bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
We Avoid Antibiotic Lock Solutions due to Fear of Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Krishnan Namrata 
Published: April 2016

AbstractHemodialysis catheter‐related bacteremia (CRB) is the most common complication associated with catheter use in dialysis patients and portends a high morbidity and mortality. Current CDC and KDIGO guidelines recommend treating CRBs with systemic antibiotics in conjunction with catheter replacement, although the latter has limitations. Antibiotic lock solutions (ABLs) are very effective in both prevention and treatment of CRBs in hemodialysis patients and may be a preferred alternative to catheter replacement especially in patients where catheter salvage is a priority. Previous smaller observational studies have raised concerns of a potential increase in antibiotic resistance associated with the widespread use of ABLs. Review of the recent literature does not support this claim.
Genetic Variants in IL‐12B and IL‐27 in the Polish Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Paradowska‐Gorycka A. , Sowinska A. , Stypinska B. , Grobelna M. K. , Walczyk M. , Olesinska M. , Piotrowski P. , Jagodzinski P. P. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractTo investigate the potential association between IL‐12B and IL‐27 gene polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we performed a case–control study based on the Polish population. Patients with SLE and healthy individuals were examined for −6415 CTCTAA/GC (rs17860508) and +1188A/C (rs3212227) in IL‐12B and −924A/G (rs153109) and 4730T/C (rs181206) in IL‐27 gene polymorphisms using the high‐resolution melting method, PCR–RFLP method and TaqMan SNP genotyping assay, respectively. An increased frequency of GC/GC genotype as well as GC allele of the IL‐12B rs17860508 was found in patients with SLE, as compared with healthy subjects (P < 0.001). We did not find differences in genotype and allele frequencies of the IL‐12B rs3212227 and IL‐27 rs153109 and rs181206 variants between patients with SLE and controls. IL‐27 haplotype rs181206C/rs153109G indicated higher risk for SLE (P = 0.002), whereas haplotype rs181206T/rs153109G indicated reduced risk for SLE (P = 0.005). The IL‐12B rs3212227 A/C polymorphism was associated with the mean value of the platelets (PLT), urea and complement C3 level. Furthermore, IL‐12B rs17860508 genetic variant showed correlation with PLT, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio and alkaline phosphatase. Our results revealed that IL‐12B rs17860508 and IL‐27 haplotype CG are genetic risk factors for SLE and that both IL‐12B rs17860508 and rs3212227 predict disease phenotype.
Frame Correction Modelling with Applications to the German Register‐Assisted Census 2011
Authors: Dostál Lucie , Gabler Siegfried , Ganninger Matthias , Münnich Ralf 
Published: April 2016

AbstractFrame corrections have been studied in census applications for a long time. One very promising method is dual system estimation, which is based on capture–recapture models. These methods have been applied recently in the USA, England, Israel and Switzerland. In order to gain information on subgroups of the population, structure preserving estimators can be applied [i.e. structure preserving estimation (SPREE) and generalized SPREE]. The present paper extends the SPREE approach with an alternative distance function, the chi‐square. The new method has shown improved estimates in our application with very small domains. A comparative study based on a large‐scale Monte Carlo simulation elaborates on advantages and disadvantages of the estimators in the context of the German register‐assisted Census 2011.
Linear Increments with Non‐monotone Missing Data and Measurement Error
Authors: Seaman Shaun R. , Farewell Daniel , White Ian R. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractLinear increments (LI) are used to analyse repeated outcome data with missing values. Previously, two LI methods have been proposed, one allowing non‐monotone missingness but not independent measurement error and one allowing independent measurement error but only monotone missingness. In both, it was suggested that the expected increment could depend on current outcome. We show that LI can allow non‐monotone missingness and either independent measurement error of unknown variance or dependence of expected increment on current outcome but not both. A popular alternative to LI is a multivariate normal model ignoring the missingness pattern. This gives consistent estimation when data are normally distributed and missing at random (MAR). We clarify the relation between MAR and the assumptions of LI and show that for continuous outcomes multivariate normal estimators are also consistent under (non‐MAR and non‐normal) assumptions not much stronger than those of LI. Moreover, when missingness is non‐monotone, they are typically more efficient.
