bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sanctuary Cities: Policies and Practices in International Perspective
Authors: Bauder Harald 
Published: December 2016

AbstractSanctuary cities in the USA, UK, and Canada aim to accommodate illegalized migrants and refugees in their communities. The concept of the “sanctuary city,” however, is highly ambiguous: it refers to a variety of different policies and practices, and focuses on variable populations in different national contexts. In this article, I examine the international literature to show how urban sanctuary policies and practices differ between national contexts and assess whether there are common features of sanctuary cities. I uncover legal, discursive, identity‐formative, and scalar aspects of urban sanctuary policies and practices. These aspects assemble in ways that differ between countries. The article concludes by raising important practical and theoretical questions about urban sanctuary.
Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐β/δ modulates mast cell phenotype
Authors: Yao Pei‐Li , Morales Jose L. , Gonzalez Frank J. , Peters Jeffrey M. 
Published: December 2016

SummaryThe peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐β/δ (PPARβ/δ) is known to have multiple anti‐inflammatory effects, typically observed in endothelial cells, macrophages, T cells and B cells. Despite the fact that mast cells are important mediators of inflammation, to date, the role of PPARβ/δ in mast cells has not been examined. Hence, the present study examined the hypothesis that PPARβ/δ modulates mast cell phenotype. Bone‐marrow‐derived mast cells (BMMCs) and peritoneal mast cells from Pparβ/δ+/+ mice expressed higher levels of high‐affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) compared with Pparβ/δ−/− mice. BMMCs from Pparβ/δ+/+ mice also exhibited dense granules, associated with higher expression of enzymes and proteases compared with Pparβ/δ−/− mice. Resting BMMCs from Pparβ/δ+/+ mice secreted lower levels of inflammatory cytokines, associated with the altered activation of phospholipase Cγ1 and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases compared with Pparβ/δ−/− mice. Moreover, the production of cytokines by mast cells induced by various stimuli was highly dependent on PPARβ/δ expression. This study demonstrates that PPARβ/δ is an important regulator of mast cell phenotype.
Testing a contact intervention based on intergroup friendship between Roma and non‐Roma Hungarians: reducing bias through institutional support in a non‐supportive societal context
Authors: Kende Anna , Tropp Linda , Lantos Nóra Anna 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAlthough intergroup friendships have been shown to reduce prejudice, little research has considered whether interventions fostering intergroup friendship would be effective in highly prejudicial contexts. We conducted a quasi‐experiment (N = 61) to test whether a contact‐based intervention based on intergroup friendship could reduce bias against Roma people among non‐Roma Hungarians. Participants in the contact condition engaged in a face‐to‐face interaction with a Roma person, and responded to questions involving mutual self‐disclosure. Through pre‐ and post‐test questionnaires, we observed significant positive change in attitudes and contact intentions among participants in the contact condition, while these effects were not observed among participants in the control condition. Positive change was moderated by perceived institutional norms, which corroborates the potential of contact‐based interventions.
Risk of Stroke and Recurrence After AF Ablation in Patients With an Initial Event‐Free Period of 12 Months
Authors: KOCHHÄUSER SIMON , ALIPOUR POURIA , HAIG‐CARTER TANJAH , TROUGHT KATHLEEN , HACHE PHILIP , KHAYKIN YAARIV , WULFFHART ZAEV , PANTANO ALFREDO , TSANG BERNICE , BIRNIE DAVID , VERMA ATUL 
Published: December 2016

Stroke and Recurrence After AF AblationIntroductionBecause of the unclear prognostic effects of ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), oral anticoagulation (OAC) is often continued after ablation even in asymptomatic patients. We sought to determine the frequency of stroke and AF recurrence in patients on and off therapeutic OAC 1 year after a successful AF ablation.Methods and ResultsPatients that underwent AF ablation and were free of AF 12 months after ablation were selected from our AF database. During follow‐up (FU), patients were screened for recurrence of AF, changes in OAC or antiarrhythmic medication, and the occurrence of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).A total of 398 patients (median age 60.7 years [50.8, 66.8], 25% female) were investigated. The median duration of FU was 529 (373, 111,3.5) days. OAC was discontinued in 276 patients (69.3%). During FU, 4 patients (1%) suffered from stroke and 55 patients (13.8%) experienced a recurrence of AF. Persistent AF was significantly associated with a greater chance of AF recurrence (49.1% vs. 26.8%; P = 0.001). Neither CHADS2 nor CHA2DS2‐VASc‐Score nor recurrence of AF were significantly different in patients with or without stroke. There was a trend toward a higher percentage of coronary artery disease among patients that experienced stroke (50% vs. 10%; P = 0.057).ConclusionThe overall risk of stroke and AF recurrence is low in patients with a recurrence free interval of at least 12 months after AF ablation. Of note, recurrence of AF was not associated with a higher risk of stroke in our study population.
