bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do patient‐reported measures of symptoms and health status predict mortality in hemodialysis? An assessment of POS‐S Renal and EQ‐5D
Authors: Sexton Donal J. , Lowney Aoife C. , O'Seaghdha Conall M. , Murphy Marie , O'Brien Tony , Casserly Liam F. , McQuillan Regina , Plant William D. , Eustace Joseph A. , Kinsella Sinead M. , Conlon Peter J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIntroduction Experience with the use of patient‐reported outcome measures such as EQ‐5D and the symptom module of the Palliative care Outcome Scale—Renal Version (POS‐S Renal) as mortality prediction tools in hemodialysis is limited.Methods A prospective survival study of people receiving hemodialysis (N = 362). The EQ‐5D and the POS‐S Renal were used to assess symptom burden and self‐rated health (with a self‐rated component). Participants were followed from instrument completion to death or study end. Competing risks survival analysis was used to evaluate associations with time to death, with renal transplant as a competing risk.Findings 32% (N = 116) of participants died over a median (25th–75th centile) of 2.6 (1.41–3.38) years. Factors most notably associated with mortality adjusted hazard ratio (95%CI) included: lower EQ VAS score 2.7 (1.4, 5.2) P = 0.004 (lowest tertile), higher POS‐S Renal score 2.4 (1.3, 4.3) P = 0.004 (highest tertile), and lower EQ‐5D score 2.6 (1.3, 5.3) P = 0.01 (lowest tertile) as well as the presence of: “problems with mobility?” 2 (1.1, 3.3) P = 0.01, or “problems with usual activities?” 2.1 (1.4, 3.3), P < 0.001. After age adjustment area under the receiver operating curves (AUC) (95%CI) for mortality were: 0.71 (0.62, 0.79) for EQ VAS score, 0.71 (0.63, 0.80) for POS‐S Renal‐S Renal score, and 0.76 (0.68, 0.84) for EQ‐5D score. AUC 95%CI was highest for our fourth model at 0.79 (0.72, 0.86) comprised of individual elements from both instruments and established risk factors.Discussion EQ VAS scores and predictive models based on combinations of elements from the POS‐S Renal and EQ‐5D instruments may aid in mortality discrimination and possibly in the delivery of supportive care services.
3‐(3,4,5‐Trimethoxybenzylidene)‐2,4‐pentanedione: Design of a novel photostabilizer with in vivo SPF boosting properties and its use in developing broad‐spectrum sunscreen formulations
Authors: Chaudhuri R. K. , Ollengo M. A. , Singh P. , Martincigh B. S. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractObjectiveThe study concerned the synthesis of a novel photostabilizer based on benzylidenepentanedione chemistry and the evaluation of its potential in developing a broad‐spectrum sunscreen formulation containing avobenzone.Methods3‐(3,4,5‐Trimethoxybenzylidene)‐2‐4‐pentanedione (TMBP) was synthesized through a condensation reaction and incorporated into a sunscreen formulation containing, inter alia, avobenzone. The SPF, critical wavelength and in vitro photostability of the product were measured. The photostability was compared with that afforded by current avobenzone photostabilizers, namely octocrylene, ethylhexylmethoxycrylene and diethylhexylsyringylidenemalonate. The photostability of TMBP either alone or in the presence of avobenzone in a methanolic solution was also evaluated by UV spectrophotometric and HPLC analyses. The optical properties of TMBP were estimated experimentally and supported by time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations.ResultsThe ability of TMBP to stabilize avobenzone under ultraviolet (UV) light exposure was shown both in formulated products and in solution. A comparative stability study incorporating various combinations of avobenzone, TMBP (vs. three commercial photostabilizers) and UVB sunscreens clearly showed TMBP to be a very effective stabilizer. The photostabilizing effect of TMBP arises from triplet‐state energy transfer from avobenzone to TMBP and through light‐induced reactions that preserve the main chromophores. Interestingly, a 50% in vivo SPF boosting was observed when TMBP was used with organic and inorganic sunscreens when alone it has no contribution to SPF. TMBP‐containing sunscreen formulations clearly showed a critical wavelength of well over 370 nm and can thus be categorized as broad‐spectrum sunscreens.ConclusionWe were able to design a very effective photostabilizer, trimethoxybenzylidene pentanedione (INCI name), based on benzylidenepentanedione chemistry. TMBP is very efficient in stabilizing avobenzone in formulated products and boosts in vivo SPF by >50% for organic and inorganic sunscreens, and the formulations have critical wavelengths of >370 nm. These efficacious properties make it a promising additive for inclusion in broad‐spectrum photoprotective products.
