bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Center Performance in the Competing Risks Setting: Application to Outcomes of Wait-listed End-stage Renal Disease Patients
Authors: Dharmarajan Sai H. , Schaubel Douglas E. , Saran Rajiv 
Published: July 2017

SummaryIt is often of interest to compare centers or healthcare providers on quality of care delivered. We consider the setting where evaluation of center performance on multiple competing events is of interest. We propose estimating center effects through cause-specific proportional hazards frailty models that allow correlation among a center's cause-specific effects. Estimation of our model proceeds via penalized partial likelihood and is implemented in R. To evaluate center performance, we also propose a directly standardized excess cumulative incidence (ECI) measure. Therefore, based on our proposed methods, practitioners can evaluate centers either through the cause-specific hazards or the cumulative incidence functions. We demonstrate, through simulations, the advantages of the proposed methods to detect outlying centers, by comparing the proposed methods and existing methods which assume uncorrelated random center effects. In addition, we develop a Correlation Score Test to test the null hypothesis that the competing event processes within a center are correlated. Using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we apply our method to evaluate the performance of Organ Procurement Organizations on two competing risks: (i) receipt of a kidney transplant and (ii) death on the wait-list.
How much to share: Welfare effects of fiscal transfers
Authors: Kim Jinill , Kim Sunghyun 
Published: July 2017

AbstractRecent sovereign debt crisis has challenged policy makers to explore the possibility of establishing a fiscal transfer system that could alleviate the negative impact of asymmetric shocks across countries. Using a simple labour production economy, we first derive an analytically tractable solution for optimal degree of fiscal transfers. In this economy, fiscal transfers can improve welfare by moving the competitive equilibrium with fiscal transfers closer to the social planner's solution. We then extend the model to a DSGE setting with capital, international bond and linear taxes, and we analyze how implementation of a simple revenue sharing rule affects welfare and macroeconomic variables over time. Simulation results show that risk sharing through fiscal transfers always improves welfare in the long run. However, under certain model specifications, short‐run transitional welfare loss can outweigh the long‐run benefits. These results suggest that, in designing fiscal transfers across countries, government should take into consideration the intertemporal nature of welfare gains.
How do foster carers manage the oral health of children in foster care? A qualitative study
Authors: Muirhead Vanessa , Subramanian Sri‐Kavi , Wright Desmond , Wong Ferranti S. L. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectivesThis qualitative study explored how the foster family environment influenced children's oral health. It also aimed to better understand foster carers’ oral health knowledge, attitudes and experiences of managing foster children's oral health behaviours and oral health care.MethodsAn interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study design was used to recruit a purposive sample of foster carers in Tower Hamlets, United Kingdom, from a range of backgrounds (maximum variation sampling). Participants were aged 21 years and older and provided full‐time foster care for children for a minimum of 1 year. The foster carers took part in focus groups that were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis followed a five‐step IPA process, which included reading the transcripts, note taking, identifying emerging themes, connecting related themes and writing up the final themes. Iterative data gathering and analysis continued to reach thematic saturation.ResultsThree focus groups were conducted, involving a total of 12 foster carers. Eight of the 12 participants had fostered children for more than 10 years and they were currently fostering 22 children aged five to 18 years old. Four themes emerged from within the context of the supportive and nurturing foster family environment that described how foster carers’ responded to and managed the oral health of their foster children. Foster carers had adopted an oral health caregiving role, “in loco parentis” responding to the poor oral health of their vulnerable foster children. They were hypervigilant about establishing and monitoring children's oral health routines and taking their children to see a dentist; these were seen as an integral part of being good foster carers. They were knowledgeable about the causes of children's oral ill health, gained from their own dental experiences and from looking after their own children. Foster carers had experienced tensions while adopting this oral health caregiving role with dentists who had refused to see younger children. Foster carers had also experienced tensions with teenage foster children who questioned their parental authority and legitimate right to set rules about smoking and healthy eating.ConclusionsThis is the first study to explore foster carers’ oral health perspectives and the foster family environment within the oral health context. It highlights the unrecognized and important role that foster carers have in improving the oral health of vulnerable children. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between foster carers and dentists and to support the development of health and social care interventions to improve foster children's oral health.
