bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A phase I trial investigating pulsatile erlotinib in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in advanced biliary tract cancers
Authors: Goff Laura W. , Cardin Dana B. , Whisenant Jennifer G. , Du Liping , Koyama Tatsuki , Dahlman Kimberly B. , Salaria Safia N. , Young Ruth T. , Ciombor Kristen K. , Gilbert Jill , Smith Stephen James , Chan Emily , Berlin Jordan 
Published: November 2016

SummaryAdvanced biliary tract cancers (ABTC) are among the deadliest malignancies with limited treatment options after progression on standard-of-care chemotherapy, which includes gemcitabine (GEM) and oxaliplatin (OX). The epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor erlotinib has been explored in ABTC with modest efficacy. Erlotinib given continuously may antagonize the action of chemotherapy against cycling tumor cells, but pulsatile dosing of erlotinib with chemotherapy may improve efficacy. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of pulsatile erlotinib with GEMOX. This was a single-institution phase Ib study that enrolled adult patients with unresectable or metastatic biliary tract, pancreas, duodenal, or ampullary carcinomas that have not received any prior treatment for their disease. Dose escalation followed a standard 3 + 3 design, and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were any treatment-related, first course non-hematologic grade ≥ 3 toxicity, except nausea/vomiting, or grade 4 hematologic toxicity. A dose expansion cohort in ABTC was treated at the MTD. Twenty-eight patients were enrolled and 4 dose levels were explored. The MTD was erlotinib 150 mg + GEM 800 mg/m2 + OX 85 mg/m2. DLTs were diarrhea and anemia. Most frequent toxicities were nausea (78 %), fatigue (71 %), neuropathy (68 %), and diarrhea (61 %), predominantly grade 1–2. In the ABTC patients, the objective response and disease control rates were 29 % and 94 %, respectively, and median overall survival was 18 months. Erlotinib plus GEMOX was well tolerated. Encouraging anti-tumor activity was seen as evidenced by a high disease control rate and longer median OS than standard chemotherapy in the patients with ABTC.
My Identical Twin Sequenced our Genome
Authors: Schilit Samantha L.P. , Schilit Nitenson Arielle 
Published: November 2016