Alternative perspectives of safety in home delivered health care: a sequential exploratory mixed method study
Authors: Jones Sarahjane 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to discover and describe how patients, carers and case management nurses define safety and compare it to the traditional risk reduction and harm avoidance definition of safety.BackgroundCare services are increasingly being delivered in the home for patients with complex long‐term conditions. However, the concept of safety remains largely unexplored.DeignA sequential, exploratory mixed method design.MethodsA qualitative case study of the UK National Health Service case management programme in the English UK National Health Service was deployed during 2012. Thirteen interviews were conducted with patients (n = 9) and carers (n = 6) and three focus groups with nurses (n = 17) from three community care providers. The qualitative element explored the definition of safety. Data were subjected to framework analysis and themes were identified by participant group. Sequentially, a cross‐sectional survey was conducted during 2013 in a fourth community care provider (patient n = 35, carer n = 19, nurse n = 26) as a form of triangulation.FindingsPatients and carers describe safety differently to case management nurses, choosing to focus on meeting needs. They use more positive language and recognize the role they have in safety in home‐delivered health care. In comparison, case management nurses described safety similarly to the definitions found in the literature. However, when offered the patient and carer definition of safety, they preferentially selected this definition to their own or the literature definition.ConclusionPatients and carers offer an alternative perspective on patient safety in home‐delivered health care that identifies their role in ensuring safety and is more closely aligned with the empowerment philosophy of case management.
When relative allocation depends on total resource acquisition: implication for the analysis of trade‐offs
Authors: Descamps S. , Gaillard J.‐M. , Hamel S. , Yoccoz N. G. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractA central tenet of evolutionary biology states that life‐history traits are linked via trade‐offs, as classically exemplified by the van Noordwijk and de Jong model. This model, however, assumes that the relative resource allocation to a biological function varies independently of the total resource acquisition. Based on current empirical evidence, we first explored the dependency between the total resource acquisition and the relative resource allocation to reproduction and showed that such dependency is the rule rather than the exception. We then derived the expression of the covariance between traits when the assumption of independence is relaxed and used simulations to quantify the importance of such dependency on the detection of trade‐offs between current reproduction and future survival. We found that the dependency between the total energy acquisition and the relative allocation to reproduction can influence the probability to detect trade‐offs between survival and reproduction. As a general rule, a negative dependency between the total energy acquisition and the relative allocation to reproduction should lead to a higher probability of detecting a trade‐off in species with a fast pace of life, whereas a positive dependency should lead to a higher probability of detecting a trade‐off in species with a slow pace of life. In addition to confirming the importance of resource variation to reveal trade‐offs, our finding demonstrates that the covariance between resource allocation and resource acquisition is generally not null and also plays a fundamental role in the detection of trade‐offs.
Distinguishing internal property from external property in kidney transplantation
Authors: Prasad G. V. Ramesh 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWhat determines the ownership of human body parts? In this paper, I argue that this question can be informed by an exploration of the cognitive distinction between property external to the human body such as houses, cars or land, and internal property such as organs that are located within anatomical body confines. Each type of property has distinct brain representations and possibly different effects on the sense of self. This distinction may help explain the divergence in post‐donation outcomes seen in different kidney donor populations. Poor outcomes in some types of kidney donors may be due not only to a failure in their proper selection by standard medical testing or post‐donation care but may also be a manifestation of differing effects on sense of self resulting from transfer of their internal property. Because a kidney is internal property, a hypothesis worth exploring is that those who experience good outcomes post‐donation experience dopaminergic activation and a feeling of reward, while those experiencing bad outcomes are instead overcoming cortisol or adrenergic‐based stress or fear responses without a corresponding feeling of reward, disrupting of their sense of self. Discussions about the rules for internal property transfer must be based not only on values and laws designed to govern external property but also on cognitive science‐based facts, values and judgments that discussions of external property do not presently accommodate. Any future system of rules for governing organ distribution requires a framework different from that of external property to prevent harm to living kidney donors.
