bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between smoking and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Akhavan Rezayat Arash , Dadgar Moghadam Malihe , Ghasemi Nour Mohammad , Shirazinia Matin , Ghodsi Hamidreza , Rouhbakhsh Zahmatkesh Mohammad Reza , Tavakolizadeh Noghabi Mitra , Hoseini Benyamin , Akhavan Rezayat Kambiz 
Published: January 2018

Background/aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common chronic liver diseases. Some risk factors are known to influence the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but the effect of tobacco smoking on the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is controversial. The main goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the association between smoking and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Method: Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science) were searched to find published articles on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and smoking until December 2016. All relevant studies were screened by inclusion and exclusion criteria and compatible studies were chosen. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to assess the methodological quality of eligible articles. Subsequently, information was gathered based on the following: author, publication year, keywords, country, inclusion and exclusion criteria, main results, study design, conclusion, and confounder variables (age, body mass index, gender, ethnicity, and diabetes). Finally, analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software. Results: Data were extracted from 20 observational studies (9 cross-sectional, 6 case-control, 4 cohort studies, and 1 retrospective cohort study). A significant association was observed between smoking and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with a pooled odds ratio of 1.110 (95% confidence interval, 1.028–1.199), p-value = 0.008. The statistical heterogeneity was medium with an I2 of 40.012%, p-heterogeneity = 0.074. Also there was a significant relation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and passive smoking with a pooled odds ratio of 1.380 (95% confidence interval, 1.199–1.588; p-value = 0.001; I2 = 59.41; p-heterogeneity = 0.117). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that smoking is significantly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Further prospective studies exploring the underlying mechanisms of this association should be pursued. Also passive smoking increases the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease about 1.38-fold. The effects of smoking cigarettes on active smokers (current smoker, former smoker, and total smoker) are less than passive smokers. Further studies are needed to compare the of effects of passive and active smoking on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Receptor‐interacting protein kinase 3 mediates macrophage/monocyte activation in autoimmune hepatitis and regulates interleukin‐6 production
Authors: Zhang Jun , Guo Liping , Liu Mengjing , Jing Yang , Zhou Simin , Li Hongxia , Li Yanni , Zhao Jingwen , Zhao Xingliang , Karunaratna Nathasha , Jiang Kui , Zhou Lu , Wang Bangmao 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundThe mechanisms of macrophages/monocytes in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) remain unclear. We investigated the role of receptor‐interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3), a key inflammatory signal adapter, in macrophage/monocyte activation in AIH.MethodsLiver tissues and monocytes from patients were collected to evaluate the relationship between macrophage activation and RIP3 by double‐immunofluorescence and Western blotting. RAW264.7 macrophages were used to study the regulation of RIP3 signaling on inflammatory cytokines.ResultsCompared to the hepatic cyst, the majority of accumulated macrophages expressed RIP3 in AIH liver tissues. Moreover, RIP3 expression of monocytes was correlated with the levels of serum hepatic enzyme in AIH. Furthermore, RIP3 signaling was activated by lipopolysaccharide in RAW264.7 macrophages, which was accompanied with upregulated interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐10 and downregulated IL‐4 and transforming growth factor‐β. Notably, necrostatin‐1, the specific inhibitor of the RIP3 signaling pathway, and 6‐thioguanine (6‐TG), the active metabolite of azathioprine, predominantly reduced IL‐6 production compared to other cytokines. Moreover, the gene level of IL‐6 was dramatically increased in AIH liver tissues.ConclusionsRIP3 signaling is involved in macrophage/monocyte activation in AIH and mediates IL‐6 production, and is a novel molecular mechanism of 6‐TG, indicating that it might be a promising therapeutic target for AIH treatment.
Proximal Humerus Fractures: Evaluation and Management in the Elderly Patient
Authors: Schumaier Adam , Grawe Brian 
Published: January 2018

