bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measuring the contribution of durable goods to the welfare cost of inflation
Authors: Mansoorian Arman , Michelis Leo 
Published: October 2016

AbstractIn this paper, we measure the contribution of durable goods to the welfare cost of inflation, in the context of an endogenous growth model with durable and nondurable goods, where purchases of the latter require only a partial cash payment compared with the former. Unlike existing measures, our proposed welfare measure is computationally efficient and relatively easy to implement.We find that durability adds a significant component to the welfare costs of inflation.
Public–private mix of health expenditure: A political economy and quantitative analysis
Authors: Li Shuyun May , Moslehi Solmaz , Yew Siew Ling 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis paper constructs a simple model to examine decisions on public and private health spending under majority voting. In the model, agents with heterogeneous incomes choose how much to consume and spend on health care and vote for public health expenditure. The health status of an agent is determined by a CES composite of public and private health expenditure. The existence and uniqueness of the voting equilibrium are established. A quantitative exercise reveals the importance of the relative effectiveness of public and private health expenditure and their substitutability in determining the public‐private mix of health expenditure and in accounting for the observed differences across a sample of 22 advanced democratic countries.
IgE and allergen‐specific immunotherapy‐induced IgG4 recognize similar epitopes of Bet v 1, the major allergen of birch pollen
Authors: Groh N. , von Loetzen C. S. , Subbarayal B. , Möbs C. , Vogel L. , Hoffmann A. , Fötisch K. , Koutsouridou A. , Randow S. , Völker E. , Seutter von Loetzen A. , Rösch P. , Vieths S. , Pfützner W. , Bohle B. , Schiller D. 
Published: October 2016

SummaryBackgroundAllergen‐specific immunotherapy (AIT) with birch pollen generates Bet v 1‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G4 which blocks IgE‐mediated hypersensitivity mechanisms. Whether IgG4 specific for Bet v 1a competes with IgE for identical epitopes or whether novel epitope specificities of IgG4 antibodies are developed is under debate.ObjectiveWe sought to analyze the epitope specificities of IgE and IgG4 antibodies from sera of patients who received AIT.Methods15 sera of patients (13/15 received AIT) with Bet v 1a‐specific IgE and IgG4 were analyzed. The structural arrangements of recombinant (r)Bet v 1a and rBet v 1a_11x, modified in five potential epitopes, were analyzed by circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. IgE binding to Bet v 1 was assessed by ELISA and mediator release assays. Competitive binding of monoclonal antibodies specific for Bet v 1a and serum IgE/IgG4 to rBet v 1a and serum antibody binding to a non‐allergenic Bet v 1‐type model protein presenting an individual epitope for IgE was analyzed in ELISA and western blot.ResultsrBet v 1a_11x had a Bet v 1a – similar secondary and tertiary structure. Monomeric dispersion of rBet v 1a_11x was concentration and buffer‐dependent. Up to 1500‐fold increase in the EC50 for IgE‐mediated mediator release induced by rBet v 1a_11x was determined. The reduction of IgE and IgG4 binding to rBet v 1a_11x was comparable in 67% (10/15) of sera. Bet v 1a‐specific monoclonal antibodies inhibited binding of serum IgE and IgG4 to 66.1% and 64.9%, respectively. Serum IgE and IgG4 bound specifically to an individual epitope presented by our model protein in 33% (5/15) of sera.Conclusion and Clinical RelevancePatients receiving AIT develop Bet v 1a‐specific IgG4 which competes with IgE for partly identical or largely overlapping epitopes. The similarities of epitopes for IgE and IgG4 might stimulate the development of epitope‐specific diagnostics and therapeutics.
Associations between postpartum depressive symptoms and childhood asthma diminish with child age
Authors: Kozyrskyj A.L. , Letourneau N.L. , Kang L. J. , Salmani M. 