Baboon vaginal microbial flora
Authors: Obiero Jael A. , Waititu Kenneth K. , Mulei Isaac , Omar Farah I. , Jaoko Walter , Mwethera Peter G. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackgroundKnowledge of the composition of vaginal microbial ecosystem is essential for understanding the etiology, prevention, and treatment of vaginal diseases. A baboon model has been used to provide detailed understanding of reproductive physiology and immunology applicable to women. However, little is known about the composition of its vaginal microbial ecosystem.MethodsGram stain and Nugent scores were used for assessment of baboon vaginal microbial flora. Biochemical identification and analysis of isolates were performed using the api® kits and identification software.ResultsSpecies of Lactobacilli, Staphylococci, Clostridia, Bacilli, Corynebacteria, Gram‐negative rods, other Gram‐positive rods, cocci and Candida, were isolated. Healthy vaginal microbiota consisted mainly of lactobacillus morphotypes. Animals with high Nugent scores had increased number of Gram‐positive cocci and variable rods, with increased number of Gram‐negative morphotypes.ConclusionsThe baboon vaginal microbiota is heterogeneous in terms of species composition and is typified by a scarcity of lactobacilli.
Safe sleep, day and night: mothers' experiences regarding infant sleep safety
Authors: Lau Annie , Hall Wendy 
Published: May 2016

Aims and ObjectivesTo explore Canadian mothers' experiences with infant sleep safety.BackgroundParents decide when, how and where to place their infants to sleep. It is anticipated that they will follow international Sudden Infant Death Syndrome prevention sleep safety guidelines. Limited evidence is available for how parents take up guidelines; no studies have explored Canadian mothers’ experiences regarding infant sleep safety.DesignAn inductive qualitative descriptive study using some elements of grounded theory, including concurrent data collection and analysis and memoing.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews and constant comparative analysis were employed to explore infant sleep safety experiences of 14 Canadian mothers residing in Metro Vancouver. Data collection commenced in December 2012 and ended in July 2013.FindingsThe core theme, Infant Sleep Safety Cycle, represents a cyclical process encompassing sleep safety from the prenatal period to the first six months of infants’ lives. The cyclical process includes five segments: mothers’ expectations of sleep safety, their struggles with reality as opposed to maternal visions, modifications of expectations, provision of rationale for choices and shifts in mothers’ views of infants’ developmental capabilities. Mothers’ experiences were influenced by four factors: perceptions of everyone's needs, familial influences, attitudes and judgments from outsiders and resource availability and accessibility.ConclusionTo manage infants’ sleep, mothers reframed sleep safety guidelines and downplayed the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome for all forms of sleep at all times. Healthcare providers can support mothers’ efforts to manage their infants’ sleep challenges. During prenatal and postpartum periods, providers’ interventions can influence mothers’ efforts to adhere to sleep safety principles.Relevance to clinical practiceThe study findings support healthcare providers’ efforts to assist mothers to modify expectations and develop strategies to support sleep safety principles while acknowledging their challenges.
Pharmacokinetic investigations of the marker active metabolites 4‐methylamino‐antipyrine and 4‐amino‐antipyrine after intramuscular injection of metamizole in healthy piglets
Authors: Burmańczuk A. , Kowalski C. , Giorgi M. , Owen H. , Grabowski T. 