Introduction: Proximal humerus fractures are common in the elderly. The evaluation and management of these injuries is often controversial. The purpose of this study is to review recent evidence and provide updated recommendations for treating proximal humerus fractures in the elderly. Methods: A literature review of peer-reviewed publications related to the evaluation and management of proximal humerus fractures in the elderly was performed. There was a focus on randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews published within the last 5 years. Results: The incidence of proximal humerus fractures is increasing. It is a common osteoporotic fracture. Bone density is a predictor of reduction quality and can be readily assessed with anteroposterior views of the shoulder. Social independence is a predictor of outcome, whereas age is not. Many fractures are minimally displaced and respond acceptably to nonoperative management. Displaced and severe fractures are most frequently treated operatively with intramedullary nails, locking plates, percutaneous techniques, or arthroplasty. Discussion: Evidence from randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews is insufficient to recommend a treatment; however, most techniques have acceptable or good outcomes. Evaluation should include an assessment of the patient’s bone quality, social independence, and surgical risk factors. With internal fixation, special attention should be paid to medial comminution, varus angulation, and restoration of the calcar. With arthroplasty, attention should be paid to anatomic restoration of the tuberosities and proper placement of the prosthesis. Conclusion: A majority of minimally displaced fractures can be treated conservatively with early physical therapy. Treatment for displaced fractures should consider the patient’s level of independence, bone quality, and surgical risk factors. Fixation with percutaneous techniques, intramedullary nails, locking plates, and arthroplasty are all acceptable treatment options. There is no clear evidence-based treatment of choice, and the surgeon should consider their comfort level with various procedures during the decision-making process.
Postoperative daily living activities of geriatric patients administered general or spinal anesthesia for hip fracture surgery: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Fukuda Taeko , Imai Shinobu , Nakadera Masaya , Wagatsuma Yukiko , Horiguchi Hiromasa 
Published: January 2018

Purpose: Maintaining independence after hip fracture repair is important for geriatric patients and general welfare. We investigated the effects of anesthetic methods on postoperative activities of daily living (ADLs) following hip fracture surgery in elderly patients. Methods: The medical records of 12,342 patients aged ≥65 years who underwent typical surgeries for hip fracture using either general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia were reviewed. To adjust for baseline differences and minimize selection bias for the chosen method of anesthesia, patients were matched by propensity scores. Factors affecting the deterioration in ADLs during hospital stay were also investigated in all subjects using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Eating, grooming, toileting, bathing, and walking were selected as the ADL parameters, as they are considered important for an independent life. Results: Of the 12,342 patients, 6918 (56.1%) received general anesthesia and 5424 (43.9%) received spinal anesthesia. After the propensity score matching, the anesthesia types were not associated with ADL scores except toileting at discharge. Results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the types of anesthesia were not associated with deterioration in ADL scores. Advanced age, male sex, high Charlson Comorbidity Index scores, psychiatric disease, no administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and short length of hospital stay were associated with deterioration in ADL scores. Conclusion: The anesthesia types were not associated with ADL dependency except toileting at discharge. Spinal anesthesia adversely affected toilet use at hospital discharge. However, anesthesia types were not factors that affected deterioration in ADL during hospital stay in elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery.
A Review of Localized Office and Home Devices in the Treatment of Psoriasis
Authors: Buckland Molly , Smith Jaclyn S. , Hill Dane , Feldman Steven R. 
Published: January 2018

Importance Targeted phototherapy for treatment of localized psoriasis has advantages over non-targeted phototherapy. It delivers high ultraviolet doses to only the diseased skin, sparing irradiation to normal skin. Objective This study aims to review the devices that are available for targeted treatment of psoriasis. Evidence Review A PubMed literature review was conducted to identify devices for localized psoriasis phototherapy. Device manufacturer websites were searched for specific information. Findings Eighty-four papers were identified that met the inclusion criteria. We identified and described seven laser/light therapies and 22 devices for localized psoriasis treatment. Limitations There is potential bias for each device since the products’ information was provided by their manufacturer. Some devices were excluded due to lack of relevant information. Conclusions and Relevance Excimer laser and narrow band ultraviolet B devices are valuable treatment modalities for localized psoriasis. Handheld, narrow band ultraviolet B devices are efficacious and available for home treatment.
Greater Efficacy with Secukinumab Treatment is Associated with Greater Psoriasis Symptom Relief: Results from Secukinumab Clinical Trial Data
Authors: Gottlieb Alice B. , Strober Bruce , Lebwohl Mark , Kaufmann Roland , Pariser David , Narbutas Redzinaldas , Nyirady Judit , Zhao Yang , Herrera Vivian , McLeod Lori , Odom Dawn , Elewski Boni E. 
Published: January 2018