AbstractWith rapidly declining costs, whole genome sequencing is becoming feasible for widespread use. Although cost‐effectiveness is driving increased use of the technology, comprehensive recommendations on how to handle ethical dilemmas have yet to reach a consensus. In this article, Sam shares her experience of undergoing whole genome sequencing. Despite the deeply private nature of the test, the results do not solely belong to Sam; her identical twin sister, Arielle, shares virtually the same genome and received results without a formal consent process. This article explores their parallel experiences as a way of highlighting the controversial ethics of a private test with familial implications.
Non‐conjugated cis/trans 18:2 in Beef Fat are Mainly Δ‐9 Desaturation Products of trans‐18:1 Isomers
Authors: Vahmani P. , Rolland D. C. , Gzyl K. E. , Dugan M. E. R. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractHuman liver cells (HepG2) were cultured with individual trans (t) 18:1 including t6‐, t12‐, t13‐, t14‐, t15‐ and t16‐18:1, and retention times of their Δ‐9 desaturation products were determined using 100‐m biscyanopropyl‐polysiloxane and SLB‐IL111 columns. Corresponding peaks were found in beef adipose tissues known to have different delta‐9 desaturase activities. Further lines of evidence indicating the presence of Δ‐9 desaturation products of t‐18:1 isomers in beef fat were developed by analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) fractionated using Ag+‐TLC, and by GC/MS. Some of the Δ‐9 desaturation products of t‐18:1 have been previously identified in ruminant fat (c9, t12‐ and c9, t13‐18:2). Some of the Δ‐9 desaturation products of t‐18:1 (c9, t14‐ and c9, t15‐18:2) have been previously tentatively identified as different fatty acids, and for the first time we provide evidence of the presence of c9, t16‐18:2, and where t6, c9‐18:2 may elute during analysis of FAME from beef fat.
Lipid Rafts Promote trans Fatty Acid‐Induced Inflammation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Pan Yao , Liu Benxin , Deng Zeyuan , Fan Yawei , Li Jing , Li Hongyan 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe effects of two fatty acids, oleic acid (OLA) and elaidic acid (ELA) on normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and non‐rafts HUVEC were investigated in this study. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1 and IL‐6) were analyzed. Western blot was used to analyze the expression levels of inflammation‐related proteins (NF‐κB, ERK1/2) and toll‐like receptors 4 (TLR4). The results showed that the levels of nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 were significantly decreased only in non‐lipid rafts cells pretreated with trans fatty acid (TFA). The expression of TLR4 in the ELA‐treated normal cells was higher than that in non‐lipid rafts HUVEC. When the lipid rafts was destroyed by methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, the levels of nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65, phosphorylated ERK1/2 and TLR4 were decreased significantly. Therefore, lipid rafts may be involved in TFA induced‐inflammation in HUVEC through blocking the inflammatory signal pathway. Lipid rafts might be a platform for specific receptors such as TLR4 for TFA to activate the pro‐inflammation on cell membranes.
Development of Rigorous Fatty Acid Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy Quantitation Methods in Support of Soybean Oil Improvement
Authors: Karn Avinash , Heim Crystal , Flint‐Garcia Sherry , Bilyeu Kristin , Gillman Jason 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe mature seeds of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) are a valuable source of high‐quality edible lipids and protein. Despite dramatic breeding gains over the past 80 years, soybean oil continues to be oxidatively unstable, due to a high proportion of polyunsaturated triacylglycerols. Until recently, the majority of soybean oil underwent partial chemical hydrogenation. Mounting health concerns over trans fats, however, has increased breeding efforts to introgress mutant and biotechnological genetic alterations of soybean oil composition into high‐yielding lines. As a result, there is an ongoing need to characterize fatty acid composition in a rapid, inexpensive and accurate manner. Gas chromatography is the most commonly used method, but near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) can be calibrated to non‐destructively phenotype various seed compositions accurately and at a high throughput. Here we detail development of NIRS calibrations using intact seeds for every major soybean fatty acid breeding goal over an unprecedented range of oil composition. The NIRS calibrations were shown to be equivalent to destructive chemical analysis, and incorporation into a soybean phenotyping operation has the potential to dramatically reduce cost and accelerate phenotypic analysis.
Intensification of IDegAsp Twice Daily (Adding Insulin Aspart vs. Switching To Basal–Bolus): Exploratory Randomized Trial in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Bebakar Wan Mohamaed Wan , Chaykin Louis , Hersløv Malene Lundgren , Rasmussen Søren 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Introduction
In a preceding trial comparing two different titration schemes, insulin degludec/insulin aspart (IDegAsp) showed good efficacy for achieving HbA1c <7% when administered twice daily (BID) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, poor glycemic control persisted in a minority of patients. The current exploratory trial investigated the efficacy and safety of intensifying IDegAsp BID treatment in these patients by either adding a once-daily (OD) bolus injection of insulin aspart (IAsp) or by switching to a basal–bolus regimen of insulin degludec (IDeg) plus IAsp taken three times a day (TID).

Method
A 26-week, randomized, open-label, phase 3b, treat-to-target trial in which 40 patients with T2D who had not reached target HbA1c ≤7.0% following previous 26-week treatment intensification with IDegAsp BID ±3 oral antidiabetic agents (OADs) were randomized (1:1) to receive IDegAsp BID + IAsp OD (n = 20) or IDeg OD + IAsp TID (n = 20).

Results
Mean baseline HbA1c was 7.9% in the IDegAsp BID + IAsp OD group and 7.7% in the IDeg OD + IAsp TID group. After 26 weeks, the estimated mean change in HbA1c from baseline was 0.05% points in the IDegAsp BID + IAsp OD group and −0.49% points for IDeg OD + IAsp TID: estimated treatment difference (ETD) [95% confidence interval] 0.54% [0.09; 0.99], p = 0.021. Few achieved HbA1c <7% in IDegAsp BID + IAsp OD (four patients) and IDeg OD + IAsp TID groups (five patients). Fasting plasma glucose, hypoglycemia, and adverse events were similar between groups.