New glycemic targets for patients with diabetes from the Japan Diabetes Society
Authors: Araki Eiichi , Haneda Masakazu , Kasuga Masato , Nishikawa Takeshi , Kondo Tatsuya , Ueki Kohjiro , Kadowaki Takashi 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIn the ‘Evidence‐based Practice Guideline for the Treatment for Diabetes in Japan 2013’, a new concept of the glycemic control in patients with diabetes in Japan has been declared from the Japan Diabetes Society. The main objective value of HbA1c was set to <7% from the perspective of preventing microvascular complications. On the other hand, the objective in cases where objectives can be attained by appropriate dietary or exercise therapy, or during pharmacotherapy without the occurrence of side effects such as hypoglycemia was set to <6%, and the objective in cases where intensification of treatment was considered difficult due to side effects such as hypoglycemia or for other reasons was set to <8%. Treatment objectives should be established individually, in consideration of age, duration of disease, organ damage, risk of hypoglycemia, support structure, and etc.
Application of the combined FibroMeter vibration‐controlled transient elastography algorithm in Chinese patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Loong Thomson Chi‐Wang , Wei Jeremy Lok , Leung Jonathan Chung‐Fai , Wong Grace Lai‐Hung , Shu Sally She‐Ting , Chim Angel Mei‐Ling , Chan Anthony Wing‐Hung , Choi Paul Cheung‐Lung , Tse Yee‐Kit , Chan Henry Lik‐Yuen , Wong Vincent Wai‐Sun 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackground and AimThe FibroMeter vibration‐controlled transient elastography (FM VCTE) is a new formula combining the serum test FM and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by VCTE. We tested the accuracy and utility of FM VCTE for fibrosis staging in patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).MethodsTwo hundred fifteen NAFLD patients with LSM, FM NAFLD, FM VCTE, and other serum tests (aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index, fibrosis‐4 index, BARD score, NAFLD fibrosis score, and aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐alanine aminotransferase ratio) performed 1 day before liver biopsy were evaluated.ResultsSixty‐nine (32.1%) and 43 (20.0%) patients had F2‐4 and F3‐4, respectively. LSM had higher diagnostic accuracy (area under receiver‐operating characteristics curves [AUROC] 0.851 for F2‐4, 0.940 for F3‐4; Obuchowski index 0.937 ± 0.007) than all evaluated serum tests, while FM NAFLD was the most accurate serum test (AUROC 0.775 and 0.774; Obuchowski index 0.891 ± 0.013). FM VCTE had similar accuracy to LSM (AUROC 0.855 and 0.901; Obuchowski index 0.927 ± 0.009). LSM had excellent negative predictive values of 92.4% and 99.2% to exclude F2‐4 and F3‐4, but the positive predictive values (PPV) were only 71.4% and 61.0%, respectively. In patients with high LSM, the use of FM VCTE improved the PPV from 71.4% to 84.4% for F2‐4 and from 61.0% to 88.9% for F3‐4. Liver biopsy could be spared in around 50–65% of patients.ConclusionsLiver stiffness measurement alone can confidently exclude significant and advanced fibrosis in NAFLD patients. Using FM VCTE in patients with high liver stiffness can increase the positive predictive value to rule in F2‐4 and F3‐4.