Published: May 2016

Metamizole (MT) is a pyrazolone nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug labelled for humans and animals. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics of its active metabolites 4‐methylamino‐antipyrine (MAA) and 4‐amino‐antipyrine (AA) in male piglets after a single intramuscular injection of MT. Eight healthy male piglets were administered MT (100 mg/kg) intramuscularly. Blood was sampled at scheduled time intervals, and drug plasma concentrations evaluated by a validated HPLC method. MAA and AA plasma concentrations were quantitatively detectable from 0.25 to 48 h and 0.50 to 72 h, respectively, in 6 of 8 and 7 of 8 animals. The average maximum concentrations of MAA and AA were of 47.59 and 4.94 mg/mL, respectively. The average half‐lives were 8.57 and 13.3 h for MAA and AA, respectively. This study showed that the amount of MAA and AA produced in piglets is different to that in the animal species previously investigated. Further studies are necessary to understand whether these differences in MAA and AA plasma concentrations between animal species necessitate diverse therapeutic drug dosing.
UTILITY MAXIMIZATION IN A LARGE MARKET
Authors: Mostovyi Oleksii 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe study the problem of expected utility maximization in a large market, i.e., a market with countably many traded assets. Assuming that agents have von Neumann–Morgenstern preferences with stochastic utility function and that consumption occurs according to a stochastic clock, we obtain the “usual” conclusions of the utility maximization theory. We also give a characterization of the value function in a large market in terms of a sequence of value functions in finite‐dimensional models.
The gut microbiota of the pine weevil is similar across Europe and resembles that of other conifer‐feeding beetles
Authors: Berasategui Aileen , Axelsson Karolin , Nordlander Göran , Schmidt Axel , Borg‐Karlson Anna‐Karin , Gershenzon Jonathan , Terenius Olle , Kaltenpoth Martin 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe pine weevil (Hylobius abietis, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an important pest of conifer seedlings in Europe. Despite its economic importance, little is known about the composition of its gut microbial community and the role it plays in mediating the weevil's ability to utilize conifers as a food source. Here, we characterized the gut bacterial communities of different populations of H. abietis across Europe and compared them to those of other beetles that occupy similar ecological niches. We demonstrate that the microbial community of H. abietis is similar at higher taxonomic levels (family and genus) across locations in Europe, with Wolbachia as the dominant microbe, followed by Enterobacteria and Firmicutes. Despite this similarity, we observed consistent differences between countries and locations, but not sexes. Our meta‐analysis demonstrates that the gut bacterial community of the pine weevil is very similar to that of bark beetles that also exploit conifers as a food source. The Enterobacteriaceae symbionts of both host taxa are especially closely related phylogenetically. Conversely, the microbiota of H. abietis is distinct from that of closely related weevils feeding on nonconifer food sources, suggesting that the microbial community of the pine weevil is determined by the environment and may be relevant to host ecology. Furthermore, several H. abietis‐associated members of the Enterobacteriaceae family are known to contain genes involved in terpenoid degradation. As such, we hypothesize that the gut microbial community is important for the utilization of conifer seedlings as a food source, either through the detoxification of plant secondary metabolites or through the supplementation of essential nutrients.
Elucidation of a mechanism of oxidative stress regulation in Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain
Authors: Ma Zhuo , Russo Vincenzo C. , Rabadi Seham M. , Jen Yu , Catlett Sally V. , Bakshi Chandra Shekhar , Malik Meenakshi 
Published: May 2016

SummaryFrancisella tularensis causes a lethal human disease known as tularemia. As an intracellular pathogen, Francisella survives and replicates in phagocytic cells, such as macrophages. However, to establish an intracellular niche, Francisella must overcome the oxidative stress posed by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the infected macrophages. OxyR and SoxR/S are two well‐characterized transcriptional regulators of oxidative stress responses in several bacterial pathogens. Only the OxyR homolog is present in F. tularensis, while the SoxR homologs are absent. The functional role of OxyR has not been established in F. tularensis. We demonstrate that OxyR regulates oxidative stress responses and provides resistance against ROS, thereby contributing to the survival of the F. tularensis subsp. holarctica live vaccine strain (LVS) in macrophages and epithelial cells and contributing to virulence in mice. Proteomic analysis reveals the differential production of 128 proteins in the oxyR gene deletion mutant, indicating its global regulatory role in the oxidative stress response of F. tularensis. Moreover, OxyR regulates the transcription of the primary antioxidant enzyme genes by binding directly to their putative promoter regions. This study demonstrates that OxyR is an important virulence factor and transcriptional regulator of the oxidative stress response of the F. tularensis LVS.