Suicidality Among Chronically Homeless People with Alcohol Problems Attenuates Following Exposure to Housing First
Authors: Collins Susan E. , Taylor Emily M. , King Victor L. , Hatsukami Alyssa S. , Jones Matthew B. , Lee Chi‐Yun , Lenert James , Jing Johanna M. , Barker Charlotte R. , Goldstein Silvi C. , Hardy Robert V. , Kaese Greta , Nelson Lonnie A. 
Published: April 2016

This study is the first to document suicidality among chronically homeless people with alcohol problems (N = 134) and examine its trajectory following exposure to immediate, permanent, low‐barrier housing (i.e., Housing First). Suicidal ideation, intent, plans, and prior attempts were assessed at baseline and during a 2‐year follow‐up. Baseline suicidal ideation was over four times higher than in the general population. Two‐year, within‐subjects, longitudinal analyses indicated severity of suicidal ideation decreased by 43% from baseline to follow‐up. Significant decreases were also found for intent and clinical significance of ideation. No participants died by suicide during the 2‐year follow‐up.
Welfare Generosity in Europe: A Multi‐level Study of Material Deprivation and Income Poverty among Disadvantaged Groups
Authors: Saltkjel Therese , Malmberg‐Heimonen Ira 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe aim of this study is to analyze whether and to what extent welfare generosity moderates the risk of income poverty and material deprivation among disadvantaged groups, that is, people with ill health, low education and lack of employment. The data are based on the 2009 European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (cross‐sectional) surveys. The analyses comprise 27 and 28 European countries, including 292,874 and 302,343 individuals between 18 and 64 years of age. Multi‐level analyses demonstrated that welfare generosity moderated the risk of both material deprivation and income poverty. With few exceptions, the risk decreased among disadvantaged groups in absolute terms. Among individuals who experienced the combinations of limiting long‐standing illness and either low education or non‐employment, the absolute inequalities in material deprivation decreased with increasing welfare generosity. Also, the absolute inequalities in income poverty among individuals who experienced the combination of limiting long‐standing illness and low education were lower in more generous welfare contexts. Results indicated lower absolute levels of both material deprivation and income poverty among disadvantaged individuals in generous welfare states. However, for material deprivation the results were more substantial and consistent than for income poverty. Taken together, these findings support the view that generous welfare states reach the worst‐off and are successful in buffering material deprivation and income poverty and, hence, in reducing social inequalities.
Many de novo donor‐specific antibodies recognize β2‐microglobulin‐free, but not intact HLA heterodimers
Authors: Michel K. , Santella R. , Steers J. , Sahajpal A. , Downey F. X. , Thohan V. , Oaks M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractSolid‐phase single antigen bead (SAB) assays are standard of care for detection and identification of donor‐specific antibody (DSA) in patients who receive solid organ transplantation (SOT). While several studies have documented the reproducibility and sensitivity of SAB testing for DSA, there are little data available concerning its specificity. This study describes the identification of antibodies to β2‐microglobulin‐free human leukocyte antigen (β2‐m‐fHLA) heavy chains on SAB arrays and provides a reassessment of the clinical relevance of DSA testing by this platform. Post‐transplant sera from 55 patients who were positive for de novo donor‐specific antibodies on a SAB solid‐phase immunoassay were tested under denaturing conditions in order to identify antibodies reactive with β2‐m‐fHLA or native HLA (nHLA). Antibodies to β2‐m‐fHLA were present in nearly half of patients being monitored in the post‐transplant period. The frequency of antibodies to β2‐m‐fHLA was similar among DSA and HLA antigens that were irrelevant to the transplant (non‐DSA). Among the seven patients with clinical or pathologic antibody‐mediated rejection (AMR), none had antibodies to β2‐m‐fHLA exclusively; thus, the clinical relevance of β2‐m‐fHLA is unclear. Our data suggests that SAB testing produces false positive reactions due to the presence of β2‐m‐fHLA and these can lead to inappropriate assignment of unacceptable antigens during transplant listing and possibly inaccurate identification of DSA in the post‐transplant period.
