bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors linked to disease severity and time to remission in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authors: Sánchez‐Borges M. , Caballero‐Fonseca F. , Capriles‐Hulett A. , González‐Aveledo L. , Maurer M. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBiomarkers useful for the evaluation and management of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) are not currently available. A review of various clinical and laboratory markers that have been studied to assess their value for determining the severity or predicting the evolution of disease in adult patients with CSU was carried out. A search of the medical literature on PubMed and MEDLINE including the terms urticaria, chronic urticaria, chronic idiopathic urticaria, CSU, severity, prognosis and treatment was performed. Based on our review of the literature, among the clinical markers studied, higher age at onset, being female, long disease duration and aspirin/NSAID hypersensitivity may be linked to both severe CSU and a long time to spontaneous remission. In addition, a positive autologous serum skin test (ASST) may be associated with severe CSU, and comorbidity of inducible urticaria and concomitant recurrent angio‐oedema may be linked to longer CSU duration. Potential biomarkers of CSU severity and/or duration include basophil numbers and susceptibility to activation, inflammatory markers, markers of activation of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, immunoglobulin E and vitamin D. Although the described markers are promising, further studies on representative and well‐characterized patient populations are needed to determine the value of these clinical and biological markers for predicting the severity and course of disease in patients with CSU.
Content aggregation by platforms: The case of the news media
Authors: Chiou Lesley , Tucker Catherine 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe digitization of content has led to the emergence of platforms that draw information from multiple sources. This paper investigates whether aggregation of content by a single platform encourages users to “skim” content or to investigate it in depth. We study a contract dispute that led a major aggregator to remove information from a major content provider. After the removal, users were less likely to investigate additional, related content in depth, particularly sources that were horizontally or vertically differentiated.
Arsenic trioxide combined with transarterial chemoembolization for primary liver cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Lv Xiu‐He , Wang Chun‐Hui , Xie Yan 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackground and AimThe benefit of combination therapy of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is debated. This meta‐analysis was conducted to determine whether As2O3&TACE therapy achieves better therapeutic effects compared with TACE alone for primary liver cancer.MethodsA systematic search of both English and Chinese databases was conducted for randomized controlled trials. The main outcomes were therapeutic responses, survival rates, improvement in quality of life, and adverse events. All data analyses in this study were carried out using Review Manager software and STATA software.ResultsEighteen randomized controlled trials involving 1412 participants were included. The pooled objective response rate was significantly higher in the As2O3&TACE group compared with the TACE group (relative risk [RR] 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16–1.58, P < 0.0001), and the pooled clinical benefit rate was also significantly higher (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08–1.29, P = 0.0002). A higher pooled result was obtained from the combination group for 1‐year survival rate (RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.23–1.53, P < 0.00001). As2O3&TACE therapy was not superior to TACE alone for improvement in quality of life (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.98–1.36, P = 0.09). There was no significant difference in the risk of adverse effects. When a subgroup analysis was performed, both administration methods of As2O3 (intravenous or arterial) were effective for all evaluating indicators except the improvement in quality of life.ConclusionsAdjuvant As2O3 therapy combined with TACE achieves better therapeutic effects compared with TACE alone. Both the intravenous administration of As2O3 and the arterial administration of As2O3 were good options for clinical practice.
Women's Access to Property: A Comparative Study on Islamic and Kemalist Women in Turkey
Authors: O'Neil Mary Lou , Toktas Sule 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis article uses a comparative approach to discuss women's access to property using evidence collected from field research conducted on two distinct communities of Istanbul: one secular and one Islamic. The two groups of women possess distinctly different views of the world and how it is organized. This is particularly the case concerning gender where secular women put forth a view rooted in the sameness of the genders where the Islamic women were clear in their commitment to the idea of difference. These attitudes toward the equality and difference of the genders structures the relations of these women to property and the process of inheritance.
Erythrocyte osmotic fragility and general health status of adolescent Sprague Dawley rats supplemented with Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous calyx extracts as neonates followed by a high‐fructose diet post‐weaning
Authors: Ibrahim K. G. , Lembede B. W. , Chivandi E. , Erlwanger K. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryHigh‐fructose diets (HFD) can cause oxidative damage to tissues including erythrocyte cell membranes. Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) has protective antioxidant properties. Rats were used to investigate whether the consumption of HS by neonates would result in long‐term effects on their erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) and general health when later fed a high‐fructose diet post‐weaning through adolescence. Eighty of four‐day‐old Sprague Dawley rat pups were divided randomly into three treatment groups. The controls (n = 27) received distilled water at 10 ml/kg b. w, while the other groups received either 50 mg/kg (n = 28) or 500 mg/kg (n = 25) of an HS aqueous calyx extract orally till post‐natal day 14. The rats in each group were weaned and divided into two subgroups; one continued on normal rat chow, and the other received fructose (20% w/v) in their drinking water for 30 days. Blood was collected in heparinised tubes and added to serially diluted (0.0–0.85%) phosphate‐buffered saline to determine the EOF. Clinical markers of health status were determined with an automated chemical analyser. HS extracts did not programme metabolism in the growing rats to alter their general health and EOF in response to the HFD.
The case of self‐resolving type III achalasia after bilateral lung transplant
Authors: Aggarwal P. , Bansal V. , Aggarwal N. , Arora Z. , Murthy S. , Gabbard S. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackgroundPost‐surgical achalasia has been previously described in large case series but there are limited data on the natural progression of the disease process. In general, achalasia is considered an “incurable” disease as per published guidelines. We present here, the first report of a patient with post‐surgical achalasia which resolved spontaneously.MethodsThis is a retrospective chart review.Key ResultsA 60‐year‐old male presented for dysphagia 3 months status post‐bilateral lung transplant and was diagnosed with achalasia following positive manometry. Absent any treatment, his repeat manometry showed complete, spontaneous resolution of the achalasia 2 years following lung transplant.Conclusions & InferencesTo our knowledge, this is the first such case of spontaneously resolving achalasia following bilateral lung transplant. This case warrants further study in to the natural progression of post‐surgical achalasia.
A Re-Evaluation of Fixed Effect(s) Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rice Kenneth , Higgins Julian P. T. , Lumley Thomas 
Published: March 2017