Published: October 2016

SummaryBackgroundAffecting 19% of women, postpartum depression is a major concern to the immediate health of mothers and infants. In the long‐term, it has been linked to the development of early‐onset asthma at school entry, but only if the depression persists beyond the postnatal period. No studies have tested whether associations with postpartum depressive symptoms and early‐onset asthma phenotypes persist into later school age.ObjectiveTo determine associations between maternal postpartum depressive symptoms and childhood asthma between the ages of 5–10 by using a nested longitudinal design.MethodsData were drawn from the 1994–2004 administrations of the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, which tracks the health of a nationally representative sample of children in Canada. Child asthma was diagnosed by a health professional, and maternal depressive symptoms were assessed by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. Analyses were conducted by using a multilevel modelling approach, in which longitudinal assessments of asthma in 1696 children were nested within the exposure of postpartum depression.ResultsPostpartum depressive symptoms had a 1.5‐fold significant association with childhood asthma between the ages 6–8. This was independent of male sex, maternal asthma, non‐immigrant status, low household socioeconomic status, being firstborn, low birthweight, low family functioning and urban–rural residence, of which the first 4 covariates elevated the risk of asthma. Statistical significance was lost at age 8 when maternal prenatal smoking replaced urban–rural residence as a covariate. At ages 9–10, an association was no longer evident.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceWomen affected by postpartum depressive symptoms are concerned about long‐term health effects of their illness on their infants. Although postpartum depressive symptoms were associated with school‐age asthma at ages 6 and 7, this association diminished later. Both home and school life stress should be considered in future studies on asthma development later in childhood.
Pre‐ and probiotics for allergy prevention: time to revisit recommendations?
Authors: Forsberg A. , West C. E. , Prescott S. L. , Jenmalm M. C. 
Published: October 2016

SummaryReduced intensity and diversity of microbial exposure is considered a major factor driving abnormal postnatal immune maturation and increasing allergy prevalence, particularly in more affluent regions. Quantitatively, the largest important source of early immune‐microbial interaction, the gut microbiota, is of particular interest in this context, with variations in composition and diversity in the first months of life associated with subsequent allergy development. Attempting to restore the health consequences of the ‘dysbiotic drift’ in modern society, interventions modulating gut microbiota for allergy prevention have been evaluated in several randomized placebo‐controlled trials. In this review, we provide an overview of these trials and discuss recommendations from international expert bodies regarding prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic interventions. Recent guidelines from the World Allergy Organization recommend the use of probiotics for the primary prevention of eczema in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers of infants at high risk for developing allergy and in high‐risk infants. It is however stressed that these recommendations are conditional, based on very low‐quality evidence and great heterogeneity between studies, which also impedes specific and practical advice to consumers on the most effective regimens. We discuss how the choice of probiotic strains, timing and duration of administration can critically influence the outcome due to different effects on immune modulation and gut microbiota composition. Furthermore, we propose strategies to potentially improve allergy‐preventive effects and enable future evidence‐based implementation.
Medial Ganglionic Eminence Cells Freshly Obtained or Expanded as Neurospheres Show Distinct Cellular and Molecular Properties in Reducing Epileptic Seizures
Authors: Romariz Simone A. A. , Paiva Daisyléa S. , Galindo Layla T. , Barnabé Gabriela F. , Guedes Vivian A. , Borlongan Cesario V. , Longo Beatriz M. 