Incorrect tooth extraction – Never say never?
Authors: McKernon S.L. , Taylor K.H. , Reid S. , Balmer M.C. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to seek expert opinion on the re‐implantation of a tooth following wrong site extraction.MethodsWe suggest as human error can never be completely eradicated, a protocol must be developed to deal with the after effects of wrong site tooth extraction to produce the most beneficial outcome for the patient. In order to produce this, we sought expert opinion. An online survey was designed to gather information relevant to the subject. This was produced on SurveyMonkey® and distributed to all members of the British Association of Oral Surgeons (BAOS) in May 2015.ResultsThe results indicated regardless of current grade, clinicians would be in favour of re‐implanting an incorrectly extracted tooth. Interestingly, 62% would not proceed with the planned surgery.ConclusionsDespite much written in the literature regarding never events, no suggested protocol has been published on how to manage these events. Therefore following this study, we present a suggested protocol.
Graft‐versus‐host disease in paediatric solid organ transplantation: A review of the literature
Authors: Green Thomas , Hind Jonathan 
Published: May 2016

AbstractGvHD is a rare and serious complication of organ transplantation. The literature is sparse following solid organ transplantation. The aim of this report was to review the literature of GvHD in paediatric solid organ transplantation. We searched PubMed for English‐language full‐text manuscripts between 1990 and 2015 for eligible studies. A total of 28 publications were found pertaining to paediatric GvHD following solid organ transplantation. GvHD had a mean incidence of 11% (range 8.3–13.4%) following SBTx and 1.5% following liver transplantation. Where described, the most common sites for presentation of GvHD were the skin (87%), the native GI tract (43%), the lungs (7%), the eyes (4%), HA (4%), and the kidneys (1%). Diagnosis was confirmed with biopsy (93%) and/or chimerism (41%). Treatments used include steroids (80%), of which 75% showed partial or complete resolution. Mortality was 33.3% (range 0–100%). Novel therapies include ECP and MSC therapy. GvHD is a rare but serious disease with high mortality. Novel therapies may offer hope in the future, but currently there is limited evidence for their efficacy in the context of intestinal or liver transplantation.
Comparative seed germination traits in alpine and subalpine grasslands: higher elevations are associated with warmer germination temperatures
Authors: Fernández‐Pascual E. , Jiménez‐Alfaro B. , Bueno Á. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractSeed germination traits in alpine grasslands are poorly understood, despite the sensitivity of these communities to climate change. We hypothesise that germination traits predict species occurrence along the alpine–subalpine elevation gradient. Phylogenetic comparative analyses were performed using fresh seeds of 22 species from alpine and subalpine grasslands (1600–2400 m) of the Cantabrian Mountains, Spain (43° N, 5° W). Laboratory experiments were conducted to characterise germinability, optimum germination temperature and effect of cold and warm stratification on dormancy breaking. Variability in these traits was reduced by phylogenetic principal component analysis (phyl.PCA). Phylogenetic generalised least squares regression (PGLS) was used to fit a model in which species average elevation was predicted from their position on the PCA axes. Most subalpine species germinated in snow‐like conditions, whereas most alpine species needed accumulation of warm temperatures. Phylogenetic signal was low. PCA1 ordered species according to overall germinability, whilst PCA2 ordered them according to preference for warm or cold germination. PCA2 significantly predicted species occurrence in the alpine–subalpine gradient, as higher elevation species tended to have warmer germination preferences. Our results show that germination traits in high‐mountain grasslands are closely linked to the alpine–subalpine gradient. Alpine species, especially those from stripped and wind‐edge communities, prefer warmer germination niches, suggesting that summer emergence prevents frost damage during seedling establishment. In contrast, alpine snowfield and subalpine grassland plants have cold germination niches, indicating that winter emergence may occur under snow to avoid drought stress.