SummaryMeta-analysis is a common tool for synthesizing results of multiple studies. Among methods for performing meta-analysis, the approach known as ‘fixed effects’ or ‘inverse variance weighting’ is popular and widely used. A common interpretation of this method is that it assumes that the underlying effects in contributing studies are identical, and for this reason it is sometimes dismissed by practitioners. However, other interpretations of fixed effects analyses do not make this assumption, yet appear to be little known in the literature. We review these alternative interpretations, describing both their strengths and their limitations. We also describe how heterogeneity of the underlying effects can be addressed, with the same minimal assumptions, through either testing or meta-regression. Recommendations for the practice of meta-analysis are given; it is hoped that these will foster more direct connection of the questions that meta-analysts wish to answer with the statistical methods they choose.
Building Archean cratons from Hadean mafic crust
Authors: O’Neil Jonathan , Carlson Richard W. 
Published: March 2017

Archean cratons get a Hadean mash-up
The vast majority of the rock record over Earth's 4.6-billion-year history has been destroyed through subduction and recycling back into the mantle. Although some slivers of 4-billion-year-old crust remain in the rock record, only isolated zircon mineral grains are dated to be older. However, O'Neil and Carlson found isotopic evidence of reworked basaltic crust more than 4.3 billion years old mixed into some of the 2.7-billion-year-old rocks of the Superior Province in Canada. Thus, our planet's oldest crust was reworked and retained during formation of at least one continental craton.

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A Single-Dose Recombinant Parainfluenza Virus 5-Vectored Vaccine Expressing Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) F or G Protein Protected Cotton Rats and African Green Monkeys from RSV Challenge
Authors: Wang Dai , Phan Shannon , DiStefano Daniel J. , Citron Michael P. , Callahan Cheryl L. , Indrawati Lani , Dubey Sheri A. , Heidecker Gwendolyn J. , Govindarajan Dhanasekaran , Liang Xiaoping , He Biao , Espeseth Amy S. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of severe respiratory disease among infants, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly. No licensed vaccine is currently available. In this study, we evaluated two parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5)-vectored vaccines expressing RSV F (PIV5/F) or G (PIV5/G) protein in the cotton rat and African green monkey models for their replication, immunogenicity, and efficacy of protection against RSV challenge. Following a single intranasal inoculation, both animal species shed the vaccine viruses for a limited time but without noticeable clinical symptoms. In cotton rats, the vaccines elicited RSV F- or G-specific serum antibodies and conferred complete lung protection against RSV challenge at doses as low as 10
3
PFU. Neither vaccine produced the enhanced lung pathology observed in animals immunized with formalin-inactivated RSV. In African green monkeys, vaccine-induced serum and mucosal antibody responses were readily detected, as well. PIV5/F provided nearly complete protection against RSV infection in the upper and lower respiratory tract at a dose of 10
6
PFU of vaccine. At the same dose levels, PIV5/G was less efficacious. Both PIV5/F and PIV5/G were also able to boost neutralization titers in RSV-preexposed African green monkeys. Overall, our data indicated that PIV5/F is a promising RSV vaccine candidate.

