bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship of Macular Thickness and Function to Optical Microangiography Measurements in Glaucoma
Authors: Rao Harsha L. , Riyazuddin Mohammed , Dasari Srilakshmi , Puttaiah Narendra K. , Pradhan Zia S. , Weinreb Robert N. , Mansouri Kaweh , Webers Carroll A.B. 
Published: January 2018

Purpose:
The purpose of this article was to evaluate the relationship between macular optical microangiography (OMAG), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness, and visual sensitivity measurements of different macular sectors in primary open-angle glaucoma.

Methods:
In a cross-sectional study, 39 eyes of 26 primary open-angle glaucoma patients underwent optical coherence tomography imaging and 10-2 visual field examination of the macula in the same session. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the relationships between OMAG, GCIPL thickness, and visual sensitivity measurements in different macular sectors. Strength of relationship was reported as coefficient of determination (R
2).

Results:

R
2 values for the associations between OMAG and GCIPL thickness measurements ranged from 0.37 in the temporal sector to 0.56 in the inferior macular sector. R
2 values for the association between OMAG and visual sensitivity measurements ranged from 0.23 in the superior to 0.53 in the inferior macular sector. R
2 values for the association between GCIPL thickness and visual sensitivity measurements ranged from 0.15 in the superior to 0.62 in the temporal sector.

Conclusions:
The strongest associations between OMAG, GCIPL thickness, and visual sensitivity measurements were found in the inferior macular sector. The association of OMAG with GCIPL thickness measurements was as strong as the association between OMAG and visual sensitivity measurements in the inferior macular sector.
Smad4 Loss Correlates With Higher Rates of Local and Distant Failure in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients Receiving Adjuvant Chemoradiation
Authors: Herman Joseph M. , Jabbour Salma K. , Lin Steven H. , Deek Matthew P. , Hsu Charles C. , Fishman Elliot K. , Kim Sinae , Cameron John L. , Chekmareva Marina , Laheru Daniel A. , Narang Amol K. , Pawlik Timothy M. , Hruban Ralph H. , Wolfgang Christopher L. , Iacobuzio-Donahue Christine A. 
Published: January 2018

Objectives
The tumor suppressor gene SMAD4 (DPC4) is genetically inactivated in approximately half of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAs). We examined whether Smad4 tumor status was associated with outcomes after adjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) for resected PDAs.

Methods
Patients treated with adjuvant CRT were identified (N = 145). Smad4 status was determined by immunolabeling and graded as intact or lost. Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable competing risk analyses were performed.

Results
On multivariate competing risk analysis, Smad4 loss was associated with increased risk of local recurrence (LR) (hazard ratio, 2.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–5.11; P = 0.027), distant failure (DF) (hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–2.83; P = 0.037), and synchronous LR and DF at first recurrence (14.9 % vs 5.3%, P = 0.07) compared with Smad4 intact cancers. Smad4 loss was not associated with median overall survival (22 vs 22 months; P = 0.63) or disease-free survival (lost [13.6 months] vs intact [13.5 months], P = 0.79).

Conclusions
After PDA resection and adjuvant CRT, Smad4 loss correlated with higher risk of LR and DF, but not with survival. Smad4 loss may help predict which surgical patients are at higher risk for failure after definitive management and may benefit from intensified adjuvant therapy.
Comparison of Iodine Density Measurement Among Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Scanners From 3 Vendors
Authors: Kim Hyungjin , Goo Jin Mo , Kang Chang Kyung , Chae Kum Ju , Park Chang Min 
Published: January 2018

Objectives
The aims of this study were to analyze the effect of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) scanners and fluid characteristics on iodine quantification and to calculate the measurement variability range induced by those variables.

Methods
We performed an experimental phantom study with 4 mediastinal iodine phantoms. Each phantom contained 6 tubes of different iodine concentrations (0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 mg/mL) diluted in a specific solvent, which was water, 10% amino acid solution, 20% lipid emulsion, or 18% calcium solution, respectively. Mediastinal phantoms were inserted into an anthropomorphic chest phantom and were scanned with 3 different DECT scanners from 3 vendors using 2 radiation dosage settings. Iodine density (IoD) and computed tomography (CT) attenuation at virtual monoenergetic 70-keV images and virtual nonenhanced images were measured for the iodine phantoms. The effects of DECT scanners, solvents, and radiation dosage on the absolute measurement error of IoD and on the CT attenuation profiles were investigated using linear mixed-effects models. Measurement variability range of IoD was also determined.