Published: October 2016

SummaryAimsMedial ganglionic eminence (MGE) progenitors give rise to inhibitory interneurons and may serve as an alternative cell source for large‐scale cell transplantation for epilepsy after in vitro expansion. We investigated whether modifications in the culture medium of MGE neurospheres affect neuronal differentiation and expression of MGE‐specific genes. In vivo, we compared anticonvulsant effects and cell differentiation pattern among neurospheres grown in different culture media and compared them with freshly harvested MGE cells.MethodsWe used four variations of cell culture: standard, containing growth factors (EGF/FGF‐2) (GF); addition of retinoic acid (GF‐RA); withdrawal of EGF/FGF‐2 (WD); and addition of retinoic acid and withdrawal of EGF/FGF‐2 (WD‐RA). Based on in vitro results neurosphere‐grown (WD‐RA or GF conditions) or fresh MGE cells were transplanted into the hippocampus.ResultsIn vitro WD‐RA showed increased neuronal population and higher expression of Dlx1, Nkx2.1, and Lhx6 genes in comparison with GF culture condition. After transplantation, fresh MGE cells and neurospheres (GF) showed anticonvulsant effects. However, fresh MGE cells differentiated preferentially into inhibitory neurons, while GF gave rise to glial cells.ConclusionWe conclude that freshly isolated and neurosphere‐grown MGE cells reduced seizures by different mechanisms (inhibitory interneurons vs. astrocytes). Fresh MGE cells appear more appropriate for cell therapies targeting inhibitory interneurons for conferring anticonvulsant outcomes.
Feasibility and preliminary effects of a screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment model to address gender‐based violence among women who use drugs in Kyrgyzstan: Project WINGS (Women Initiating New Goals of Safety)
Authors: Gilbert Louisa , Jiwatram‐Negron Tina , Nikitin Danil , Rychkova Olga , McCrimmon Tara , Ermolaeva Irena , Sharonova Nadejda , Mukambetov Aibek , Hunt Timothy 
Published: October 2016

AbstractIntroduction and aimsIntimate partner violence (IPV) and other forms of gender‐based violence (GBV) are serious public health threats among women who use drugs or engage in binge drinking in Kyrgyzstan. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a two‐session IPV and GBV screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment model (WINGS) with HIV counselling and testing for women who use drugs or engage in binge drinking in Kyrgyzstan, using a pre/post‐design.Design and methodsWe screened 109 women from harm reduction non‐government organisations in Kyrgyzstan, of whom 78 were eligible, 73 participated in the intervention study, and 66 completed a 3‐month post‐intervention follow‐up. To assess the effects of the intervention, we used random‐effect Poisson and Logistic regression analyses for continuous and dichotomous outcomes respectively.ResultsAt baseline, 73% reported any physical or sexual IPV victimisation, and 60% reported any physical or sexual GBV victimisation in the past year. At the 3‐month follow‐up, participants reported experiencing 59% fewer physical IPV incidents in the prior 90 days than at baseline (P < 0.001) and 27% fewer physical GBV incidents than at baseline (P < 0.01). From baseline to the 3‐month follow‐up, participants also reported a 65% reduction in the odds of using any illicit drugs (P < 0.05) and were more likely to report receiving GBV‐related services (P < 0.001).Discussion and conclusionThe high rates of participation, attendance and retention and significant reductions in IPV and GBV victimisation and drug use from baseline to the 3‐month follow‐up suggest the feasibility and promising effects of this brief intervention. [Gilbert L, Jiwatram‐Negron T, Nikitin D, Rychkova O, McCrimmon T, Ermolaeva I, Sharonova N, Mukambetov A, Hunt T. Feasibility and preliminary effects of a screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment model to address gender‐based violence among women who use drugs in Kyrgyzstan: Project WINGS (Women Initiating New Goals of Safety). Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:125–133]
RD Lawrence Lecture 2015 Old habits are hard to break: lessons from the study of hypoglycaemia
Authors: McCrimmon R. J. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractDespite the introduction of newer technologies and improved insulin formulations, recurrent hypoglycaemia continues to affect the lives of many people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Developing strategies or therapies designed to prevent or minimize hypoglycaemia risk is of utmost importance to help individuals safely achieve glycaemic targets. Novel, educational or behavioural approaches need to be based on a clear understanding of the mechanisms underpinning both the detection of hypoglycaemia and why repeated exposure to hypoglycaemia leads to the development of a clinical syndrome referred to as impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia. In the present review, I propose that impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia may represent a form of learning called habituation, a response that, at a cellular level, represents a biological adaptation designed to protect the organism from future exposure to that stressor. In diabetes, this survival response to low glucose is, however, overwhelmed by high systemic insulin levels resulting from exogenous insulin therapy, leading to progressively more severe hypoglycaemia. A recognition of the underlying mechanism means that the development of impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia can perhaps be better understood and explained to individuals with diabetes, and novel therapeutic approaches such as dishabituation or cognitive behavioural therapies can be considered.
