bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of MICA‐129 polymorphism and circulating soluble MICA level with rheumatoid arthritis in a south Indian Tamil population
Authors: Mariaselvam Christina M. , Boukouaci Wahid , Charron Dominique , Krishnamoorthy Rajagopal , Tamouza Ryad , Misra Durga P. , Negi Vir S. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntroductionRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a clinically heterogeneous chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by synovitis leading to joint destruction. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the pathogenesis of RA. Significant dysregulation of NKG2D, an activating receptor of natural killer and certain autoreactive T cells as well as its ligand major histocompatibility complex class I chain–related gene A (MICA) has been implicated in perpetuating the pathology of RA. Since the genetic polymorphism in MICA gene (MICA‐129 met/val polymorphism at codon 129) is known to affect its binding affinity to NKG2D, we explored its influence on RA susceptibility and disease severity.MethodsThe MICA‐129 met/val polymorphism was examined in 270 patients with RA and 232 healthy controls by TaqMan 5′‐nuclease assay. Serum soluble MICA (sMICA) was measured in a subset of 89 patients and 80 controls by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsWe observed that the frequency of MICA‐129 val allele (73% vs. 65%, Pc = 0.006, odds ratio = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.12–1.95) was higher in patients than in controls. sMICA levels were significantly higher in patients with RA than in controls (P < 0.0001). sMICA levels were higher in patients with val/val genotype than in those with met/val or met/met genotype (P = 0.03). The MICA‐129 val/val genotype was associated with high titers of sMICA in patients with deforming RA phenotype (P = 0.02), suggesting a role in determination of severity of RA.ConclusionMICA‐129 val/val genotype, associated with higher levels of circulating sMICA, may influence disease susceptibility and associate with increased severity of RA in south Indian Tamils.
The effect of intra‐articular injection of autologous bone marrow stem cells on pain and knee function in patients with osteoarthritis
Authors: Garay‐Mendoza Domingo , Villarreal‐Martínez Laura , Garza‐Bedolla Alejandra , Pérez‐Garza Daniela M. , Acosta‐Olivo Carlos , Vilchez‐Cavazos Felix , Diaz‐Hutchinson Cesar , Gómez‐Almaguer David , Jaime‐Pérez José C. , Mancías‐Guerra Consuelo 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimManagement of osteoarthritis (OA) is basically symptomatic. Recently, stem cells (SC) have been used in the search for an optimum treatment. We decided to conduct a controlled clinical trial to determine if a single intra‐articular injection of in vivo stimulated bone marrow SC could lead to an improvement in pain management and quality of life in patients with knee OA.MethodThis was a prospective, open‐label, phase I/II clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a single intra‐articular injection of autologous stimulated bone marrow stem cells (BM‐SC) in patients with knee OA. Individuals of both genders older than 30 years with confirmed diagnosis of OA who signed informed consent were included in two groups: SC group received in vivo BM stimulation with subcutaneous administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF). SC were obtained by BM aspiration and administered in a single intra‐articular injection. The control group received exclusively oral acetaminophen. Visual analogue scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores were performed at 1 week, 1 month and 6 months in both groups. This trial was registered in ClinialTrials.gov NCT01485198.ResultsA total of 61 patients were included. Socio‐demographic characteristics, OA grades and initial scores were similar in both groups. The BM‐SC group showed significant improvement in knee pain and quality of life during the 6‐month follow‐up.ConclusionThe study demonstrates feasibility and supports efficacy of a completely ambulatory procedure in treatment of knee OA.
Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and psychosocial well‐being among young South Korean children
Authors: Lee E.‐Y. , Carson V. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo examine associations between television (TV) viewing, reading, physical activity (PA), and psychosocial well‐being among a representative sample of young South Korean children aged 0–5 years.MethodsFindings are based on 1,774 children who participated in the Korea Children and Youth Survey. All measures were questionnaire‐derived. Psychosocial well‐being included social, interactive, and emotional skills (α = .7–.9), and the top quartile denoted high psychosocial well‐being. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to examine relationships after controlling for several confounders.ResultsCompared to children who participated in PA for <1 hr/week, those who participated in PA for 1‐ <3 hr/week were more likely to show high emotional skills (odds ratio [OR]: 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.02, 1.93]), and those who participated ≥3 hr/week were more likely to show high social (OR: 2.01, 95% CI [1.45, 2.78]) and interactive skills (OR: 1.39, 95% CI [1.01, 1.92]). During weekdays, children who read 1– <3 hr/day and ≥3 hr/day, compared to <1 hr/day, were more likely to show high social (OR: 1.61, 95% CI [1.20, 2.16] and OR: 2.47, 95% CI [1.31, 4.67]) and emotional skills (OR: 1.57, 95% CI [1.16, 2.13] and OR: 2.58, 95% CI [1.34, 4.98]). In addition, children who read 1– <3 hr/day, compared to <1 hr/day, were more likely to show high interactive skills (OR: 1.44, 95% CI [1.08, 1.92]). Similar findings for reading on weekends were observed. TV viewing was not associated with social skills or interactive skills. TV viewing for 1– <3 hr/day, compared to <1 hr/day, was associated with increased odds of high emotional skills (OR: 1.71, 95% CI [1.28, 2.27] on weekdays; OR: 1.90, 95% CI [1.39, 2.61] on weekends).ConclusionPA and reading primarily showed favourable associations with psychosocial well‐being, whereas TV viewing did not; thus, PA or reading may be a better option over TV viewing for optimal psychosocial well‐being among young South Korean children. These findings should be confirmed with stronger study designs.