Network‐based characterization of the synaptic proteome reveals that removal of epigenetic regulator Prmt8 restricts proteins associated with synaptic maturation
Authors: Lee Patrick Kia Ming , Goh Wilson Wen Bin , Sng Judy Chia Ghee 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe brain adapts to dynamic environmental conditions by altering its epigenetic state, thereby influencing neuronal transcriptional programs. An example of an epigenetic modification is protein methylation, catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT). One member, Prmt8, is selectively expressed in the central nervous system during a crucial phase of early development, but little else is known regarding its function. We hypothesize Prmt8 plays a role in synaptic maturation during development. To evaluate this, we used a proteome‐wide approach to characterize the synaptic proteome of Prmt8 knockout versus wild‐type mice. Through comparative network‐based analyses, proteins and functional clusters related to neurite development were identified to be differentially regulated between the two genotypes. One interesting protein that was differentially regulated was tenascin‐R (TNR). Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated binding of PRMT8 to the tenascin‐r (Tnr) promoter. TNR, a component of perineuronal nets, preserves structural integrity of synaptic connections within neuronal networks during the development of visual‐somatosensory cortices. On closer inspection, Prmt8 removal increased net formation and decreased inhibitory parvalbumin‐positive (PV+) puncta on pyramidal neurons, thereby hindering the maturation of circuits. Consequently, visual acuity of the knockout mice was reduced. Our results demonstrated Prmt8′s involvement in synaptic maturation and its prospect as an epigenetic modulator of developmental neuroplasticity by regulating structural elements such as the perineuronal nets.
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Response to and toxicity of gemcitabine for recurrent ovarian cancer according to number of previous chemotherapy regimens
Authors: Takei Yuji , Takahashi Yoshifumi , Machida Shizuo , Taneichi Akiyo , Takahashi Suzuyo , Nagashima Tomomi , Morisawa Hiroyuki , Saga Yasushi , Matsubara Shigeki , Fujiwara Hiroyuki 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAimGemcitabine is used not only as a second‐line, but also as a third‐line or higher regimen for taxane/platinum‐resistant recurrent ovarian cancer. The purpose of this study was to clarify the response to and toxicity of gemcitabine for recurrent ovarian cancer according to the number of previous chemotherapy regimens.MethodsThe subjects were patients with taxane/platinum‐resistant recurrent ovarian cancer on gemcitabine treatment at the present hospital between June 2007 and September 2013. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records. Response and adverse events were assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0, respectively.ResultsThe subjects consisted of 65 patients. The median number of previous chemotherapy regimens was 3 (range, 1–7). Overall response rate was 4.6%, and disease control rate (DCR) was 40.0%. DCR versus one, two, three, and ≥four previous chemotherapy regimens was 83.3%, 45.0%, 36.4%, and 23.5%, respectively. Grade 3/4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia occurred in 52.3%, 9.2%, and 9.2% of patients, respectively. Prevalence of grade 3/4 neutropenia according to one, two, three, and ≥four previous chemotherapy regimens was 66.7%, 55.0%, 54.5%, and 41.2%, respectively. Prevalence of anemia, thrombocytopenia, and almost all the non‐hematological toxicities also did not increase with an increase in the number of previous chemotherapy regimens.ConclusionsAlthough DCR decreased as the number of previous chemotherapy regimens increased, the toxicities did not increase. Gemcitabine may be relatively safe in heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients.
FAK is overexpressed in keratocystic odontogenic tumor: a preliminary study
Authors: Sarode Sachin C , Sarode Gargi S , Choudhary Shakira , Patil Shankargouda 
Published: December 2016

BackgroundFocal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an important mediator of cell adhesion, growth proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and migration. FAK is overexpressed in many locally invasive and malignant lesions including oral cancer. Looking at the tumorigenic nature of keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT), which involves local invasion, proliferation, and recurrence, we hypothesized strong expression of FAK in the epithelial lining of KCOT.Materials and Methods34 KCOTs, 11 orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts (OOCs), 25 radicular cysts (RCs), 17 dentigerous cysts (DCs), and 25 dental follicles (DFs) were retrieved from archives and subjected to the immunohistochemical analysis using FAK antibody.ResultsIn KCOT, strong expression was observed in 22 (62.8%) cases followed by weak and negative expression in 9 (25.71%) and 4 (11.4%) cases, respectively. Negative expression was seen in 7 (63.63%) cases of OOC, while 4 (36.36%) showed weak expression. In case of RC, 20 (80%) cases displayed negative expression and 4 (16%) and 1 (4%) cases showed weak and strong expressions, respectively. In case of DC, negative expression was seen in 14 (82.35%) cases and weak expression in 3 (17.64%) cases. DF was characterized by negative [21 (84%)] and weak expression [4 (16%)]. Nuclear expression of FAK was seen only in KCOT (11 cases). There was statistically significant higher FAK expression in KCOT as compared to OOC, RC, DC, and DF (P < 0.00001).ConclusionFAK molecule could be an important player in tumorigenesis of KCOT and thus is a potential target for future drug development.