Perceptions of fieldwork in occupational therapy
Authors: Ingwersen Kate , Lyons Nikki , Hitch Danielle 
Published: April 2016

SummaryBackgroundThere are few studies in occupational therapy that compare the perceptions of supervisors and students regarding quality clinical placement programmes, and those that exist indicate substantial differences in the perceptions held by each group.MethodsThis pilot study was conducted using a cross‐sectional descriptive design, with a single questionnaire distributed to occupational therapy students and clinical supervisors. A total of 40 questionnaires were returned: 17 from students and 23 from clinical supervisors.ResultsDifferences were found between the perceptions of occupational therapy students and clinical supervisors in response to four topics: preparation from the university for their placements; consistency across placement sites; instances of supervisors seeking feedback from students; and the burden associated with the placement‐related workload for clinicians.Differences were found between the perceptions of occupational therapy students and clinical supervisors in response to four topicsDiscussionDifferent perceptions around preparation from universities and consistency across placement sites relate to the existing roles of each group: students are more aware of university preparation and clinical supervisors are more aware of organisational inconsistencies in their respective usual work environments. The discrepancy in the perceived seeking of feedback from students has also been reported in student debriefing sessions. The burdens perceived by clinical supervisors appear to be influenced by a belief that clinical education is an additional duty rather than a core role.
Reconstitution of cytomegalovirus‐specific T‐cell response in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell recipients: the contribution of six frequently recognized, virus‐encoded ORFs
Authors: Nemeckova S. , Krystofova J. , Babiarova K. , Hainz P. , Musil J. , Sroller V. , Maly M. , Stastna‐Markova M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe reactivation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in immunosuppressed patients is associated with significant morbidity. Testing HCMV‐specific T‐cell responses can help determine which patients are at high risk of HCMV disease. We optimized selection of HCMV antigens for detection of T‐cell response of patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with the aim of identifying patients with insufficient control of HCMV reactivation.MethodsT‐cell immune response to HCMV was monitored in 30 patients during the first year after HSCT. The HSCT recipients were classified according to their anti‐HCMV T‐cell response and the presence of HCMV DNA in the blood.ResultsWe observed an inverse relationship between the magnitude of HCMV‐specific T‐cell responses against CMV lysate, phosphoprotein (pp) 65, immediate early‐1 (IE‐1), UL36, and UL55, but not to US3 and US29 detected by interferon‐gamma (IFNγ)‐ ELISPOT and the level of HCMV DNA in the blood of patients during the 30 days following sampling. The study has revealed that patients who received a graft from a seronegative donor have a lower T‐cell response against HCMV and increased probability of HCMV reactivation in comparison to the patients who had received their graft from a seropositive donor.ConclusionThe individual peptide pools and native HCMV antigens were useful for monitoring the time course of the anti‐HCMV response by IFNγ‐ELISPOT, which proved to have a prognostic value. Besides widely employed peptide pools of pp65 and IE‐1, the use of antigens UL36 and UL55, but not US3 or US29, increased sensitivity of the test.