Psychological adjustment and behaviours in children of migrant workers in China
Authors: Wang F. , Zhou X. , Hesketh T. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundIn China, there are around 274 million rural–urban migrants, an estimated 61 million children left behind in rural areas by parents, and 29 million children who accompany their parents to cities. The aim of this study was to compare the psychosocial adjustment and behaviours of left‐behind children and migrant children.MethodsFull data were available for 761 left‐behind children and 1,392 migrant children aged 11 to 17 in Zhejiang Province, eastern China. Participants completed a questionnaire focusing on migration status, risks behaviours, and psychological well‐being, measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.ResultsThere were more left behind girls and more urban migrant boys (p < .001). The mean scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were all higher in left‐behind children than migrant children: for emotional symptoms (3.82 vs. 3.03, p < .001), conduct problems (2.55 vs. 2.41, p = .048), hyperactivity (4.25 vs. 3.81, p < .001), and total difficulties (13.46 vs. 12.00, p = .020), whereas the prosocial score was lower (6.68 vs. 6.90, p < .001), all indicating lower levels of well‐being in left‐behind children. Overall, 11.4% of left‐behind children and 8.8% of migrant children scored in the abnormal range for total difficulties. Left behind girls were particularly vulnerable to emotional problems. Left‐behind children were more likely to admit to stealing and cheating on exams, but there were no differences in other risks behaviours, such as smoking and drinking.ConclusionsMigration with parents, rather than separation from parents, was associated with better psychological well‐being and fewer behavioural problems. Our findings have relevance for migrant parents in helping to inform decisions about where to raise their children as well as for policymakers in countries where migration is a major issue. When children are left behind, models of community support need to be considered, especially for those who are most vulnerable.
Acute physiological and perceptual responses to high‐load resistance exercise in hypoxia
Authors: Scott Brendan R. , Slattery Katie M. , Sculley Dean V. , Smith Scott M. , Peiffer Jeremiah J. , Dascombe Ben J. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryThis study assessed whether hypoxia during high‐load resistance exercise could enhance the acute physiological responses related to muscular development. Twelve trained men performed exercise in three conditions: normoxia (fraction of inspired oxygen [FIO2] = 21%), moderate‐level hypoxia (FIO2 = 16%) and high‐level hypoxia (FIO2 = 13%). Exercise comprised high‐load squats and deadlifts (5 × 5 using 80% of 1‐repetition maximum with 180‐s rest). Muscle oxygenation and activation were monitored during exercise. Metabolic stress was estimated via capillary blood sampling. Perceived fatigue and soreness were also quantified following exercise. While the hypoxic conditions appeared to affect muscle oxygenation, significant differences between conditions were only noted for maximal deoxyhaemoglobin in the deadlift (P = 0·009). Blood lactate concentration increased from 1·1 to 1·2 mmol l−1 at baseline to 9·5–9·8 mmol l−1 after squats and 10·4–10·5 mmol l−1 after deadlifts (P≤0·001), although there were no between‐condition differences. Perceived fatigue and muscle soreness were significantly elevated immediately and at 24 h following exercise, respectively, by similar magnitudes in all conditions (P≤0·001). Muscle activation did not differ between conditions. While metabolic stress is thought to moderate muscle activation and subsequent muscular development during hypoxic resistance training, it is not augmented during traditional high‐load exercise. This may be explained by the low number of repetitions performed and the long interset rest periods employed during this training. These findings suggest that high‐load resistance training might not benefit from additional hypoxia as has been shown for low‐ and moderate‐load training.