Background Psoriasis negatively affects patients’ quality of life. Secukinumab is a human interleukin-17A antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Objectives The current analysis evaluated the benefits of secukinumab by assessing relationships between disease severity and patient-reported symptoms. Methods Correlations between psoriasis-related itching, pain, and scaling and disease severity scores (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] and Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA]) were evaluated at baseline, Week 12, and change from baseline to Week 12 using secukinumab clinical data from ERASURE and FIXTURE. Symptom responder status and PASI/IGA change were evaluated using logistic modeling. Results Correlation coefficients ranged 0.11-0.49 for PASI and 0.19-0.52 for IGA. Greater PASI response was related to greater symptom response/complete relief. Conclusions Results further demonstrate the relationship between traditional clinical measures of disease severity and patient-reported, psoriasis-related itching, pain, and scaling –- hence the need to consider both outcomes together to evaluate treatment effects in this disease fully.
Association of Touch Avoidance with Disease Severity and Quality of Life in Psoriasis Patients
Authors: Armstrong April W. , Cather Jennifer C. , Paul Carle F. , Edson-Heredia Emily , Zhu Baojin , Hollister Kristin , Koo John , Levin Ethan , Bleakman Alison Potts 
Published: January 2018

Background and Objective Previous large studies have highlighted the impact of psoriasis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) but not on interpersonal touch. This survey assessed the prevalence of touch avoidance among psoriasis patients, and its relationship to clinical characteristics and HRQoL. Methods Using an online, cross-sectional study with a standardized questionnaire, psoriasis patients reported their level of touch avoidance. The relationships between touch avoidance, patient-reported outcome measures, and patient demographics were analyzed using linear models for continuous outcomes and logistic models for categorical outcomes. Results Touch avoidance was reported by 48.2% of participants. Higher levels of touch avoidance were associated with worse HRQoL, depression, and itch outcomes (p<.001 for all). The strongest indicators of touch avoidance were HRQoL score (p<.001) and depression score (p<.001). Conclusion Nearly half of psoriasis patients report avoidance of touch. Those who had worse disease severity, HRQoL, and depression reported higher levels of touch avoidance.
Efficacy of artesunate–amodiaquine, dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine and artemether–lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Maradi, Niger
Authors: Grandesso Francesco , Guindo Ousmane , Woi Messe Lynda , Makarimi Rockyath , Traore Aliou , Dama Souleymane , Laminou Ibrahim Maman , Rigal Jean , de Smet Martin , Ouwe Missi Oukem-Boyer Odile , Doumbo Ogobara K. , Djimdé Abdoulaye , Etard Jean-François 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
Background
Malaria endemic countries need to assess efficacy of anti-malarial treatments on a regular basis. Moreover, resistance to artemisinin that is established across mainland South-East Asia represents today a major threat to global health. Monitoring the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies is of paramount importance to detect as early as possible the emergence of resistance in African countries that toll the highest burden of malaria morbidity and mortality.

Methods
A WHO standard protocol was used to assess efficacy of the combinations artesunate–amodiaquine (AS–AQ Winthrop®), dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine (DHA–PPQ, Eurartesim®) and artemether–lumefantrine (AM–LM, Coartem®) taken under supervision and respecting pharmaceutical recommendations. The study enrolled for each treatment arm 212 children aged 6–59 months living in Maradi (Niger) and suffering with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The Kaplan–Meier 42-day PCR-adjusted cure rate was the primary outcome. A standardized parasite clearance estimator was used to assess delayed parasite clearance as surrogate maker of suspected artemisinin resistance.

Results
No early treatment failures were found in any of the study treatment arms. The day-42 PCR-adjusted cure rate estimates were 99.5, 98.4 and 99.0% in the AS–AQ, DHA–PPQ and AM–LM arms, respectively. The reinfection rate (expressed also as Kaplan–Meier estimates) was higher in the AM–LM arm (32.4%) than in the AS–AQ (13.8%) and the DHA–PPQ arm (24.9%). The parasite clearance rate constant was 0.27, 0.26 and 0.25 per hour for AS–AQ, DHA–PPQ and AM–LM, respectively.

Conclusions
All the three treatments evaluated largely meet WHO criteria (at least 95% efficacy). AS–AQ and AL–LM may continue to be used and DHA–PPQ may be also recommended as first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Maradi. The parasite clearance rate were consistent with reference values indicating no suspected artemisinin resistance. Nevertheless, the monitoring of anti-malarial drug efficacy should continue.
Trial registration details Registry number at ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT01755559
Involvement of gut microbiome in human health and disease: brief overview, knowledge gaps and research opportunities
Authors: Liang Dachao , Leung Ross Ka-Kit , Guan Wenda , Au William W. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microbial community which resides inside our body and on our skin (the human microbiome) can perturb host energy metabolism and immunity, and thus significantly influence development of a variety of human diseases. Therefore, the field has attracted unprecedented attention in the last decade. Although a large amount of data has been generated, there are still many unanswered questions and no universal agreements on how microbiome affects human health have been agreed upon. Consequently, this review was written to provide an updated overview of the rapidly expanding field, with a focus on revealing knowledge gaps and research opportunities. Specifically, the review covered animal physiology, optimal microbiome standard, health intervention by manipulating microbiome, knowledge base building by text mining, microbiota community structure and its implications in human diseases and health monitoring by analyzing microbiome in the blood. The review should enhance interest in conducting novel microbiota investigations that will further improve health and therapy.
Rock heterogeneity at the centimeter scale, proxies for interfacial weakness, and rock strength-stress interplay from downhole ultrasonic measurements
Authors: Zeroug Smaine , Sinha Bikash K. , Lei Ting , Jeffers John 
Published: January 2018