IMPORTANCE
A safe and efficacious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine remains elusive. We tested the recombinant parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) vectors expressing RSV glycoproteins for their immunogenicity and protective efficacy in cotton rats and African green monkeys, which are among the best available animal models to study RSV infection. In both species, a single dose of intranasal immunization with PIV5-vectored vaccines was able to produce systemic and local immunity and to protect animals from RSV challenge. The vaccines could also boost RSV neutralization antibody titers in African green monkeys that had been infected previously. Our data suggest that PIV5-vectored vaccines could potentially protect both the pediatric and elderly populations and support continued development of the vector platform.
Prion Strain Characterization of a Novel Subtype of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Authors: Galeno Roberta , Di Bari Michele Angelo , Nonno Romolo , Cardone Franco , Sbriccoli Marco , Graziano Silvia , Ingrosso Loredana , Fiorini Michele , Valanzano Angelina , Pasini Giulia , Poleggi Anna , Vinci Ramona , Ladogana Anna , Puopolo Maria , Monaco Salvatore , Agrimi Umberto , Zanusso Gianluigi , Pocchiari Maurizio 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTIn 2007, we reported a patient with an atypical form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) heterozygous for methionine-valine (MV) at codon 129 who showed a novel pathological prion protein (PrPTSE) conformation with an atypical glycoform (AG) profile and intraneuronal PrP deposition. In the present study, we further characterize the conformational properties of this pathological prion protein (PrPTSEMVAG), showing that PrPTSEMVAGis composed of multiple conformers with biochemical properties distinct from those of PrPTSEtype 1 and type 2 of MV sporadic CJD (sCJD). Experimental transmission of CJD-MVAGto bank voles and gene-targeted transgenic mice carrying the human prion protein gene (TgHu mice) showed unique transmission rates, survival times, neuropathological changes, PrPTSEdeposition patterns, and PrPTSEglycotypes that are distinct from those of sCJD-MV1 and sCJD-MV2. These biochemical and experimental data suggest the presence of a novel prion strain in CJD-MVAG.IMPORTANCESporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is caused by the misfolding of the cellular prion protein, which assumes two different major conformations (type 1 and type 2) and, together with the methionine/valine polymorphic codon 129 of the prion protein gene, contribute to the occurrence of distinct clinical-pathological phenotypes. Inoculation in laboratory rodents of brain tissues from the six possible combinations of pathological prion protein types with codon 129 genotypes results in the identification of 3 or 4 strains of prions. We report on the identification of a novel strain of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease isolated from a patient who carried an abnormally glycosylated pathological prion protein. This novel strain has unique biochemical characteristics, does not transmit to humanized transgenic mice, and shows exclusive transmission properties in bank voles. The identification of a novel human prion strain improves our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and of possible mechanisms of prion transmission.
Incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes of acute kidney injury associated with scrub typhus: a retrospective study of 510 consecutive patients in South Korea (2001–2013)
Authors: Hwang Kyungo , Jang Ha Nee , Lee Tae Won , Cho Hyun Seop , Bae Eunjin , Chang Se-Ho , Park Dong Jun 
Published: March 2017

ObjectivesRenal involvement in scrub typhus ranges from simple urinary abnormalities to acute kidney injury (AKI) leading to death. This study evaluated the incidence, predictors and prognosis of AKI associated with scrub typhus according to the RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss, end-stage kidney disease) criteria.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the medical records of patients diagnosed with scrub typhus from January 2001 to November 2013 in Gyeongsang National University Hospital.ResultsDuring the study period, 510 patients were diagnosed with scrub typhus and the incidence of AKI was 35.9%. There were 132 (25.9%) patients at risk, 37 (7.3%) with injury and 14 (2.7%) with failure. In comparison with the non-AKI group, the AKI group was older (73.9 vs 63.4 years, p<0.001) and had more comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD). AKI frequently occurs in hypertensive patients taking angiotensin receptor blockers or ACE inhibitors (p=0.002), and in patients with diabetes with higher glycated haemoglobin levels (p=0.033). Haematuria and proteinuria were more frequent in the AKI group. There was no relationship between the severity of proteinuria and occurrence of AKI. Intensive care unit admission and death were more frequent in the AKI group. The renal function of most patients with AKI recovered without sequelae, except for 1 patient who had underlying CKD. Multivariate analysis showed that age, presence of CKD, serum albumin level and time to hospital presentation after symptom onset were independent predictors of AKI in patients with scrub typhus.ConclusionsOur current results suggest that the presence of underlying CKD, older age, lower serum albumin level and time to hospital presentation after symptom onset were important risk factors to determine occurrence of AKI. Whether earlier diagnosis and treatment in patients with the above risk factors reduce the incidence and severity of AKI deserves to be investigated.
Alcohol policy changes and 22-year trends in individual alcohol consumption in a Swiss adult population: a 1993–2014 cross-sectional population-based study
Authors: Dumont Shireen , Marques-Vidal Pedro , Favrod-Coune Thierry , Theler Jean-Marc , Gaspoz Jean-Michel , Broers Barbara , Guessous Idris 
Published: March 2017