Results
Absolute error of IoD was not significantly affected by the DECT systems, kind of solvents, and radiation dosage settings. However, CT attenuation profiles were significantly different among the DECT vendors and simulated body fluids. Measurement variability range of IoD was from −0.6 to 0.4 mg/mL for the true iodine concentration 0 mg/mL.

Conclusions
Dual-energy CT systems and fluid characteristics did not have a significant effect on the IoD measurement accuracy. A cutoff of IoD for the determination of a truly enhancing lesion on DECT would be 0.4 mg/mL.
Combined thoracic paravertebral and pectoral nerve blocks for breast surgery under sedation: a prospective observational case series
Authors: Pawa A. , Wight J. , Onwochei D. N. , Vargulescu R. , Reed I. , Chrisman L. , Pushpanathan E. , Kothari A. , El‐Boghdadly K. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryAvoidance of general anaesthesia for breast surgery may be because of clinical reasons or patient choice. There is emerging evidence that the use of regional anaesthesia and the avoidance of volatile anaesthetics and opioid analgesia may have beneficial effects on oncological outcomes. We conducted a prospective observational case series of 16 breast cancer surgeries performed under thoracic paravertebral plus pectoral nerve block with propofol sedation to demonstrate feasibility of technique, patient acceptability and surgeon satisfaction. Fifteen out of 16 cases were successfully completed under sedation and regional anaesthesia, with one conversion to general anaesthesia. Eleven out of 16 cases required low‐dose intra‐operative opioid analgesia. Out of the 15 surgical procedures completed under regional anaesthesia with sedation, all patients experienced either no or minimal intra‐operative pain, and all would choose this anaesthetic technique again. Surgeon‐reported operating conditions were ‘indistinguishable from general anaesthesia’ in most cases, and surgeons were ‘extremely satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the technique after every procedure. Combined thoracic paravertebral plus pectoral nerve block with intra‐operative sedation is a feasible technique for breast surgery.
The Prevalence of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Among Regular Marijuana Smokers in an Urban Public Hospital
Authors: Habboushe Joseph , Rubin Ada , Liu Haoming , Hoffman Robert S. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractEpidemiological data, including prevalence, for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) remain largely unknown. Without these data, clinicians often describe CHS as ‘rare’ or ‘very rare’ without supporting evidence. We seek to estimate the prevalence of CHS in a population of patients presenting to a socio‐economically and racially diverse urban Emergency Department of a public hospital. This study consisted of a questionnaire administered to a convenience sample of patients presenting to the ED of the oldest public hospital in the United States. Trained Research Associates (RAs) administered the questionnaire to patients between the ages of 18–49 years who reported smoking marijuana at least 20 days per month. The survey included questions related to CHS symptoms (nausea and vomiting) and Likert scale rankings on eleven symptom relief methods, including ‘hot showers’. Patients were classified as experiencing a phenomenon consistent with CHS if they reported smoking marijuana at least 20 days per month and also rated ‘hot showers’ as five or more on the ten‐point symptom relief method Likert scale for nausea and vomiting. Among 2127 patients approached for participation, 155 met inclusion criteria as smoking 20 or more days per month. Among those surveyed, 32.9% (95% CI, 25.5–40.3%) met our criteria for having experienced CHS. If this is extractable to the general population, approximately 2.75 million (2.13–3.38 million) Americans may suffer annually from a phenomenon similar to CHS.
LAIR-1 shedding from human fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis following TNF-α stimulation
Authors: Zhang Y , Wang S , Dong H , Yi X , Zhang J , Liu X , Zhuang R , Ding Y 
Published: January 2018