Conclusion
When used as intensification regimens in patients who failed to achieve target HbA1c during 26-week IDegAsp BID treatment, HbA1c improvements were numerically greater with IDeg OD + IAsp TID compared with IDegAsp BID + IAsp OD. No new safety issues were identified. However, the small, selective sample means clinical generalizations should be made with caution.

Funding
Novo Nordisk.

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier
NCT01814137.
A Multifaceted Approach to Reduction of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in the Intensive Care Unit With an Emphasis on “Stewardship of Culturing”
Authors: Mullin Katherine M. , Kovacs Christopher S. , Fatica Cynthia , Einloth Colette , Neuner Elizabeth A. , Guzman Jorge A. , Kaiser Eric , Menon Venu , Castillo Leticia , Popovich Marc J. , Manno Edward M. , Gordon Steven M. , Fraser Thomas G. 
Published: November 2016

BACKGROUNDCatheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Reducing CAUTI rates has become a major focus of attention due to increasing public health concerns and reimbursement implications.OBJECTIVETo implement and describe a multifaceted intervention to decrease CAUTIs in our ICUs with an emphasis on indications for obtaining a urine culture.METHODSA project team composed of all critical care disciplines was assembled to address an institutional goal of decreasing CAUTIs. Interventions implemented between year 1 and year 2 included protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for placement, maintenance, and removal of catheters. Leaders from all critical care disciplines agreed to align routine culturing practice with American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCCM) and Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) guidelines for evaluating a fever in a critically ill patient. Surveillance data for CAUTI and hospital-acquired bloodstream infection (HABSI) were recorded prospectively according to National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) protocols. Device utilization ratios (DURs), rates of CAUTI, HABSI, and urine cultures were calculated and compared.RESULTSThe CAUTI rate decreased from 3.0 per 1,000 catheter days in 2013 to 1.9 in 2014. The DUR was 0.7 in 2013 and 0.68 in 2014. The HABSI rates per 1,000 patient days decreased from 2.8 in 2013 to 2.4 in 2014.CONCLUSIONSEffectively reducing ICU CAUTI rates requires a multifaceted and collaborative approach; stewardship of culturing was a key and safe component of our successful reduction efforts.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:186–188
Pregnancy and bipolar disorder: the risk of recurrence when discontinuing treatment with mood stabilisers: a systematic review
Authors: Larsen Erik Roj , Saric Kristina 
Published: November 2016

ObjectiveBipolar disorder in pregnancy may be difficult to treat. The dilemma is whether the women should continue medication throughout pregnancy, and maybe accept a minor risk to harm their unborn child, or discontinue medication and increase the risk of recurrence, which can lead to maternal morbidity, thereby endangering themselves and their foetus.Design and methodsIn September 2016, three electronic search databases; PubMed, Scopus and PsycInfo, were used searching for clinical trials concerning this question. Eight clinical trials concerning risk of recurrence after discontinuation of medication in pregnancy were included.ResultsThere is no consensus concerning the risk of discontinuation of medication during pregnancy among bipolar women. The evidence from the trials included underscore that there seem to be a group of pregnant women who are stable despite they are not receiving mood stabilisers during pregnancy. Besides, there is a group of more severe and more unstable bipolar disorders that seem to benefit of a more close monitoring, support and prophylactic medication during pregnancy and postpartum period to prevent recurrence.ConclusionFor the more stable bipolar women we recommend a well planned and more slowly discontinuation of medication before pregnancy. For the unplanned pregnancies it is important to consider the possibility of a more slowly discontinuation. For the more severe conditions of bipolar disorder, it is important to secure a close monitoring of medication. As the risk of postpartum relapse is high, medication may be started soon after delivery.
Larval digenean preferences in two sympatric snail species at differing tidal levels off the Atlantic coast of Patagonia
Authors: Di Giorgio G. , Gilardoni C. , Bagnato E. , Cremonte F. , Ituarte C. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractLarval stages of the trematodesMaritrema madrynenseand Hemiuroidea fam. gen. et sp. differentially parasitizedSiphonaria lessoniiandS. lateralis, two sympatric pulmonate snail species on the rocky intertidal shore at Puerto Deseado, south-western Atlantic coast of Patagonia, Argentina. Snail specimens were collected at two sampling sites with contrasting physical–chemical characteristics. One site, in the upper intertidal, was exposed to sewage from fish-processing plants, greater hydrodynamic forcing and desiccation, a wider temperature range, longer exposure to ultraviolet radiation and higher abundance of birds. The second site, in the lower intertidal, was generally characterized by less stressful environmental conditions. At both sites,S. lateralisshowed a markedly higher density thanS. lessonii(55.13 vs. 5.87 snails/m2, respectively). Despite this, the prevalence of both digeneans was higher inS. lessonii(17.37% and 3.52% forM. madrynenseand Hemiuroidea, respectively) than inS. lateralis(0.09% and 0% forM. madrynenseand Hemiuroidea, respectively). This study demonstrates high parasite specificity for the host. Low densities ofS. lessoniiare attributed to castration of parasitized hosts and reduction of their physiological condition. The prevalence and intensity of infection of both digenean parasites were higher at the more stressful, upper intertidal site, thus suggesting that a higher abundance of birds and exposure to sewage pollution may promote the transmission of trematodes.
The Impact of Cross-border Integration with Mainland China on Hong Kong's Local Politics: The Individual Visit Scheme as a Double-edged Sword for Political Trust in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong Kevin Tze-wai , Zheng Victor , Wan Po-san 
Published: November 2016