Detection of Epstein–Barr virus DNAemia after lung transplantation and its potential relationship with the development of post‐transplant complications
Authors: Silva J.T. , López‐Medrano F. , Alonso‐Moralejo R. , Fernández‐Ruiz M. , de Pablo‐Gafas A. , Pérez‐González V. , San‐Juan R. , Pérez‐Jacoiste Asín M.A. , Ruiz‐Merlo T. , Folgueira M.D. , Aguado J.M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundRecent studies suggest that Epstein–Barr virus DNAemia (EBVd) may act as a surrogate marker of post‐transplant immunosuppression. This hypothesis has not been tested so far in lung transplant (LT) recipients.MethodsWe included 63 patients undergoing lung transplantation at our center between October 2008 and May 2013. Whole blood EBVd was systematically assessed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction assay on a quarterly basis. The occurrence of late complications (overall and opportunistic infection [OI] and chronic lung allograft dysfunction [CLAD]) was analyzed according to the detection of EBVd within the first 6 months post transplantation.ResultsAny EBVd was detected in 30 (47.6%) patients. Peak EBVd was higher in patients with late overall infection (2.23 vs. 1.73 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.026) and late OI (2.39 vs. 1.74 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.004). The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting both events were 0.806 and 0.871 respectively. The presence of an EBVd ≥2 log10 copies/mL during the first 6 months post transplantation was associated with a higher risk of late OI (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 7.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.10–29.85; P = 0.002). Patients with detectable EBVd during the first 6 months also had lower CLAD‐free survival (P = 0.035), although this association did not remain statistically significant in the multivariate analysis (aHR 1.26; 95% CI 0.87–5.29; P = 0.099).ConclusionsAlthough preliminary in nature, our results suggest that the detection of EBVd within the first 6 months after transplantation is associated with the subsequent occurrence of late OI in LT recipients.
A naïve Bayesian classifier for identifying plant microRNAs
Authors: Douglass Stephen , Hsu Ssu‐Wei , Cokus Shawn , Goldberg Robert B. , Harada John J. , Pellegrini Matteo 
Published: April 2016

SummaryMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulatory molecules in eukaryotic organisms. Existing methods for the identification of mature miRNA sequences in plants rely extensively on the search for stem–loop structures, leading to high false negative rates. Here, we describe a probabilistic method for ranking putative plant miRNAs using a naïve Bayes classifier and its publicly available implementation. We use a number of properties to construct the classifier, including sequence length, number of observations, existence of detectable predicted miRNA* sequences, the distribution of nearby reads and mapping multiplicity. We apply the method to small RNA sequence data from soybean, peach, Arabidopsis and rice and provide experimental validation of several predictions in soybean. The approach performs well overall and strongly enriches for known miRNAs over other types of sequences. By utilizing a Bayesian approach to rank putative miRNAs, our method is able to score miRNAs that would be eliminated by other methods, such as those that have low counts or lack detectable miRNA* sequences. As a result, we are able to detect several soybean miRNA candidates, including some that are 24 nucleotides long, a class that is almost universally eliminated by other methods.
Red blood cells stored 35 days or more are associated with adverse outcomes in high‐risk patients
Authors: Goel Ruchika , Johnson Daniel J. , Scott Andrew V. , Tobian Aaron A.R. , Ness Paul M. , Nagababu Enika , Frank Steven M. 
Published: April 2016

BACKGROUNDClinical trials have shown that longer red blood cell (RBC) storage duration does not worsen outcomes; however, these studies included few RBCs near the end of the 42‐day storage limit. We tested the hypothesis that these “oldest” RBCs are associated with adverse outcomes.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSIn a retrospective study, 28,247 transfused patients given 129,483 RBC units were assessed. Morbidity, mortality, and length of stay (LOS) were compared in patients transfused exclusively with RBCs stored not more than 21 days versus patients transfused exclusively with RBCs stored 28 days or more and patients transfused exclusively with RBCs stored 35 days or more.RESULTSAfter risk adjustment, ≥35‐day RBCs were associated with increased morbidity (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07‐1.32; p = 0.002), but ≥28‐day RBCs were not (adjOR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.97‐1.15; p = 0.2). Neither ≥35‐day nor ≥28‐day RBCs were associated with increased mortality. In critically ill patients, ≥35‐day RBCs were associated with increased morbidity (adjOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08‐1.44; p = 0.002) and mortality (adjOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.08‐1.74; p = 0.009), but ≥28‐day RBCs were associated with neither. In older patients, ≥35‐day RBCs were associated with increased morbidity (adjOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.42; p = 0.01), but not mortality (adjOR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.96‐1.71; p = 0.1), and ≥28‐day RBCs were associated with neither. LOS was increased for both ≥28‐ and ≥35‐day RBCs for all patients and the critically ill and older subgroups.CONCLUSIONSRBCs transfused in the last 7 days of their 42‐day storage limit may be associated with adverse clinical outcomes in high‐risk patients.