ObjectiveEvidence on the impact of legislative changes on individual alcohol consumption is limited. Using an observational study design, we assessed trends in individual alcohol consumption of a Swiss adult population following the public policy changes that took place between 1993 and 2014, while considering individual characteristics and secular trends.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingSwiss general adult population.ParticipantsData from 18 963 participants were collected between 1993 and 2014 (aged 18–75 years).Outcome measuresWe used data from the ‘Bus Santé’ study, an annual health survey conducted in random samples of the adult population in the State of Geneva, Switzerland. Individual alcohol intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Individual characteristics including education were self-reported. 7 policy changes (6 about alcohol and 1 about tobacco) that occurred between 1993 and 2014 defined 6 different periods. We predicted alcohol intake using quantile regression with multivariate analysis for each period adjusting for participants' characteristics and tested significance periods. Sensitivity analysis was performed including drinkers only, the 10th centile of highest drinkers and smoker's status.ResultsBetween 1993 and 2014, participants' individual alcohol intake decreased from 7.1 to 5.4 g/day (24% reduction, p<0.001). Men decreased their alcohol intake by 34% compared with 22% for women (p<0.001). The decrease in alcohol intake remained significant when considering drinkers only (28% decrease, p<0.001) and the 10th centile highest drinkers (24% decrease, p<0.001). Consumption of all alcoholic beverages decreased between 1993 and 2014 except for the moderate consumption of beer, which increased. After adjustment for participants' characteristics and secular trends, no independent association between alcohol legislative changes and individual alcohol intake was found.ConclusionsBetween 1993 and 2014, alcohol consumption decreased in the Swiss adult population independently of policy changes.
Clinical usefulness of the free web-based image analysis application ImmunoRatio for assessment of Ki-67 labelling index in breast cancer
Authors: Yeo Min-Kyung , Kim Hee Eun , Kim Sung Hun , Chae Byung Joo , Song Byung Joo , Lee Ahwon 
Published: March 2017

AimsKi-67 is a prognostic marker in breast cancer; however, the use of the Ki-67 labelling index (LI) in clinical practice requires a consistent and easily accessible scoring method. The present study evaluated the use of the free internet-based image analysis program ImmunoRatio to score Ki-67 LI in breast cancer in comparison with manual counting.MethodsKi-67 immunohistochemical detection was performed in 577 breast cancer cases, and the Ki-67 LI was determined by ImmunoRatio and manual counting.ResultsThe Ki-67 LI determined by ImmunoRatio correlated well with that obtained by manual counting. The concordance rate between ImmunoRatio and manual counting was excellent (κ coefficient of 0.881) at a Ki-67 LI cut-off value of 20%. Cases with high Ki-67 LI by ImmunoRatio were associated with poor overall survival, in particular in the hormone receptor positive group.ConclusionsThe web-based automated image analysis program ImmunoRatio is an attractive alternative to manual counting to determine the Ki-67 LI in breast cancer.
Prognosis of complete versus incomplete revascularisation of patients with STEMI with multivessel coronary artery disease: an observational study
Authors: Dimitriu-Leen Aukelien C , Hermans Maaike P J , Veltman Caroline E , van der Hoeven Bas L , van Rosendael Alexander R , van Zwet Erik W , Schalij Martin J , Delgado Victoria , Bax Jeroen J , Scholte Arthur J H A 
Published: March 2017

ObjectiveThe best strategy in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) regarding completeness of revascularisation of the non-culprit lesion(s) is still unclear. To establish which strategy should be followed, survival rates over a longer period should be evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether complete revascularisation, compared with incomplete revascularisation, is associated with reduced short-term and long-term all-cause mortality in patients with first STEMI and multivessel CAD.MethodsThis retrospective study consisted of 518 patients with first STEMI with multivessel CAD. Complete revascularisation (45%) was defined as the treatment of any significant coronary artery stenosis (≥70% luminal narrowing) during primary or staged percutaneous coronary intervention prior to discharge. The primary end point was all-cause mortality.ResultsIncomplete revascularisation was not independently associated with 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with acute first STEMI and multivessel CAD (OR 1.98; 95% CI 0.62to6.37; p=0.25). During a median long-term follow-up of 6.7 years, patients with STEMI with multivessel CAD and incomplete revascularisation showed higher mortality rates compared with patients who received complete revascularisation (24% vs 12%, p<0.001), and these differences remained after excluding the first 30 days. However, in multivariate analysis, incomplete revascularisation was not independently associated with increased all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up in the group of patients with STEMI who survived the first 30 days post-STEMI (HR 1.53 95% CI 0.89-2.61, p=0.12).ConclusionIn patients with acute first STEMI and multivessel CAD, incomplete revascularisation compared with complete revascularisation was not independently associated with increased short-term and long-term all-cause mortality.