AbstractUsing official statistics and a pooled dataset of longitudinal surveys, the aim of this article is to examine the impact of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) on political trust in Hong Kong. Our multilevel analysis found that the gradual inflow of IVS visitors (mostly overnight visitors) increased political trust in the first few years, but that this trust rapidly diminished in later years, especially after the introduction of the one-year multiple-entry IVS endorsement (which attracted mostly same-day visitors). The main reason for the reduction in the positive impact of the IVS scheme is that the growth in the number of same-day visitors has contributed less to Hong Kong's economy than has the increase in the number of overnight visitors, and has exacerbated several social problems. The impact of mainland visitors has varied across groups with different levels of education. The political trust of people with a senior secondary education has been enhanced more by the increase in overnight visitors and reduced less by the increase in same-day visitors than that of people with a tertiary level of education or a junior secondary education or below.
From coercion to compensation: institutional responses to labour scarcity in the Central African Copperbelt
Authors: JUIF DÁCIL , FRANKEMA EWOUT 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThere is a tight historical connection between endemic labour scarcity and the rise of coercive labour market institutions in former African colonies. This paper explores how European mining companies in the Belgian Congo and Northern Rhodesia secured scarce supplies of African labour, by combining coercive labour recruitment practices with considerable investments in living standards. By reconstructing internationally comparable real wages, we show that copper mine workers lived at barebones subsistence in the 1910s–1920s, but experienced rapid welfare gains from the mid-1920s onwards, to become among the best paid manual labourers in Sub-Saharan Africa from the 1940s onwards. We investigate how labour stabilization programs raised welfare conditions of mining worker families (e.g., medical care, education, housing quality) in the Congo, and why these welfare programs were more hesitantly adopted in Northern Rhodesia. By showing how solutions to labour scarcity varied across spaceandtime, we stress the need for dynamic conceptualizations of colonial institutions, as a counterweight to their oft supposed persistence in the historical economics literature.
Religion as a Peacemaker? Peace Duration after Ethnic Civil Wars
Authors: Gurses Mehmet , Rost Nicolas 
Published: November 2016