Summary
This study examined the expression of the inhibitory receptor, leucocyte-associated immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to investigate its potential role in the modulation of inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and invasiveness of synoviocytes. LAIR-1 expression in synovial tissues from RA patients, osteoarthritis patients and healthy donors was analysed by immunohistochemistry. The membrane-bound form (mLAIR-1) was detected by flow cytometry. Factors involved in inflammation and MMP activity in FLS were analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). LAIR-1 expression was higher in the synovia of the RA patients than those of the osteoarthritis patients. Co-immunostaining of vimentin/LAIR-1 demonstrated that LAIR-1 was localized mainly in FLS in the RA patients. Surprisingly, primary FLS isolated from the RA patients had low levels of mLAIR-1 expression, with cytoplasmic distribution. The extracellular domain of LAIR-1 was shed from the cell surface in response to tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and this process could be blocked by serine protease inhibitors. Additional experiments indicated that LAIR-1 over-expression reduced FLS invasion considerably, which reduced simultaneously the mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and MMP-13 in the presence of TNF-α. Our study demonstrated that LAIR-1 is an anti-inflammatory molecule, and was up-regulated in FLS in the RA patients; however, cell-surface LAIR-1 could be shed from cells in the inflammatory microenvironment in RA. This may weaken the interaction of LAIR-1 with its ligand, thus reducing the anti-inflammatory effects of LAIR-1. These findings suggested that LAIR-1 may be an important factor involved in the mediation of the progressive joint destruction in RA.
Contact sensitization in dental technicians with occupational contact dermatitis. Data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) 2001–2015
Authors: Heratizadeh Annice , Werfel Thomas , Schubert Steffen , Geier Johannes ,   for the IVDK
Published: January 2018

SummaryBackgroundDental technicians (DTs) are at increased risk for allergic contact sensitization.ObjectivesTo assess the current spectrum of occupational sensitization in DTs with occupational contact dermatitis (OCD).MethodsA retrospective analysis of Information Network of Departments of Dermatology patch test data from the years 2001–2015 concerning DTs with OCD was performed.ResultsPatients of the study group (226 DTs with OCD) were significantly more often diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis (37.6% versus 18.5%; p = 0.0002) than patients of the control group (124 DTs without OCD). In the study group, positive reactions were most frequently observed to methacrylates and/or acrylates (n = 67). Of these, 61 patients showed positive reactions to at least one of the five most frequent allergens in this group, namely 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and/or ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. In contrast, no positive reactions to diurethane dimethacrylate (DUDMA) occurred. Among allergens of the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group series ‘dental metals’, positive reactions were less frequent and were mainly to palladium chloride (n = 6).ConclusionsThe present data analysis showed that the sensitization spectrum and spectrum of cross‐reactivity are largely unchanged as compared with the 1990s. It can be concluded that test recommendations are still valid and useful, except for the methacrylate DUDMA, which could be omitted.
A vitamin B12 conjugate of exendin‐4 improves glucose tolerance without associated nausea or hypophagia in rodents
Authors: Mietlicki‐Baase Elizabeth G. , Liberini Claudia G. , Workinger Jayme L. , Bonaccorso Ron L. , Borner Tito , Reiner David J. , Koch‐Laskowski Kieran , McGrath Lauren E. , Lhamo Rinzin , Stein Lauren M. , De Jonghe Bart C. , Holz George G. , Roth Christian L. , Doyle Robert P. , Hayes Matthew R. 
Published: January 2018