Erythritol/chlorhexidine combination reduces microbial biofilm and prevents its formation on titanium surfaces in vitro
Authors: Drago Lorenzo , Bortolin Monica , Taschieri Silvio , De Vecchi Elena , Agrappi Serse , Del Fabbro Massimo , Francetti Luca , Mattina Roberto 
Published: December 2016

BackgroundThe purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antibiofilm activity of a novel air‐polishing powder consisting of erythritol and chlorhexidine, assessing its ability to reduce previously grown microbial biofilm and to prevent biofilm formation on titanium surfaces.MethodsClinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacteroides fragilis and Candida albicans isolated from peri‐implantitis lesions were used. Biofilm was grown on sandblasted titanium discs and treated with erythritol/chlorhexidine. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum microbicidal concentration. The antibiofilm activity was assessed by semiquantitative spectrophotometric assay and by confocal laser scanning microscopy.ResultsErythritol/chlorhexidine displayed an inhibitory and a microbicidal activity against all the tested strains. The spectrophotometric analysis showed that the treatment was effective in both reducing the previously developed biofilm and decreasing biofilm formation on titanium surfaces. Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis showed a significant reduction of the total biofilm volume, with an increase of the percentage of dead cells of all the microorganisms tested.ConclusionsErythritol/chlorhexidine displayed significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against microorganisms isolated from peri‐implantitis lesions. Due to its properties, it might represent a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of peri‐implant diseases associated to microbial biofilm infections.
Long noncoding RNA MALAT1 affects the efficacy of radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating Cks1 expression
Authors: Li Zhijun , Zhou Yang , Tu Bo , Bu Yu , Liu Aqiu , Kong Jianmin 
Published: December 2016

ObjectiveLong noncoding RNA metastasis‐associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) has been well studied in the progression of many malignancies. However, its association with the radioresistance of tumors has not been well understood yet. This study tried to explore the role of MALAT1 in regulating the radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer (EC), especially esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), involving its regulation on Cks1 expression.MethodsKYSE150 cells were subcutaneously inoculated into nude mice to establish ESCC xenografts. Real‐time PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the expression of MALAT1 and Cks1 in irradiated xenografts and cells. Functional analysis was performed in both EC9706 and KYSE150 cells via the transfection of corresponding plasmids or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Irradiation‐induced damage was examined by the detection of cell viability and apoptosis using MTT and TUNEL assays, respectively.ResultsBoth MALAT1 and Cks1 were downregulated in irradiated xenografts and cells. Cks1FER1L4 showed significant downregulation. Overexpression of MALAT1 inhibited irradiation‐induced decrease in cell viability, increase in apoptosis, and downregulation of Cks1. Cks1 expression was also downregulated by MALAT1 siRNA, while Cks1 siRNA strongly recovered MALAT1‐induced radioresistance in vitro. Moreover, better tumor growth, accompanied by Cks1 upregulation, was observed in KYSE150 xenografts with MALAT1 overexpression, especially under radiation treatment.ConclusionMALAT1 acted as one positive regulator of the radioresistance of ESCC, at least partly due to its promotion on Cks1 expression. Furthermore, MALAT1‐targeted therapies showed great potential in enhancing the radiotherapeutic effect on ESCC.