Circulating adiponectin concentration is inversely associated with glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in people with newly diagnosed diabetes
Authors: Weber K. S. , Strassburger K. , Pacini G. , Nowotny B. , Müssig K. , Szendroedi J. , Herder C. , Roden M. ,   the German Diabetes Study group
Published: October 2016

AbstractAimsTo examine the hypothesis that changes in serum adiponectin concentration inversely relate to changes in glucose tolerance and β‐cell function already during the early stage of disease progression in recently diagnosed Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodsParticipants in the prospective observational German Diabetes Study (Type 2 diabetes, n = 94; Type 1 diabetes, n = 42) underwent i.v. glucose tolerance and glucagon stimulation testing to assess pre‐hepatic β‐cell function, glucose tolerance index and C‐peptide secretion within the first year of diabetes diagnosis and 2 years later. Associations of changes in serum concentrations of total adiponectin, high‐molecular‐weight adiponectin and their ratio with changes in the aforementioned metabolic variables were calculated using linear regression.ResultsAmong people with Type 2 diabetes, 2‐year increases in high‐molecular‐weight adiponectin and in high‐molecular‐weight/total adiponectin ratio were associated with decreases in glucose tolerance index of 0.1%/min (P = 0.020) and 0.8%/min (P = 0.013), respectively. Increases in high‐molecular‐weight/total adiponectin ratio were related to decreases in acute C‐peptide secretion of 54.6% (P = 0.020). Among people with Type 1 diabetes, 2‐year increases in total adiponectin were associated with 2‐year decreases in acute C‐peptide secretion of 56.2% (P = 0.035).ConclusionsIncreases in adiponectin concentrations in the first 2 years after diagnosis were related to a worsening of acute insulin secretion and glucose tolerance index in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. (Clinical Trials Registry no.: NCT01055093)
Higher skin autofluorescence in young people with Type 1 diabetes and microvascular complications
Authors: Cho Y. H. , Craig M. E. , Januszewski A. S. , Benitez‐Aguirre P. , Hing S. , Jenkins A. J. , Donaghue K. C. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAimTo test the hypothesis that non‐invasive skin autofluorescence, a measure of advanced glycation end products, would provide a surrogate measure of long‐term glycaemia and be associated with early markers of microvascular complications in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.MethodsForearm skin autofluorescence (arbitrary units) was measured in a cross‐sectional study of 135 adolescents with Type 1 diabetes [mean ± sd age 15.6 ± 2.1 years, diabetes duration 8.7 ± 3.5 years, HbA1c 72 ± 16 mmol/mol (8.7 ± 1.5%)]. Retinopathy, assessed using seven‐field stereoscopic fundal photography, was defined as ≥1 microaneurysm or haemorrhage. Cardiac autonomic function was measured by standard deviation of consecutive RR intervals on a 10‐min continuous electrocardiogram recording, as a measure of heart rate variability.ResultsSkin autofluorescence was significantly associated with age (R2 = 0.15; P < 0.001). Age‐ and gender‐adjusted skin autofluorescence was associated with concurrent HbA1c (R2 = 0.32; P < 0.001) and HbA1c over the previous 2.5–10 years (R2 = 0.34–0.43; P < 0.002). Age‐ and gender‐adjusted mean skin autofluorescence was higher in adolescents with retinopathy vs those without retinopathy [mean 1.38 (95% CI 1.29, 1.48) vs 1.22 (95% CI 1.17, 1.26) arbitrary units; P = 0.002]. In multivariable analysis, retinopathy was significantly associated with skin autofluorescence, adjusted for duration (R2 = 0.19; P = 0.03). Cardiac autonomic dysfunction was also independently associated with skin autofluorescence (R2 = 0.11; P = 0.006).ConclusionsHigher skin autofluorescence is associated with retinopathy and cardiac autonomic dysfunction in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. The relationship between skin autofluorescence and previous glycaemia may provide insight into metabolic memory. Longitudinal studies will determine the utility of skin autofluorescence as a non‐invasive screening tool to predict future microvascular complications.