AbstractWhat role does religion play in preventing civil war from recurring? Politicians have proposed that when warring groups share the same religion, achieving a durable peace will be easier. We test this hypothesis empirically using a large-nsample of all ethnic civil wars that began and ended between 1950 and 2006, and a measure of co-religiosity between the ethnic group in power and the main opposition group. The analysis shows that there is no positive relationship between co-religiosity and the duration of post-civil war peace, showing that sharing the same religion may not help to bring about peace following an ethnic civil war. To the contrary, the closer religious ties, the less likely it is that peace will last after the end of the conflict, and the higher the risk that conflict will recur.
Eating Problems in Adolescents and Youths: Explanatory Variables
Authors: Maganto Carmen , Garaigordobil Maite , Kortabarria Lorea 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThis study had the following goals: (1) to analyze the differences between participants with and without risk of eating disorders (ED) in self-esteem, happiness, depression, anxiety, anger, and psychological variables related to ED; (2) to determine possible differences in the group at risk of ED on these variables as a function of sex; and (3) to determine which variables explain the risk of ED. Eight assessment instruments were administered to 1.075 participants (74.6% without risk of ED and 25.4% at risk). The results confirmed: (1) Significant differences such that the without-risk group scored higher on self-esteem and happiness, and lower on depression, anxiety, anger, ED-related variables, and perceived weight (large effect size: η2 = .49; r = .70); (2) Within the at-risk group, males scored higher on body self-esteem, general self-esteem, and anger-state, while females scored higher on perceived weight, state-trait depression, state-trait anxiety, inefficiency, interoceptive awareness, and asceticism (large effect size: η2 = .31; r = .56); and (3) The explanatory variables in both sexes were: for drive for thinness – perceived weight, inefficiency, and impulsivity; for bulimia – body self-esteem; and for body dissatisfaction – inefficiency, perceived weight, anxiety-trait, and happiness. The study provides relevant variables for designing ED prevention and/or treatment programs.
Lithium promotes DNA stability and survival of ischemic retinal neurocytes by upregulating DNA ligase IV
Authors: Yang Ying , Wu Nandan , Tian Sijia , Li Fan , Hu Huan , Chen Pei , Cai Xiaoxiao , Xu Lijun , Zhang Jing , Chen Zhao , Ge Jian , Yu Keming , Zhuang Jing 
Published: November 2016

AbstractNeurons display genomic fragility and show fragmented DNA in pathological degeneration. A failure to repair DNA breaks may result in cell death or apoptosis. Lithium protects retinal neurocytes following nutrient deprivation or partial nerve crush, but the underlying mechanisms are not well defined. Here we demonstrate that pretreatment with lithium protects retinal neurocytes from ischemia-induced damage and enhances light response in rat retina following ischemia–reperfusion injury. Moreover, we found that DNA nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair is implicated in this process because in ischemic retinal neurocytes, lithium significantly reduces the number of γ-H2AX foci (well-characterized markers of DNA double-strand breaks in situ) and increases the DNA ligase IV expression level. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that nuclear respiratory factor 1 (Nrf-1) and phosphorylated cyclic AMP-response element binding protein-1 (P-CREB1) bind to ligase IV promoter to cause upregulation of ligase IV in neurocytes. The ischemic upregulation of Nrf-1 and lithium-induced increase of P-CREB1 cooperate to promote transcription of ligase IV. Short hairpin RNAs against Nrf-1 and CREB1 could significantly inhibit the increase in promoter activity and expression of ligase IV observed in the control oligos following lithium treatment in retinal neurocytes. More importantly, ischemic stimulation triggers the expression of ligase IV. Taken together, our results thus reveal a novel mechanism that lithium offers neuroprotection from ischemia-induced damage by enhancing DNA NHEJ repair.
Dendritic cell-elicited B-cell activation fosters immune privilege via IL-10 signals in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ouyang Fang-Zhu , Wu Rui-Qi , Wei Yuan , Liu Rui-Xian , Yang Dong , Xiao Xiao , Zheng Limin , Li Bo , Lao Xiang-Ming , Kuang Dong-Ming 
Published: November 2016

AbstractB cells are prominent components of human solid tumours, but activation status and functions of these cells in human cancers remain elusive. Here we establish that over 50% B cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibit an FcγRIIlow/− activated phenotype, and high infiltration of these cells positively correlates with cancer progression. Environmental semimature dendritic cells, but not macrophages, can operate in a CD95L-dependent pathway to generate FcγRIIlow/− activated B cells. Early activation of monocytes in cancer environments is critical for the generation of semimature dendritic cells and subsequent FcγRIIlow/− activated B cells. More importantly, the activated FcγRIIlow/− B cells from HCC tumours, but not the resting FcγRIIhigh B cells, without external stimulation suppress autologous tumour-specific cytotoxic T-cell immunity via IL-10 signals. Collectively, generation of FcγRIIlow/− activated B cells may represent a mechanism by which the immune activation is linked to immune tolerance in the tumour milieu.