Analysis of data acquired with an ultrasonic rotating device lowered inside a vertical well of a highly laminated, kerogen-rich, carbonate source formation reveals centimeter-scale rock heterogeneities. The high-frequency (50–600 kHz) measurement used consists of a pulse-echo modality that yields a high-resolution (millimeter-scale) borehole shape and a pitch-catch modality with one transmitting and two receiving transducers that provide compressional (P) and shear (S) slownesses (depth-versus-azimuth) images estimated from signals propagating in the near-wellbore region as compressional head waves and pseudo-Rayleigh surface waves. The slownesses are compared with their counterparts estimated from a lower-frequency (1–15 kHz) sonic measurement logged in the same well interval. The sonic P and S logs are seen to average the centimeter-scale slowness spatial variation between compliant and stiff laminates at a scale larger than 30 cm (1 ft). This is also accompanied by a reduction in resolution of the slowness contrast, which markedly reduces the spectrum of rock-mechanical property variations that are estimated from the ultrasonic data. Further, ultrasonic images of the P and S slownesses and borehole acoustic caliper reveal a host of features associated with rock geomechanics in the near-wellbore and that inform on a first-order basis the interplay between rock strength and local stress regime, as affected by the lamination. The features include breakouts present in the stiffer limestone layers and their arrest at the intersection with the compliant siltstone layers, as well as azimuthal P and S slowness variations indicative of azimuthal stress concentrations, but without the appearance of breakouts. The ultrasonic borehole shape data also identify compliant thin layers that retract into the formation by amounts that are commensurate with their Young’s modulus, suggesting a proxy for detecting and characterizing thin-layer weakness in situ.
PAM50 Risk of Recurrence Score Predicts 10-Year Distant Recurrence in a Comprehensive Danish Cohort of Postmenopausal Women Allocated to 5 Years of Endocrine Therapy for Hormone Receptor–Positive Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Lænkholm Anne-Vibeke , Jensen Maj-Britt , Eriksen Jens Ole , Rasmussen Birgitte Bruun , Knoop Ann S. , Buckingham Wesley , Ferree Sean , Schaper Carl , Nielsen Torsten O. , Haffner Taryn , Kibøl Torben , Møller Talman Maj-Lis , Bak Jylling Anne Marie , Tabor Tomasz Piotr , Ejlertsen Bent 
Published: January 2018

Purpose The PAM50-based Prosigna risk of recurrence (ROR) score has been validated in randomized clinical trials to predict 10-year distant recurrence (DR). The value of Prosigna for predicting DR was examined in a comprehensive nationwide Danish cohort consisting of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive early breast cancer treated with 5 years of endocrine therapy alone. Patients and Methods Using the population-based Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group database, follow-up data were collected on all patients diagnosed from 2000 through 2003 who, by nationwide guidelines, were treated with endocrine therapy for 5 years. Primary tumor blocks from 2,740 patients were tested with Prosigna and, after determination of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, data from 2,558 hormone receptor–positive/HER2-negative samples were analyzed, including 1,395 node-positive patients. Fine and Gray models were applied to determine the prognostic value of ROR for DR. Results Median follow-up for recurrence was 9.2 years. Twenty-six percent of the node-positive patients were classified as low ROR (n = 359) with a DR risk of 3.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9% to 6.1%) versus a DR risk of 22.1% (95% CI, 18.6% to 25.8%) at 10 years for patients classified as high ROR (n = 648). Node-negative patients classified as low and high ROR had a risk of DR of 5.0% (95% CI, 2.9% to 8.0%) and 17.8% (95% CI, 14.0% to 22.0%), respectively. Luminal B tumors (n = 947; DR risk, 18.4% [95% CI: 15.7% to 21.3%]) had a significantly worse outcome than luminal A tumors (n = 1,474,;DR risk, 7.6% [95% CI: 6.1% to 9.2%]; P < .001). Conclusion Prosigna ROR score improved the prediction of outcome in this nationwide Danish population. In a real-world setting, Prosigna can reliably identify node-negative patients and a significant proportion of patients with one to three positive nodes who can be spared treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy.