bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The anti‐ageing hormone klotho induces Nrf2‐mediated antioxidant defences in human aortic smooth muscle cells
Authors: Maltese Giuseppe , Psefteli Paraskevi‐Maria , Rizzo Benedetta , Srivastava Salil , Gnudi Luigi , Mann Giovanni E. , Siow Richard C.M. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractVascular ageing in conditions such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, is associated with the activation of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) and diminished expression of antioxidant defences mediated by the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2). The anti‐ageing hormone klotho promotes longevity and protects against cardiovascular and renal diseases. Klotho has been shown to activate Nrf2 and attenuate oxidative damage in neuronal cells, however, the mechanisms by which it protects against vascular smooth muscle cell VSMC dysfunction elicited by Angiotensin II (AngII) remain to be elucidated. AngII contributes to vascular ageing and atherogenesis by enhancing VSMC oxidative stress, senescence and apoptosis. This study demonstrates that soluble klotho (1 nM, 24 hrs) significantly induces expression of Nrf2 and the antioxidant enzymes haeme oxygenase (HO‐1) and peroxiredoxin‐1 (Prx‐1) and enhances glutathione levels in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC). Silencing of Nrf2 attenuated the induction of HO‐1 and Prx‐1 expression by soluble klotho. Furthermore, soluble klotho protected against AngII‐mediated HASMC apoptosis and senescence via activation of Nrf2. Thus, our findings highlight a novel Nrf2‐mediated mechanism underlying the protective actions of soluble klotho in HAMSC. Targeting klotho may thus represent a therapeutic strategy against VSMC dysfunction and cardiovascular ageing.
Clinical and dermoscopic clues to differentiate pigmented nail bands: an International Dermoscopy Society study
Authors: Benati E. , Ribero S. , Longo C. , Piana S. , Puig S. , Carrera C. , Cicero F. , Kittler H. , Deinlein T. , Zalaudek I. , Stolz W. , Scope A. , Pellacani G. , Moscarella E. , Piraccini B.M. , Starace M. , Argenziano G. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBackgroundLongitudinal melanonychia might be difficult to differentiate and the use of dermoscopy can be useful for the preoperative evaluation and management decision.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to investigate clinical and dermoscopic criteria of acquired longitudinal melanonychia in adults to identify the best predictors of melanoma using a multivariate analysis and to explore eventual new dermoscopic criteria for nail melanoma diagnosis.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, 82 histopathologically diagnosed, acquired nail pigmented bands were collected and examined. All variables were included in the analysis and examined as possible predictors of nail melanoma. Both univariate and multivariable analyses have been performed.ResultsAmong 82 cases, 25 were diagnosed as nail melanoma and 57 as benign lesions (including 32 melanocytic nevi and 25 benign melanocytic hyperplasia). Melanoma cases were significantly associated with a width of the pigmented band higher than 2/3 of the nail plate, grey and black colours, irregularly pigmented lines, Hutchinson and micro‐Hutchinson signs, and nail dystrophy. Granular pigmentation, a newly defined dermoscopic criterion, was found in 40% of melanomas and only in 3.51% of benign lesions.ConclusionsDermoscopic examination of longitudinal melanonychia provides useful information that could help clinicians to improve melanoma recognition.
Diaminodiphenylmethane Sensitization in north‐eastern Italy from 1996 to 2012
Authors: Zuliani F. , Prodi A. , Fortina A.B. , Corradin M.T. , Bovenzi M. , Filon F. Larese 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBackground4,4′‐Diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) is an aromatic amine used as a hardener, insulator and anticorrosive. Exposure implies risk of being sensitized and developing contact dermatitis.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of contact sensitization to DDM among patients with contact dermatitis and the role of occupational exposure.Patients and MethodsFrom 1996 to 2012, 24 056 consecutive patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis were patch tested in north‐eastern Italy. Individual characteristics were collected through a standardized questionnaire in eight departments of dermatology and occupational medicine.ResultsThe overall prevalence of DDM sensitization was 2.5% (n = 599) with a decreasing trend in considered years. Trieste area had the higher prevalence of sensitization (3.2%). Mechanics and chemical industry workers had a significant higher risk of being sensitized to DDM.ConclusionDDM sensitization is decreasing in years and is associated with some occupational exposures.
Comparing performance of 30‐day readmission risk classifiers among hospitalized primary care patients
Authors: Garrison Gregory M. , Robelia Paul M. , Pecina Jennifer L. , Dawson Nancy L. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesHospital readmission within 30 days of discharge occurs in almost 20% of US Medicare patients and may be a marker of poor quality inpatient care, ineffective hospital to home transitions, or disease severity. Within a patient centered medical home, care transition interventions may only be practical from cost and staffing perspectives if targeted at patients with the greatest risk of readmission. Various scoring algorithms attempt to predict patients at risk for 30‐day readmission, but head‐to‐head comparison of performance is lacking. Compare published scoring algorithms which use generally available electronic medical record data on the same set of hospitalized primary care patients.MethodsThe LACE index, the LACE+ index, the HOSPITAL score, and the readmission risk score were computed on a consecutive cohort of 26,278 hospital admissions. Classifier performance was assessed by plotting receiver operating characteristic curves comparing the computed score with the actual outcome of death or readmission within 30 days. Statistical significance of differences in performance was assessed using bootstrapping techniques.ResultsCorrect readmission classification on this cohort was moderate with the following c‐statistics: Readmission risk score 0.666; LACE 0.680; LACE+ 0.662; and HOSPITAL 0.675. There was no statistically significant difference in performance between classifiers.ConclusionsLogistic regression based classifiers yield only moderate performance when utilized to predict 30‐day readmissions. The task is difficult due to the variety of underlying causes for readmission, nonlinearity, and the arbitrary time period of concern. More sophisticated classification techniques may be necessary to increase performance and allow patient centered medical homes to effectively focus efforts to reduce readmissions.
Better Global Assessment of Worker Inequality: Comment on “The Employment Footprints of Nations”
Authors: Reyes Rachel C. , Lenzen Manfred , Murray Joy 
Published: October 2016

SummaryThis commentary responds to the previously published Journal of Industrial Ecology article “The Employment Footprints of Nations: Uncovering Master‐Servant Relationships” by Alsamawi and colleagues. Their article uses extended input‐output analysis to calculate employment and income footprints and, consequently, quantifies and provides an analysis of the average wages embodied in consumption of countries in comparison with the wages received by domestic workers. In effect, Alsamawi and colleagues show the extent of inequality in labor income, especially between developed and developing economies, traced throughout the global supply chains, but ignore the price differentials existing between countries in their discussion of the welfare implications of global trade on workers. This commentary contends the appropriateness of adjusting nominal compensation of workers to purchasing power parity (PPP) when undertaking global comparisons that pertain to well‐being and recalculates the employment footprints and income footprints of nations with PPP adjustment. The price adjustment in this work is intended to show a more accurate depiction of the disparity among workers of different nations when their labor incomes are deflated by the index price of consumption goods in their country. Using observations covering 189 countries and 14,839 sectors for the period 1990–2011, the results of the adjustment reveal that the ratio of domestic wages to foreign wages paid in support of a country's consumption (footprint wages) tends to be underestimated for labor‐exporting countries (developing economies with relatively cheaper consumption goods) and overestimated for labor‐importing countries (developed economies with more expensive consumption goods), thus demonstrating, generally, relatively less income inequality than previously exposed.
Widespread brain transcriptome alterations underlie the neuroprotective actions of dietary saffron
Authors: Skladnev Nicholas V. , Ganeshan Varshika , Kim Ji Yeon , Burton Thomas J. , Mitrofanis John , Stone Jonathan , Johnstone Daniel M. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractDietary saffron has shown promise as a neuroprotective intervention in clinical trials of retinal degeneration and dementia and in animal models of multiple CNS disorders, including Parkinson's disease. This therapeutic potential makes it important to define the relationship between dose and protection and the mechanisms involved. To explore these two issues, mice were pre‐conditioned by providing an aqueous extract of saffron (0.01% w/v) as their drinking water for 2, 5 or 10 days before administration of the parkinsonian neurotoxin MPTP (50 mg/kg). Five days of saffron pre‐conditioning provided the greatest benefit against MPTP‐induced neuropathology, significantly mitigating both loss of functional dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta (p < 0.01) and abnormal neuronal activity in the caudate‐putamen complex (p < 0.0001). RNA microarray analysis of the brain transcriptome of mice pre‐conditioned with saffron for 5 days revealed differential expression of 424 genes. Bioinformatics analysis identified enrichment of molecular pathways (e.g. adherens junction, TNFR1 and Fas signaling) and expression changes in candidate genes (Cyr61, Gpx8, Ndufs4, and Nos1ap) with known neuroprotective actions. The apparent biphasic nature of the dose–response relationship between saffron and measures of neuroprotection, together with the stress‐inducible nature of many of the up‐regulated genes and pathways, lend credence to the idea that saffron, like various other phytochemicals, is a hormetic stimulus, with functions beyond its strong antioxidant capacity. These findings provide impetus for a more comprehensive evaluation of saffron as a neuroprotective intervention.
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A review of social disinhibition after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Osborne‐Crowley Katherine , McDonald Skye 
Published: October 2016