Community Living for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Unravelling the Cost Effectiveness Discourse
Authors: Felce David 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe requirements for a rigorous cost‐effectiveness analysis are considered. The evidence base on services for people with ID is then reviewed with an emphasis on the transition from institutional services to those in the community and postdeinstitutionalization research on the costs and outcomes of different forms of community provision. Despite certain limitations, a number of conclusions are possible: (a) overall, community services provide for a better quality of life than institutional care; (b) whether community service costs are more or less than institutional costs may depend on factors such as funding mechanisms, wage rates and the level of investment in institutional services prior to deinstitutionalization, that are likely to differ between countries; (c) economies of scale are not pervasive but may arise among settings with very small group sizes depending on staffing model; (d) the costs of staffing are a major element in total service package costs and there is scope to relate staff input more precisely to the needs and characteristics of service users; (e) the factors responsible for variation in costs and outcomes are incompletely understood; (f) however, resource input does not appear to result in enhanced outcome; (g) greater staff input is inefficiently translated into performance which affects service users; and therefore, (h) operational culture and staff training and management are important determinants of ultimate outcome. More research is required on the factors that drive costs on the one hand and outcomes on the other. An international consensus is required on the important variables to be described when doing research on residential support arrangements, so that relationships between environmental characteristics and either costs or outcome can be identified with greater confidence.
Quality of Life—Challenges to Research, Practice and Policy
Authors: Brown Roy I. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractQuality of life (QOL) has been developing in the field of IDD since the early 1980s, and ever since there have been research, models, and theoretical constructs along with many recommendations. Ignored in its early development, QOL is now seen as important for support and intervention. The research has resulted in new insights yet there remain many challenges, three of which are discussed in this article. (1) Much QOL research requires the acceptance of parent and allied commentary that is regarded as subjective and frequently carries less weight than objective evidence. This can raise questions across disciplines regarding the validity and therefore the value of QOL in the field of research, practice, and policy. (2) Family quality of life (FQOL) research, which is an outgrowth of QOL in IDD, has resulted in a number of questions concerning our perception and management of family challenges. One is our understanding or lack of understanding of the process of inclusion, which is discussed suggesting the need for a much more clear articulation of exclusion and inclusion and its relevance to research and application within a QOL context. (3) QOL involves an holistic approach and much of this approach has been researched and applied in the field of IDD. It is posited in this article that the QOL approach should now be seen as a paradigm for research, policy, and intervention in which other procedures can be explored and addressed. To do so the paradigm requires further development and integration and an understanding of its specificity and breadth of potential application. Each of these issues is discussed and recommendations are put forward for action under the headings of Perceptual and Objective Data, Education of Personnel, Further Research and Application, and Policy Integration.
A mobile, web‐based system can improve positive airway pressure adherence
Authors: Hostler Jordanna M. , Sheikh Karen L. , Andrada Teotimo F. , Khramtsov Andrei , Holley Paul R. , Holley Aaron B. 
Published: December 2016

SummarySleepMapper is a mobile, web‐based system that allows patients to self‐monitor their positive airway pressure therapy, and provides feedback and education in real time. In addition to the usual, comprehensive support provided at our clinic, we gave the SleepMapper to 30 patients initiating positive airway pressure. They were compared with patients initiating positive airway pressure at our clinic without SleepMapper (controls) to determine whether SleepMapper affected adherence. A total of 61 patients had polysomnographic and adherence data analysed, 30 were given SleepMapper and 31 received our standard of care. The two groups were well matched at baseline to include no significant differences in age, apnea–hypopnea index, percentage receiving split‐night polysomnographs and starting pressures. Patients in the control group received significantly more non‐benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics the night of their polysomnography and during positive airway pressure initiation. At 11 weeks, patients in the SleepMapper group had a greater percentage of nights with any use (78.0 ± 22.0 versus 55.5 ± 24.0%; P < 0.001) and >4 h positive airway pressure use (78.0 ± 22.0 versus 55.5 ± 24.0%; P = 0.02). There was a trend toward more patients in the SleepMapper group achieving >4 h of use for at least 70% of nights [9/30 (30%) versus 3/31 (9.7%); P = 0.06]. In multivariate linear regression, the SleepMapper remained significantly associated with percentage of nights >4 h positive airway pressure use (β coefficient = 0.18; P = 0.02). Added to our usual, comprehensive programme to maximize positive airway pressure adherence in new users, the SleepMapper was independently associated with an 18% increase in nights >4 h of use.