AimsWhile pharmacological glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R) agonists are FDA‐approved for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, a major side effect is nausea/malaise. We recently developed a conjugate of vitamin B12 (B12) bound to the GLP‐1R agonist exendin‐4 (Ex4), which displays enhanced proteolytic stability and retention of GLP‐1R agonism. Here, we evaluate whether the conjugate (B12‐Ex4) can improve glucose tolerance without producing anorexia and malaise.Materials and methodsWe evaluated the effects of systemic B12‐Ex4 and unconjugated Ex4 on food intake and body weight change, oral glucose tolerance and nausea/malaise in male rats, and on intraperitoneal glucose tolerance in mice. To evaluate whether differences in the profile of effects of B12‐Ex4 vs unconjugated Ex4 are the result of altered CNS penetrance, rats received systemic injections of fluorescein‐Ex4 (Flex), Cy5‐B12 or Cy5‐B12‐Ex4 and brain penetrance was evaluated using confocal microscopy. Uptake of systemically administered Cy5‐B12‐Ex4 in insulin‐containing pancreatic beta cells was also examined.ResultsB12‐Ex4 conjugate improves glucose tolerance, but does not elicit the malaise and anorexia produced by unconjugated Ex4. While Flex robustly penetrates into the brain (dorsal vagal complex, paraventricular hypothalamus), Cy5‐B12 and Cy5‐B12‐Ex4 fluorescence were not observed centrally, supporting an absence of CNS penetrance, in line with observed reduction in CNS‐associated Ex4 side effects. Cy5‐B12‐Ex4 colocalizes with insulin in the pancreas, suggesting direct pancreatic action as a potential mechanism underlying the hypoglycaemic effects of B12‐Ex4.ConclusionThese novel findings highlight the potential clinical utility of B12‐Ex4 conjugates as possible future T2DM therapeutics with reduced incidence of adverse effects.
Serum lipoprotein (a) predicts acute coronary syndromes in patients with severe carotid stenosis
Authors: Rigamonti Fabio , Carbone Federico , Montecucco Fabrizio , Bonaventura Aldo , Liberale Luca , Burger Fabienne , Roth Aline , Bertolotto Maria , Spinella Giovanni , Pane Bianca , Palombo Domenico , Pende Aldo , Dallegri Franco , Mach François , Bertolini Stefano , Pisciotta Livia 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackgroundDifferent cut‐off values of serum lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] were recently identified to better stratify cardiovascular risk categories. Both pathophysiological and prognostic values of Lp (a) remain unclear.Materials and methodsHere, the prognostic value of Lp (a) and its correlation with intraplaque features were assessed in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis undergoing endarterectomy (n = 180). The cut‐off value of 10 mg/dL for serum Lp (a) was selected to predict 24‐month follow‐up acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In addition, the association between serum Lp (a) and intraplaque lipids, collagen, inflammatory and vascular cells was assessed. Serum Lp (a) levels were measured by nephelometric assay.ResultsPatients with high Lp (a) had similar comorbidities, medications and laboratory parameters as compared to low Lp (a) levels. At 24‐month follow‐up, patients with high Lp (a) had more ACS as compared to low levels. Histological parameters within plaques were comparable in the study groups. No significant correlation between Lp (a) serum levels and intraplaque parameters was found, except for a weak positive association with smooth muscle cells in upstream plaque portions. When adjusted for gender, the presence of dyslipidaemia and chronic coronary artery disease, Lp (a) ≥10 mg/dL remained predictive for ACS.ConclusionsLp (a) determination could be a useful tool to predict ACS in patients with severe carotid stenosis.
Hospital nurses’ information retrieval behaviours in relation to evidence based nursing: a literature review
Authors: Alving Berit Elisabeth , Christensen Janne Buck , Thrysøe Lars 
Published: January 2018

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this literature review is to provide an overview of the information retrieval behaviour of clinical nurses, in terms of the use of databases and other information resources and their frequency of use.MethodsSystematic searches carried out in five databases and handsearching were used to identify the studies from 2010 to 2016, with a populations, exposures and outcomes (PEO) search strategy, focusing on the question: In which databases or other information resources do hospital nurses search for evidence based information, and how often?ResultsOf 5272 titles retrieved based on the search strategy, only nine studies fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. The studies are from the United States, Canada, Taiwan and Nigeria. The results show that hospital nurses’ primary choice of source for evidence based information is Google and peers, while bibliographic databases such as PubMed are secondary choices. Data on frequency are only included in four of the studies, and data are heterogenous.ConclusionsThe reasons for choosing Google and peers are primarily lack of time; lack of information; lack of retrieval skills; or lack of training in database searching. Only a few studies are published on clinical nurses’ retrieval behaviours, and more studies are needed from Europe and Australia.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer therapy: a focus on T‐regulatory cells
Authors: Sasidharan Nair Varun , Elkord Eyad 
Published: January 2018