Acquired social disinhibition refers to a debilitating behavioural syndrome commonly reported after a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is characterized by inappropriate social behaviour, often described as immaturity and insensitivity towards others. These behaviours can have enduring effects on the social capability of the individual and their relationships with others. However, research into socially disinhibited behaviour after TBI has been thwarted by a lack of consensus in the literature on definition and measurement. This review provides an overview of our current understanding of the definition, measurement, prevalence, associated outcomes, neuropathology, and underlying mechanisms of social disinhibition after TBI. In addition, suggestions are made for future research to further our understanding of this syndrome with the eventual aim of rehabilitating problematic behaviours. It is concluded that an improved understanding of what causes disinhibited behaviour after TBI will be necessary for the development of effective treatment strategies aimed at the rehabilitation of underlying impairments.
Postural orthostatic tachycardia is not a useful diagnostic marker for chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Roerink M. E. , Lenders J. W. M. , Schmits I. C. , Pistorius A. M. A. , Smit J. W. , Knoop H. , van der Meer J. W. M. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBackgroundPostural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is considered a diagnostic marker for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to (i) compare POTS prevalence in a CFS cohort with fatigued patients not meeting CFS criteria, and (ii) assess activity, impairment and response to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in CFS patients with POTS (POTS‐CFS) and without POTS (non‐POTS‐CFS).MethodsProspective cohort study at the Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands. Between June 2013 and December 2014, 863 consecutive patients with persistent fatigue were screened. Patients underwent an active standing test, filled out questionnaires and wore an activity‐sensing device for a period of 12 days.ResultsA total of 419 patients with CFS and 341 non‐CFS fatigued patients were included in the study. POTS prevalence in adult patients with CFS was 5.7% vs. 6.9% in non‐CFS adults (P = 0.54). In adolescents, prevalence rates were 18.2% and 17.4%, respectively (P = 0.93). Adult patients with POTS‐CFS were younger (30 ± 12 vs. 40 ± 13 years, P = 0.001) and had a higher supine heart rate (71 ± 11 vs. 65 ± 9 beats per min, P = 0.009) compared with non‐POTS‐CFS patients. Severity and activity patterns did not differ between groups. In patients with CFS, criteria for Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID) were met in 76% of adults and 67% of adolescents. In these patients with CFS fulfilling the SEID criteria, the prevalence of POTS was not different from that in the overall CFS population. POTS‐CFS adolescents had less clinically significant improvement after CBT than non‐POTS‐CFS adolescents (58% vs. 88%, P = 0.017).ConclusionIn adults with CFS, the prevalence of POTS was low, was not different from the rate in non‐CFS fatigued patients and was not related to disease severity or treatment outcome. In POTS‐CFS adolescents, CBT was less successful than in non‐POTS‐CFS patients. The evaluation of POTS appears to be of limited value for the diagnosis of CFS.
Weekly job crafting and leisure crafting: Implications for meaning‐making and work engagement
Authors: Petrou Paraskevas , Bakker Arnold B. , van den Heuvel Machteld 
Published: October 2016