High‐throughput strategy for molecular identification of Vel– blood donors employing nucleic acids extracted from plasma pools used for viral nucleic acid test screening
Authors: Dezan Marcia R. , Dinardo Carla L. , Bosi Silvia R.A. , Vega Sileni , Salles Nanci A. , Mendrone‐Júnior Alfredo , Levi José E. 
Published: April 2016

BACKGROUNDSerologic methods to determine the Vel– phenotype require the use of rare human antisera and do not allow for many samples to be tested simultaneously, which limits their application as a tool to search for rare donors. This study developed a low‐cost molecular screening strategy using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA, extracted from plasma pools for viral nucleic acid test (NAT) screening, to identify Vel– and Vel+W donors.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSA total of 4680 blood donors from the Brazilian southeast region were genotyped through real‐time PCR targeting the 17‐nucleotide (c.64_80del) deletion in the SMIM1 gene, which determines the Vel– phenotype, by using remaining nucleic acid from plasma pools of six donors, routinely discarded after the release of viral NAT results.RESULTSTwenty pools tested reactive and individual testing of samples from reactive pools identified 19 heterozygous donors with the SMIM1*64_80del deletion (0.40%) and one homozygous donor (0.02%). Fourteen of the 19 donors were confirmed as Vel– or Vel+W using anti‐Vel human antiserum.CONCLUSIONThe DNA pool genotyping strategy using real‐time PCR designed to detect the deletion in the SMIM1 gene proved effective and accurate in identifying donors with the Vel– and Vel+W phenotypes. The fact that remaining nucleic acid from routine viral NAT screening was used makes this technique economically attractive and definitely superior to the serologic techniques available to search for this rare phenotype.
Comparison of 4 point‐of‐care blood gas analyzers for arterial blood gas analysis in healthy dogs and dogs with cardiopulmonary disease
Authors: Roels Elodie , Gommeren Kris , Farnir Frédéric , Delvaux François , Billen Frédéric , Clercx Cécile 
Published: April 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo compare blood gas results obtained from 4 point‐of‐care (POC) blood gas analyzers under routine working conditions in order to determine their interchangeability.DesignProspective study.SettingUniversity teaching hospital.AnimalsArterial blood samples from 34 dogs, 22 presented for cardiorespiratory disease and 12 healthy experimental Beagles.MeasurementsEach sample was analyzed by 4 POC blood gas analyzers in a random order: Cobas b‐123 POC system, IRMA TruPoint, Idexx VetStat, and ABL80 FLEX. Values obtained for pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PO2), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) were compared between analyzers using a statistical mixed linear model and the Bland–Altman method; P < 0.05 was set as the level of significance. One sample was also repeatedly measured 5 times on each machine to calculate and compare intra‐analyzer variance for each measured variable using Fisher‐statistics.ResultsPO2 and PCO2 values were significantly higher when measured with the Idexx and IRMA machine than with Cobas and ABL80 (PO2: P < 0.001; PCO2: P < 0.05). pH values were significantly higher when measured with the Idexx instrument than with others' devices (P < 0.01). An interaction between health status and results delivered by devices was found only for PO2 values. There was no significant difference in intra‐analyzer variance between the 4 machines, for any of the measured variables.ConclusionsPO2, PCO2, and pH differed significantly between the 4 analyzers. Differences in PO2 results were substantial and clinically relevant. All 4 analyzers displayed good intra‐analyzer variance. Consequently, serial blood gas analysis should be performed on a single device and interpreted in accordance of the device's specific reference intervals.