's population, understanding the complete biosynthesis of specialized metabolites becomes important to identify or develop reliable sources in the future. Here, we review the contributions of major omics approaches and their integration to our understanding of the biosynthetic pathways of bioactive metabolites. We briefly discuss different approaches for integrating omics datasets to extract biologically relevant knowledge and the application of omics datasets in the construction and reconstruction of metabolic models.
Decentralising and integrating HIV services in community-based health systems: a qualitative study of perceptions at macro, meso and micro levels of the health system
Authors: Otiso Lilian , McCollum Rosalind , Mireku Maryline , Karuga Robinson , de Koning Korrie , Taegtmeyer Miriam 
Published: January 2017

IntroductionHIV services at the community level in Kenya are currently delivered largely through vertical programmes. The funding for these programmes is declining at the same time as the tasks of delivering HIV services are being shifted to the community. While integrating HIV into existing community health services creates a platform for increasing coverage, normalising HIV and making services more sustainable in high-prevalence settings, little is known about the feasibility of moving to a more integrated approach or about how acceptable such a move would be to the affected parties.MethodsWe used qualitative methods to explore perceptions of integrating HIV services in two counties in Kenya, interviewing national and county policymakers, county-level implementers and community-level actors. Data were recorded digitally, translated, transcribed and coded in NVivo10 prior to a framework analysis.ResultsWe found that a range of HIV-related roles such as counselling, testing, linkage, adherence support and home-based care were already being performed in the community in an ad hoc manner. However, respondents expressed a desire for a more coordinated approach and for decentralising the integration of HIV services to the community level as parallel programming had resulted in gaps in HIV service and planning. In particular, integrating home-based testing and counselling within government community health structures was considered timely.ConclusionsIntegration can normalise HIV testing in Kenyan communities, integrate lay counsellors into the health system and address community desires for a household-led approach.