The present paper addresses two crafting strategies employees may display in different life domains in order to attain desired outcomes. On the one hand, job crafting is targeted at increasing social and structural job resources and challenging job demands. On the other hand, leisure crafting is the proactive pursuit of leisure activities targeted at goal setting, human connection, learning, and personal development. We hypothesized that job crafting relates positively to employee work engagement and meaning‐making, especially when occupational role salience is high. Furthermore, we hypothesized that leisure crafting relates positively to meaning‐making, especially when job crafting opportunities are low. Using a sample of 105 Dutch employees and a weekly survey with three measurements, we found support for most of our hypotheses. All job crafting dimensions related positively to work engagement when occupational role salience was high. Also, increasing structural resources related positively to meaning‐making when occupational role salience was high. Leisure crafting related positively to meaning‐making when job crafting opportunities were low. We discuss directions for future research on work and leisure, and suggest how employees and organizations may benefit by encouraging job and leisure crafting.Practitioner points

Employees can proactively build their own work engagement using job crafting, especially when they view their work as a source of personal satisfaction and development.

In workplaces where opportunities to craft are low, employees could focus on their leisure time as a source of meaning and self‐reflection.

Managers can empower and coach employees to proactively seek growth and self‐fulfilment both at work and outside work, via job crafting and leisure crafting.

Organizations and managers should encourage employees to flourish not only at work but also during leisure time, communicating that work and leisure are two life domains that can help and complement each other.
REGULATORY CAPTUREAND EFFICACYIN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Authors: Clark Steven P. , Marlett David C. , Neale Faith R. 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACTWe examine changes in workers’ compensation laws from 2003 to 2011 and their effect on insurer performance as measured by loss ratios and claim costs. We study changes to: length of temporary total loss indemnity, penalties on employees who do not comply with rehabilitation efforts, employer or employee choice of physician, and limits on attorney fees. We find differential effects among these reforms with the most robust being changes to limits on temporary total indemnity and penalties for workers who do not comply with rehabilitation efforts. We measure one effect of the political environment and find that appointing authority over the workers’ compensation board or committee significantly affects loss costs. Lastly, we find evidence of regulatory capture in workers’ compensation.
DOES LIMITING ALLOWABLE RATING VARIATION IN THE SMALL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET AFFECT EMPLOYER SELF‐INSURANCE?
Authors: Trish Erin , Herring Bradley 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACTThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) imposes adjusted community rating in the small group market, which employers can avoid by self‐insuring, raising concerns about adverse selection. We evaluate the impact of limiting allowable rating variation on employer self‐insurance across industries with varied health risk, using cross‐state variation in pre‐ACA rating regulations, the nationally representative 2008–2013 KFF/HRET Employer Health Benefits Survey, and a triple‐difference regression approach. We find that lower risk employers subject to laws limiting allowable premium rating variation have a predicted probability of self‐insurance that is about 18 percentage points higher than otherwise‐similar higher risk employers, suggesting that these selection concerns are warranted.
Inhibition of human glioma cell proliferation by altered Bax/Bcl-2-p53 expression and apoptosis induction by Rhaponticum carthamoides extracts from transformed and normal roots
Authors: Skała Ewa , Sitarek Przemysław , Toma Monika , Szemraj Janusz , Radek Maciej , Nieborowska-Skorska Malgorzata , Skorski Tomasz , Wysokińska Halina , Śliwiński Tomasz 
Published: October 2016

Abstract

Objective
The objective of this study was to determine the cytotoxic effect and apoptotic activity of Rhaponticum carthamoides transformed root (TR) and root of soil-grown plant (NR) extracts in a human glioma primary cells. The effect of these root extracts on cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and expression levels of apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2, Bax and p53) were also examined.