Utility of bronchoscopy in the definitive diagnosis of patients with haematological malignancies presenting with radiological abnormalities
Authors: Makita Kosuke , Mikami Yu , Matsuzaki Hirotaka , Narumoto Osamu , Takai Daiya , Yatomi Yutaka , Nagase Takahide 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntroductionPatients with haematological malignancies usually have a plethora of respiratory complications. Bronchoscopy is one of the most important procedures used to diagnose respiratory complications. Despite enormous benefit, patients should be carefully selected for bronchoscopy as the process is invasive; however, there are only few reports evaluating the contributing factors of bronchoscopy that result in the definitive diagnosis of respiratory complications in these patients.ObjectiveThis study aimed to elucidate and identify the contributing factors of bronchoscopy for definitive diagnosis in patients with haematological malignancies.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed 275 patients with haematological malignancies who later showed respiratory complications, requiring consultation with pulmonologists. We found that 62 patients underwent bronchoscopy. Our data analysis focused on this particular subset of patients to identify the factors crucial for definitive diagnosis via bronchoscopy.ResultsBronchoscopy provided definitive diagnosis for 25 patients (diagnostic yield = 40.3%). We determined that nodular shadow was associated with high diagnostic yields by multivariate logistic regression [odds ratio (OR): 6.6 (2.1‐23)]. Furthermore, in several bronchoscopic procedures, biopsy also contributed to definitive diagnosis of patients with nodular shadow [OR: 17 (1.5‐180)]. Life‐threatening complications were not observed due to bronchoscopy in our study.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that patients with haematological malignancies who showed lung nodular shadows are more likely to be definitively diagnosed by bronchoscopy, whereas transbronchial biopsy may also be beneficial for these patients.
A review of late complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations
Authors: Atilla Erden , Atilla Pinar Ataca , Toprak Selami Kocak , Demirer Taner 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) is an effective and curative treatment of different malignant and non‐malignant diseases. Early transplant‐related mortality after allo‐HSCT has decreased with reduced‐intensity conditioning regimens and effective anti‐infectious treatments, but late transplant‐related mortality is still a problem. Physicians are now paying more attention to late complications that may worsen the quality of life of many transplant recipients. Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) is one of the major causes of late transplant‐related mortality after allo‐HSCT. This review discusses recent advances that have been made in clinical evaluation and treatment of late transplant‐related complications including cGVHD. The different sites of involvement are organs, especially the skin and eye, and the gastrointestinal, endocrinologic, metabolic, renal, cardiologic, pulmonary, connective tissue, and neurological systems. In addition, this review includes infections and secondary malignancies in post‐transplant settings that worsen quality of life in long‐term follow‐ups.
Study on the organization of cellular elements in the granulomatous lesion caused by chromoblastomycosis
Authors: Minotto Renan , Albano Edelweiss Maria Isabel , Scroferneker Maria Lúcia 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundChromoblastomycosis is a deep fungal infection characterized by a complex cellular granuloma. The aim of this study was to analyze the arrangement of cells responsible for the granuloma configuration of this disease by semiquantification of the cellular components of chromoblastomycosis skin biopsies.MethodsThe cells of cutaneous biopsies slides from 100 patients with untreated chromoblastomycosis were stained with hematoxylin‐eosin and the granuloma cells were evaluated by microscopic examination of the elements of each granuloma and semiquantified the number of cells through its expressivity in crosses and the histopathological variables. Their presence were coded in degrees of intensity and classified in two categories: low expression and high expression. The cells that constituted the granulomas were separated into three groups: A, B and C.ResultsThe chromoblastomycotic granuloma analyzed by this semiquantification of its cellular components showed that there was high expression of the elements setting up a mixed organized mycotic granuloma. It was observed that mononuclear phagocytic system (A), polymorphonuclear phagocytic system (B) and lymphoplasmocytic infiltrate (C) were located around the fungus.ConclusionThe results indicated that the granuloma present in the cutaneous lesion of chromoblastomycosis is a mixed organized mycotic granuloma with high expression of the cellular components.
Do We Need a GCC Bank to Facilitate the Economic Turnaround of the GCC Region?
Authors: Saxena Stuti , Al‐Hadrami Aflah Said Nasser 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAmidst the ongoing crisis of plummeting oil prices, the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) terrain has become a haunt of economists and financial analysts to tackle the ongoing challenges in the region. GCC constituents are gearing themselves with a robust political will that they hope could result in a turnaround of their economy by adopting a policy of economic diversification in nonoil‐based sectors. With this background supported by extensive qualitative scan of literature pertaining to the reforms proposed by the six members of the GCC to drive the economy forward amidst ongoing economic crisis, this article seeks to underscore the prospect of a shared initiative by the GCC constituents in institutionalizing a GCC bank as a potent innovative solution which may serve to provide an edifice for pushing forth the region's economy in nonhydrocarbon segments contingent upon the individual needs of the GCC constituents. As an exploratory study, this paper sheds light on these issues besides discussing the fundamental functions of the GCC bank.