Economic evaluation of chronic disease self‐management for people with diabetes: a systematic review
Authors: Teljeur C. , Moran P. S. , Walshe S. , Smith S. M. , Cianci F. , Murphy L. , Harrington P. , Ryan M. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAimsTo systematically review the evidence on the costs and cost‐effectiveness of self‐management support interventions for people with diabetes.BackgroundSelf‐management support is the provision of education and supportive interventions to increase patients’ skills and confidence in managing their health problems, potentially leading to improvements in HbA1c levels in people with diabetes.MethodsRandomized controlled trials, observational studies or economic modelling studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. The target population was adults with diabetes. Interventions had to have a substantial component of self‐management support and be compared with routine care. Study quality was evaluated using the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria and International Society of Pharmacoeconomic Outcomes Research questionnaires. A narrative review approach was used.ResultsA total of 16 costing and 21 cost‐effectiveness studies of a range of self‐management support interventions were identified. There was reasonably consistent evidence across 22 studies evaluating education self‐management support programmes suggesting these interventions are cost‐effective or superior to usual care. Telemedicine‐type interventions were more expensive than usual care and potentially not cost‐effective. There was insufficient evidence regarding the other types of self‐management interventions, including pharmacist‐led and behavioural interventions. The identified studies were predominantly of poor quality, with outcomes based on short‐term follow‐up data and study designs at high risk of bias.ConclusionsSelf‐management support education programmes may be cost‐effective. There was limited evidence regarding other formats of self‐management support interventions. The poor quality of many of the studies undermines the evidence base regarding the economic efficiency of self‐management support interventions for people with diabetes.
Threshold loss of discontinuous permafrost and landscape evolution
Authors: Chasmer Laura , Hopkinson Chris 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis study demonstrates linkages between the 1997/1998 El Niño/Southern Oscillation index and a threshold shift to increased permafrost loss within a southern Taiga Plains watershed, Northwest Territories, Canada. Three‐dimensional contraction of permafrost plateaus and changes in vegetation structural characteristics are determined from multitemporal airborne Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) surveys in 2008, 2011 and 2015. Morphological changes in permafrost cover are compared with optical image analogues from 1970, 1977, 2000 and 2008 and time‐series hydro‐climate data. Results demonstrate that significant changes in air temperature, precipitation, runoff and a shortening of the snow‐covered season by 35 days (1998–2014) and 50 days (1998 only) occurred after 1997. The albedo reduction associated with 35 and 50 days less snow cover leads to increases in shortwave energy receipt during the active thaw period of ~12% (3% annually) and ~16% (5% annually), respectively. From 2000 to 2015, sporadic permafrost loss accelerated from 0.19% (of total basin area) per year between 1970 and 2000 to 0.58% per year from 2000 to 2015, with a projected total loss of permafrost by ~2044. From ~1997 to 2011, we observe a corresponding shift to increased runoff ratio. However, observed increases in the proportion of snow precipitation and the volumetric contribution of permafrost loss to runoff post‐1997 (0.6–6.4% per year) cannot fully explain this shift. This suggests increases in drainage efficiency and possible losses from long‐term groundwater storage as a result of subtle terrain morphological and soil zone hydraulic conductivity changes. These hydrological changes appear coincident with high vegetation mortality at plateau margins combined with succession‐related canopy growth in some bog and fen areas, which are presumed to be drying. Similar changes in runoff response were observed at adjacent Birch, Trout and Jean Marie River watersheds indicating that observations are representative of northern Boreal sporadic permafrost/wetland watersheds in the Taiga Plains.