Methods
Cytotoxic activity of root extracts was evaluated by MTT assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry. Expression levels of apoptosis-related gene were analysed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. ΔΨm was examined by the use of JC-1 reagent.

Key findings
Rhaponticum carthamoides root extracts inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in human glioma cells. The root extracts were found to up-regulate the pro-apoptotic Bax protein and down-regulate the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, consequently increasing the ratios of Bax/Bcl-2 protein levels. Moreover, an increase of the p53 protein level and reduction of ΔΨm in glioma cells were observed after treatment with NR and TR extracts.

Conclusion
The results of this study may offer a new insight into the potential anticancer activity of R. carthamoides root extracts.
A phylogeny of the genus Encyclia (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae), with emphasis on the species of the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Leopardi‐Verde Carlos L. , Carnevali Germán , Romero‐González Gustavo A. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractEncyclia comprises over 150 species of orchids that occupy mainly seasonally dry habitats in tropical and subtropical America and are usually restricted to one or a few ecoregions. To determine whether species found in the same or neighboring ecoregions are closely related, we sampled more than 50 taxa, with an emphasis on species found in Mexico and Central America. We evaluated five DNA markers for their phylogenetic utility: the nuclear low copy gene PHYC, a plastid spacer region trnL‐F, a fragment of the plastid ycf1 gene, rpl32‐trnL, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA; we sampled only the last three markers for the main analyses based on an assessment of phylogenetic informativeness. We analyzed plastid regions and ITS separately in phylogenetic inference using a variety of methods, as we found strong incongruence between them, according to the ILD test. We also estimated clade ages using a relaxed molecular clock with indirect calibrations based on a larger taxonomic sampling. Encyclia is a monophyletic genus that originated ca. 12.43 Ma (10.55–14.25 Ma) ago, and has undergone several recent evolutionary radiations. We found a strong association between phylogenetic relationships and the geographic distribution of species and clades in the Caribbean, Central American, and the Pacific coast of Megamexico. Several groups of Encyclia occur in the latter region, the most species‐rich being the E. meliosma complex, which is restricted to the Pacific slope of Mexico from north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec up to Sonora.
Mohit's Pharmakon: Symptom, Rotational Bodies, and Pharmaceuticals in Rural Rajasthan
Authors: McDowell Andrew 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis article reexamines medical anthropology theories of symptom, illness, and disease to consider unregulated medical care in India. It builds on clinical observations, an inventory of the pharmaceuticals used by men who call themselves “Bengali doctors,” and their patients to understand medical care in a context that privileges symptom not disease. It draws on Derrida's use of pharmakon to outline the complexities of care and embodiment and helps locate local and medical anthropology theories of symptom and pharmaceuticals within theories of the experiential body. It asks two key questions: What is medical care without disease and what are its implications on a local biology in which disease‐based biomedicine is modified? Searching for a tentative answer, it works to bring medical anthropology's interest in symptom back to the body without losing symptoms’ connection to political economies, individual experience, and localized biomedicine.
Combined antifungal therapy against systemic murine infections by rare Cryptococcus species
Authors: Thomson Pamela , Mayayo Emilio , López‐Fernández Loida , Guarro Josep , Capilla Javier 
Published: October 2016

SummaryCryptococcus albidus and Cryptococcus laurentii are uncommon species of this genus that in recent decades have increasingly caused opportunistic infections in humans, mainly in immunocompromised patients; the best therapy for such infection being unknown. Using a murine model of systemic infection by these fungi, we have evaluated the efficacy of amphotericin B (AMB) at 0.8 mg/kg, administered intravenously, fluconazole (FLC) or voriconazole (VRC), both administered orally, at 25 mg/kg and the combination of AMB plus VRC against three C. albidus and two C. laurentii strains. All the treatments significantly reduced the fungal burden in all the organs studied. The combination showed a synergistic effect in the reduction in fungal load, working better than both monotherapies. The histopathological study confirmed the efficacy of the treatments.