Autologous serum supplement favours in vitro regenerative paracrine factors synthesis
Authors: Haque Nazmul , Kasim Noor Hayaty Abu , Kassim Noor Lide Abu , Rahman Mohammad Tariqur 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectivesFoetal bovine serum (FBS) is often the serum supplement of choice for in vitro human cell culture. This study compares the effect of FBS and autologous human serum (AuHS) supplement in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture to prepare secretome.Materials and methodsThe PBMC (n = 7) were cultured either in RPMI‐1640 containing L‐glutamine and 50 units/ml Penicillin‐Streptomycin (BM) or in BM with either AuHS or FBS. Viability, proliferation and differentiation of PBMC were evaluated. Paracrine factors present in the secretomes (n = 6) were analysed using ProcartaPlex Human Cytokine panel (17 plex). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was performed to predict activation or inhibition of biological functions related to tissue regeneration.ResultsThe viability of PBMC that were cultured with FBS supplement was significantly reduced at 96 h compared to those at 0 and 24 h (P < .05). While the reduction of the viability of PBMC that were cultured with AuHS supplement was not significantly different compared to those at 0 and 24 h. The FBS secretomes prepared at 24 h was found to contain significantly higher amount of EGF (P < .05) compared to that in AuHS or BM secretome. The AuHS secretomes contained significantly higher amount of HGF at 24 (P < .05) and 96 h (P < .01), and VEGF‐A at 24 h (P < .05) compared to those in the FBS secretomes. SDF‐1 was not detected in the FBS secretomes prepared at either 24 or 96 hours. Double immunocytochemical staining revealed a marked increase in co‐localization of SDF‐1 and its receptor in PBMC that were cultured with AuHS supplement compared to that cultured with FBS supplement.ConclusionIn secretome preparation, AuHS supplement favours synthesis of paracrine factors that are needed for regenerative therapy.
Risk of angioedema associated with levetiracetam compared with phenytoin: Findings of the observational health data sciences and informatics research network
Authors: Duke Jon D. , Ryan Patrick B. , Suchard Marc A. , Hripcsak George , Jin Peng , Reich Christian , Schwalm Marie‐Sophie , Khoma Yuriy , Wu Yonghui , Xu Hua , Shah Nigam H. , Banda Juan M. , Schuemie Martijn J. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryRecent adverse event reports have raised the question of increased angioedema risk associated with exposure to levetiracetam. To help address this question, the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics research network conducted a retrospective observational new‐user cohort study of seizure patients exposed to levetiracetam (n = 276,665) across 10 databases. With phenytoin users (n = 74,682) as a comparator group, propensity score‐matching was conducted and hazard ratios computed for angioedema events by per‐protocol and intent‐to‐treat analyses. Angioedema events were rare in both the levetiracetam and phenytoin groups (54 vs. 71 in per‐protocol and 248 vs. 435 in intent‐to‐treat). No significant increase in angioedema risk with levetiracetam was seen in any individual database (hazard ratios ranging from 0.43 to 1.31). Meta‐analysis showed a summary hazard ratio of 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39–1.31) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.52–0.79) for the per‐protocol and intent‐to‐treat analyses, respectively. The results suggest that levetiracetam has the same or lower risk for angioedema than phenytoin, which does not currently carry a labeled warning for angioedema. Further studies are warranted to evaluate angioedema risk across all antiepileptic drugs.