AbstractRegulatory T cells (Tregs) play essential roles in immune homeostasis; however, their role in tumor microenvironment (TME) is not completely evident. Several studies reported that infiltration of Tregs into various tumor tissues promotes tumor progression by limiting antitumor immunity and supporting tumor immune evasion. Furthermore, in TME, Tregs include heterogeneous subsets of cells expressing different immunosuppressive molecules favoring tumor progression. For an effective cancer therapy, it is critical to understand the Treg heterogeneity and biology in the TME. Recent studies have shown that immune checkpoint molecules promote cancer progression through various antitumor inhibitory mechanisms. Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have shown the promising potentials of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in inducing antitumor immune responses and clinical benefits in patients with cancer at late stages. Most studies revealed the effect of ICIs on T effector cells, and little is known about their effect on Tregs. In this review, we highlight the effects of the ICIs, including anti‐CTLA‐4, anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1, anti‐LAG‐3, anti‐TIM‐3, and anti‐TIGIT, on tumor‐infiltrating and peripheral Tregs to elicit effector T‐cell functions against tumors. Additionally, we discuss how ICIs may target Tregs for cancer immunotherapy.
Distinct effect of age, sex, and CMV seropositivity on dendritic cells and monocytes in human blood
Authors: Puissant‐Lubrano Bénédicte , Apoil Pol André , Guedj Kevin , Congy‐Jolivet Nicolas , Roubinet Francis , Guyonnet Sophie , Sourdet Sandrine , Nourhashemi Fati , Blancher Antoine 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWe analyzed the impact of age, sex, and CMV on blood monocyte and dendritic cell (DC) subpopulations in 256 healthy individuals aged from 19 to 96 years. Flow cytometry was performed on whole blood within the 4 h following blood drawing. Myeloid (mDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC), classical, intermediate, and nonclassical monocytes were enumerated by means of TruCount tubes (BD Biosciences). We provided reference values for mDC, pDC and the three monocyte subpopulations. The numbers of classical, intermediate, and nonclassical monocytes slightly increased with age while the numbers of mDC and pDC did not vary significantly. The level of expression of CD64 and CD163 on monocytes significantly increased with age while HLA‐DR expression did not vary significantly. More precisely, CD163 expression level on intermediate monocyte slightly increased with age in women only (Spearman P = 0.019) while CD64 expression increased on monocytes in CMV‐positive individuals only. We observed that sex had almost no impact on the numbers of monocytes and DC and on their expression level of CD64 and HLA‐DR. We observed a significant decrease in the numbers of pDC with age in CMV‐positive individuals, but not in CMV negative individuals. This suggests that the lifelong subclinical infection by CMV could influence the number of circulating DC of lymphoid origin. In contrast, CMV serostatus had no significant impact on absolute numbers of mDC and monocytes.
Superior properties of CellTrace Yellow™ as a division tracking dye for human and murine lymphocytes
Authors: Tempany Jessica C , Zhou Jie HS , Hodgkin Philip D , Bryant Vanessa L 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe discovery of cell division tracking properties of 5‐(and‐6)‐carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) by Lyons and Parish in 1994 led to a broad range of new methods and numerous important biological discoveries. After labeling, CFSE is attached to free amine groups and intracellular proteins in the cytoplasm and nucleus of a cell, and halves in fluorescence intensity with each round of cell division, enabling enumeration of the number of divisions a cell has undergone. A range of popular division tracking dyes were subsequently developed, including CellTrace Violet (CTV), making available the green fluorescent channel previously occupied by CFSE. More recently, CellTrace Yellow (CTY) and CellTrace Far Red (CTFR), each with unique fluorescence properties, were introduced. In a comparison, we found that the fluorescence values of both dyes were well separated from autofluorescence, and enabled a greater number of divisions to be identified than CTV, before this limit was reached. These new dyes provided clear and well‐separated peaks for both murine and human B lymphocytes, and should find wide application. The range of excitation/emission spectra available for division tracking dyes now also facilitates multiplexing, that is, the labeling of cells with different combinations of dyes to give a unique fluorescence signature, allowing single cell in vitro and in vivo tracking. The combinatorial possibilities are significantly increased with these additional dyes.