Mandated Political Representation and Redistribution
Authors: Mitra Anirban 
Published: July 2017

Mandated political representation for minorities involves earmarking certain electoral districts where only minority‐group candidates are permitted to contest. This paper builds a political‐economy model to analyse the effect of such affirmative action on redistribution in equilibrium. The model predicts that in situations where the minority is economically disadvantaged and where voters exhibit an in‐group bias, such a quota can reduce transfers to poorer groups. This suggests that the gains to the minority group from having such quotas are unevenly distributed. Redistribution in reserved districts leads to a rise in within‐group inequality for the minorities.
Platonic know‐how and successful action
Authors: Nawar Tamer 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIn Plato's Euthydemus, Socrates claims that the possession of epistēmē (usually construed as knowledge or understanding) suffices for practical success. Several recent treatments suggest that we may make sense of this claim and render it plausible by drawing a distinction between so‐called “outcome‐success” and “internal‐success” and supposing that epistēmē only guarantees internal‐success. In this paper, I raise several objections to such treatments and suggest that the relevant cognitive state should be construed along less than purely intellectual lines: as a cognitive state constituted at least in part by ability. I argue that we may better explain Socrates' claims that epistēmē suffices for successful action by attending to the nature of abilities, what it is that we attempt to do when acting, and what successful action amounts to in the relevant contexts. These considerations suggest that, contrary to several recent treatments, the success in question is not always internal‐success.
Hypertension is associated with worse cognitive function and hippocampal hypometabolism in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Moonga I. , Niccolini F. , Wilson H. , Pagano G. , Politis M. ,   the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2017

Background and purposeA growing body of evidence suggests that cardiovascular disease risk factors including hypertension may be linked to sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is well known that hypertension is associated with cerebrovascular disease and vascular dementia on the basis of vascular remodeling. However, the mechanisms linking hypertension and AD remain unclear.MethodsWe studied 197 patients with AD (86 male; mean age ± SD: 75.8 ± 7.4 years) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database with (n = 97) and without (n = 100) hypertension. We explored associations between hypertension and clinical, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and imaging markers of AD pathology in order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that may link AD and hypertension.ResultsWe found that patients with AD with hypertension had worse cognitive function (Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale‐cognitive subscale, P = 0.038) and higher neuropsychiatric symptom burden (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, P = 0.016) compared with those without hypertension. Patients with AD with hypertension showed reduced glucose hypometabolism in the right (P < 0.001) and left (P = 0.007) hippocampus. No differences were found in magnetic resonance imaging volumetric measurements, [18F]florbetapir uptakes, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid between patients with AD with and without hypertension.ConclusionsAlthough hypertension is associated with worse cognitive function, behavioural symptoms and hippocampal glucose hypometabolism, it is not associated with evidence of increased amyloid or tau pathology. Effective management of hypertension may potentially have a therapeutic role in the alleviation of symptoms in AD.
Stand dynamics modulate water cycling and mortality risk in droughted tropical forest
Authors: da Costa Antonio C. L. , Rowland Lucy , Oliveira Rafael S. , Oliveira Alex A. R. , Binks Oliver J. , Salmon Yann , Vasconcelos Steel S. , Junior João A. S. , Ferreira Leandro V. , Poyatos Rafael , Mencuccini Maurizio , Meir Patrick 
Published: July 2017

AbstractTranspiration from the Amazon rainforest generates an essential water source at a global and local scale. However, changes in rainforest function with climate change can disrupt this process, causing significant reductions in precipitation across Amazonia, and potentially at a global scale. We report the only study of forest transpiration following a long‐term (>10 year) experimental drought treatment in Amazonian forest. After 15 years of receiving half the normal rainfall, drought‐related tree mortality caused total forest transpiration to decrease by 30%. However, the surviving droughted trees maintained or increased transpiration because of reduced competition for water and increased light availability, which is consistent with increased growth rates. Consequently, the amount of water supplied as rainfall reaching the soil and directly recycled as transpiration increased to 100%. This value was 25% greater than for adjacent nondroughted forest. If these drought conditions were accompanied by a modest increase in temperature (e.g., 1.5°C), water demand would exceed supply, making the forest more prone to increased tree mortality.