Costs, length of stay, and mortality of super‐refractory status epilepticus: A population‐based study from Germany
Authors: Strzelczyk Adam , Ansorge Sonja , Hapfelmeier Jana , Bonthapally Vijayveer , Erder M. Haim , Rosenow Felix 
Published: July 2017

SummaryObjectiveSuper‐refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is a severe condition in which a patient in status epilepticus (SE) for ≥24 h does not respond to first‐, second‐, or third‐line therapy. The economic impact of SRSE treatment remains unclear. A health insurance research database was used for a population‐based estimation of SRSE‐associated inpatient costs, length of stay, and mortality in Germany.MethodsAn algorithm using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition coding and treatment parameters identified and classified patients in a German statutory health insurance database covering admissions from 2008 to 2013 as having refractory SE (RSE) or SRSE. Admissions data in our study refer to these classifications. Associated patient data included costs, procedures, and demographics.ResultsThe algorithm identified 2,585 (all type) SE admissions, classified as 1,655 nonrefractory SE (64%), 592 (22.9%) RSE, and 338 (13.1%) SRSE, producing database incidence rates of 15.0 in 100,000, 5.2 in 100,000, and 3.0 in 100,000 per year, respectively. Median cost per admission was €4,063 for nonrefractory SE, €4,581 (p < 0.001) for RSE, and €32,706 (p < 0.001) for SRSE. Median length of stay varied significantly between 8 days (mean = 13.6) in nonrefractory SE, 14 days in RSE, and up to 37 days in SRSE. Discharge mortality increased from 9.6% in nonrefractory SE to 15.0% (p < 0.001) in RSE and 39.9% (p < 0.001) in SRSE.SignificanceThis study evaluated the hospital treatment costs associated with admissions classified by the algorithm as SRSE in Germany. SRSE represented 13% of all SE admissions, but resulted in 56% of all SE‐related costs. The lack of approved treatments and limited number of evidence‐based treatment guidelines highlight the need for further evaluations of the SRSE burden of illness and the potential for further optimization of treatments for SRSE.
Metamorphic condition of a regional metamorphic complex in the Omuta district in northern Kyushu, southwest Japan
Authors: Ikeda Takeshi , Miyazaki Kazuhiro , Matsuura Hirohisa 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA high‐temperature (T) metamorphic complex occurs in the Omuta district, northern Kyushu, Japan. Three metamorphic zones are defined based on pelitic mineral assemblage, i.e. chlorite–biotite zone, muscovite–andalusite zone and sillimanite–K‐feldspar zone with ascending metamorphic grade from north to south. Two isograds trend approximately east–west, which is oblique to the boundary between the metamorphic complex and the Tamana Granodiorite located on the southeast. The metamorphic condition of two pelitic rocks that occur in the muscovite–andalusite zone and sillimanite–K‐feldspar zone are estimated as 510 ±30 °C, 300 ±60 MPa and 720 ±30 °C, 620 ±60 MPa, respectively. Thermodynamic consideration reveals that use of the same geothermobarometer enables precise determination of the difference in pressure between the samples as 320 ±10 MPa. This indicates that the pelitic samples were metamorphosed at different depth by 11–12 km that is significantly larger than the geographic distance of 6.8 km between the sample localities. This also suggests that crustal thinning took place after the high‐T metamorphism. The high‐T metamorphic complex is, therefore, not of static contact metamorphism but of dynamic regional metamorphism. The present result combined with petrological and chronological similarities implies that this complex suffered the regional Ryoke metamorphism.
SPINK5 is associated with early‐onset and CHI3L1 with late‐onset atopic dermatitis
Authors: Dežman K. , Korošec P. , Rupnik H. , Rijavec M. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryWe have recently showed that filaggrin (FLG) mutations are associated only with early‐onset of AD, but not with late‐onset of AD. Consequently, other susceptibility genes should receive attention, especially in patients with late‐onset of AD. Our aim was to assess the associations between development of AD and the polymorphisms rs2303067 in SPINK5 and rs490928 in CHI3L1. A study population of 241 AD patients and 164 healthy controls was genotyped for two polymorphisms (rs2303067 in SPINK5 and rs490928 in CHI3L1). Rs2303067 in SPINK5 was significantly associated with early‐onset AD (≤8 years: p = .003; OR = 2.57) and was characterized by the need for hospitalization (p = .006; OR = 2.76), prolonged duration (≥10 years; p = .008; OR = 2.32) and more body parts affected (p = .015; OR = 2.01). In contrast, rs490928 in CHI3L1 was associated with late‐onset AD (>8 years: p = .048; OR = 1.65) and was characterized by no need for hospitalization (p = .049; OR = 1.59), shorter duration (<10 years; p = .017; OR = 1.94) and fewer body parts affected (p = .049; OR = 1.75). Our results confirmed that different AD phenotypes, specifically early‐ and late‐onset AD, have different genetic backgrounds. Early‐onset AD was associated with rs2303067 in SPINK5, which is involved in skin barrier functioning, and late‐onset was associated with rs4950928 in CHI3L1, which is involved in the immune response. Future studies should examine the early‐ versus late‐onset subgrouping more closely.
A systematic approach for an application of personnel selection in assembly line balancing problem
Authors: Efe Burak , Kurt Mustafa 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis paper aims to present a novel systematic approach to personnel selection. The contributions of this paper are on the multicriteria decision‐making problem and the assembly line balancing problem related to personnel selection. This paper presents a novel method, which is the possibility degree based TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) method with interval type‐2 trapezoidal fuzzy (IT2TrF) numbers, as an extension of the TOPSIS method for the personnel selection problem. This paper presents the possibility mean value and possibility degree measures instead of distance measures in current TOPSIS to define a comparative index. The closeness coefficient based on the possibility degree of each alternative is calculated according to the approximate positive and negative ideal solutions. The subjective judgments of the decision makers are aggregated to calculate the weights of the criteria. The weights based on the IT2TrF number are input into IT2TrF number based the TOPSIS phase to rank the alternatives. The proposed method is applied to evaluate the personnel selection in an assembly line of a textile firm after the closeness coefficient of each personnel is determined.
Expression of monoacylglycerol lipase as a marker of tumour invasion and progression in malignant melanoma
Authors: Baba Yuko , Funakoshi T. , Mori M. , Emoto K. , Masugi Y. , Ekmekcioglu S. , Amagai M. , Tanese K. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundAccumulating evidence suggests that the lipid lytic enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) promotes tumour invasion and metastasis through up‐regulation of pro‐tumorigenic signalling lipids in several tumour cell lines. However, the expression status of MAGL in clinical melanoma tissues and its clinicopathological significance remain unclear.ObjectiveTo correlate the tumour expression status of MAGL with the clinicopathological information of patients with malignant melanoma.MethodsPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) array screening was performed, and the results were validated using immunocytochemical analysis of tumour and non‐tumour melanocytic cell lines. Immunohistochemical staining for MAGL was performed for 74 melanoma samples, including 48 primary and 26 metastatic tumours, in which the expression of MAGL was determined by evaluating the percentage of MAGL‐positive tumour cells and the MAGL staining intensity. Finally, we analysed the association of MAGL expression status with tumour progression, tumour thickness and vascular invasion of the primary lesion.ResultsImmunocytochemical analysis revealed that MAGL was expressed in all 12 melanoma cell lines, but not in normal human epidermal melanocytes. In the immunohistochemical analysis, positive staining for MAGL was noted in 32 of 48 (64.5%) primary lesions, 14 of 17 (82.4%) lymph node metastatic lesions and 7 of 9 (77.8%) skin metastatic lesions. Metastatic tumours had a significantly higher staining intensity (P = 0.033 for lymph node, P = 0.010 for skin). In the analysis of primary lesions, higher MAGL expression correlated with greater tumour thickness (P = 0.015) and the presence of vascular invasion (P = 0.017). On further evaluation of MAGL‐positive primary lesions, staining intensity of MAGL tended to be higher in deeper areas of the tumour mass.ConclusionsThe expression of MAGL in tumour cells reflects the aggressiveness of melanoma cells and may serve as a marker of tumour progression.
A potential contribution of psoriasin to vascular and epithelial abnormalities and inflammation in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Takahashi T. , Asano Y. , Yamashita T. , Nakamura K. , Saigusa R. , Miura S. , Ichimura Y. , Toyama T. , Hirabayashi M. , Taniguchi T. , Yoshizaki A. , Sato S. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundAntimicrobial peptides have attracted much attention as a member of disease‐associated molecules in systemic sclerosis (SSc), which is pathologically characterized by immune abnormalities, vasculopathy and tissue fibrosis.ObjectiveTo investigate the potential contribution of one of the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin to the development of SSc.MethodsPsoriasin expression in the skin samples and sera derived from SSc patients and its correlation with clinical parameters were analysed. Psoriasin expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry with skin samples from SSc patients and healthy controls. Serum levels of psoriasin were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in 51 SSc patients and 19 healthy controls and assessed for the association with clinical symptoms.ResultsThe expression of psoriasin was elevated in the epidermis of SSc lesional skin. Serum psoriasin levels were higher in SSc patients, especially in diffuse cutaneous SSc patients with disease duration of <6 years, than in healthy controls. With respect to clinical association, SSc patients with interstitial lung disease, telangiectasia and pitting scars had significantly augmented levels of serum psoriasin than those without each of these symptoms. In the subgroup of patients with interstitial lung disease, the elevation of serum psoriasin levels was associated with higher ground‐glass opacity scores. Furthermore, serum psoriasin levels were decreased after the treatment with intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse as compared to baseline values.ConclusionOur findings indicate a possible contribution of psoriasin to the development of clinical symptoms associated with vascular and epithelial abnormalities and inflammation in SSc, further supporting the roles of antimicrobial peptides in the SSc pathogenesis.
Depression and suicidality in psoriasis: review of the literature including the cytokine theory of depression
Authors: Koo J. , Marangell L.B. , Nakamura M. , Armstrong A. , Jeon C. , Bhutani T. , Wu J.J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPsoriasis can be a socially isolating disease due to debilitating physical symptoms and the stigma patients feel because of the appearance of their skin. Mental health comorbidities such as anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation and behaviour (SIB) are prevalent in patients with psoriasis. Patients with mild psoriasis can experience psychiatric comorbidities; however, disorders such as depression and SIB are more common in patients with severe psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Psychiatric disorders can both result from and contribute to progression of psoriasis, suggesting that psoriasis and psychiatric conditions, such as depression, may have overlapping biological mechanisms. Proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)‐1 and IL‐6 are elevated in both psoriasis and depression, indicating that the inflammatory process may be involved in the progression of both diseases. Elevated cytokine levels in the central nervous system cause physiologic and biochemical changes that may contribute to the development of depression. In this review of the literature, we discuss the evidence that supports the association of psoriasis with mental health disorders and the tools used to detect the presence of these comorbidities. Additionally, we review the most prominent hypotheses on the mechanisms by which the inflammatory response and elevated cytokines can cause depression. These results highlight the role that systemic inflammation plays in the various mental health comorbidities associated with psoriasis, including depression and SIB.
Exclusive Gut Flagellates of Serritermitidae Suggest a Major Transfaunation Event in Lower Termites: Description of Heliconympha glossotermitis gen. nov. spec. nov.
Authors: Radek Renate , Meuser Katja , Strassert Jürgen F. H. , Arslan Oguzhan , Teßmer Anika , Šobotník Jan , Sillam‐Dussès David , Nink Ricardo A. , Brune Andreas 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe guts of lower termites are inhabited by host‐specific consortia of cellulose‐digesting flagellate protists. In this first investigation of the symbionts of the family Serritermitidae, we found that Glossotermes oculatus and Serritermes serrifer each harbor similar parabasalid morphotypes: large Pseudotrichonympha‐like cells, medium‐sized Leptospironympha‐like cells with spiraled bands of flagella, and small Hexamastix‐like cells; oxymonadid flagellates were absent. Despite their morphological resemblance to Pseudotrichonympha and Leptospironympha, a SSU rRNA‐based phylogenetic analysis identified the two larger, trichonymphid flagellates as deep‐branching sister groups of Teranymphidae, with Leptospironympha sp. (the only spirotrichosomid with sequence data) in a moderately supported basal position. Only the Hexamastix‐like flagellates are closely related to trichomonadid flagellates from Rhinotermitidae. The presence of two deep‐branching lineages of trichonymphid flagellates in Serritermitidae and the absence of all taxa characteristic of the ancestral rhinotermitids underscores that the flagellate assemblages in the hindguts of lower termites were shaped not only by a progressive loss of flagellates during vertical inheritance but also by occasional transfaunation events, where flagellates were transferred horizontally between members of different termite families. In addition to the molecular phylogenetic analyses, we present a detailed morphological characterization of the new spirotrichosomid genus Heliconympha using light and electron microscopy.