bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Faecal chitinase 3‐like 1 is a reliable marker as accurate as faecal calprotectin in detecting endoscopic activity in adult patients with inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Buisson A. , Vazeille E. , Minet‐Quinard R. , Goutte M. , Bouvier D. , Goutorbe F. , Pereira B. , Barnich N. , Bommelaer G. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryBackgroundFaecal biomarkers are emerging tools in the assessment of mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs).AimTo evaluate the accuracy of faecal chitinase 3‐like 1(CHI3L1) compared to calprotectin in detecting endoscopic activity in IBD.MethodsOverall, 86 IBD adults underwent colonoscopy consecutively and prospectively, with Crohn's disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) or Mayo endoscopic subscore calculation for ulcerative colitis, and stool collection. Faecal calprotectin was measured using quantitative immunochromatographic testing. Faecal CHI3L1 was quantified by ELISA. CHI3L1 cut‐off value was determined using a receiver‐operating curve.ResultsIn 54 Crohn's disease patients, faecal CHI3L1 (ρ = 0.70, P < 0.001) and calprotectin (ρ = 0.74, P < 0.001) levels correlated with CDEIS and were significantly increased in patients with endoscopic ulceration. In patients with ileal Crohn's disease, faecal CHI3L1 seemed to be better correlated with CDEIS than faecal calprotectin (ρ = 0.78 vs. ρ = 0.62, P < 0.001 for both). CHI3L1 > 15 ng/g detected endoscopic ulceration in Crohn's disease with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 63.6%, compared to faecal calprotectin > 250 μg/g showing a sensitivity of 90.5% and a specificity of 59.1%.In 32 ulcerative colitis patients, faecal CHI3L1 and calprotectin levels correlated with Mayo endoscopic subscore (ρ = 0.44 and 0.61, respectively, P < 0.001 for both) and were significantly increased in ulcerative colitis patients with endoscopic activity. In ulcerative colitis patients, faecal CHI3L1 > 15 ng/g predicted endoscopic activity with a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 80.0%, compared to faecal calprotectin>250 μg/g showing a sensitivity of 86.4% and a specificity of 80.0%.ConclusionFaecal CHI3L1 is a reliable biomarker in detecting endoscopic activity in IBD.
Spatial Scan Statistics for Detection of Multiple Clusters with Arbitrary Shapes
Authors: Lin Pei-Sheng , Kung Yi-Hung , Clayton Murray 
Published: March 2016

SummaryIn applying scan statistics for public health research, it would be valuable to develop a detection method for multiple clusters that accommodates spatial correlation and covariate effects in an integrated model. In this article, we connect the concepts of the likelihood ratio (LR) scan statistic and the quasi-likelihood (QL) scan statistic to provide a series of detection procedures sufficiently flexible to apply to clusters of arbitrary shape. First, we use an independent scan model for detection of clusters and then a variogram tool to examine the existence of spatial correlation and regional variation based on residuals of the independent scan model. When the estimate of regional variation is significantly different from zero, a mixed QL estimating equation is developed to estimate coefficients of geographic clusters and covariates. We use the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure (1995) to find a threshold for p-values to address the multiple testing problem. A quasi-deviance criterion is used to regroup the estimated clusters to find geographic clusters with arbitrary shapes. We conduct simulations to compare the performance of the proposed method with other scan statistics. For illustration, the method is applied to enterovirus data from Taiwan.
Dual institution experience of extranodal marginal zone lymphoma reveals excellent long‐term outcomes
Authors: Starr Adam G. , Caimi Paolo F. , Fu PingFu , Massoud Mira R. , Meyerson Howard , Hsi Eric D. , Mansur David B. , Cherian Sheen , Singh Arun D. , Cooper Brenda W. , De Lima Marcos J.G. , Lazarus Hillard M. , Gerson Stanton L. , Jagadeesh Deepa , Smith Mitchell R. , Dean Robert M. , Pohlman Brad L. , Hill Brian T. , William Basem M. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryExtranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) is a B‐cell lymphoma arising from mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). The disease characteristics, clinical course and treatment vary considerably based on site of involvement. Because long‐term outcome data forEMZLare limited, we sought to describe the clinical details of a large number of patients withEMZLevaluated at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center over a 12‐year period to identify prognostic markers including the impact of site of involvement. We identified 211 cases ofEMZLinvolving the stomach (30%), ocular adnexa (19%), lungs (16%) and intestines (9%). Initial treatment included antibiotics (18%), radiation (21%), rituximab (20%), chemotherapy (3%), rituximab + chemotherapy (7%), surgery (17%) or observation (8%). After a median follow‐up of 44·3 months (range 2·2–214·9), median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 68·2 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 54·5–111·3) and median overall survival (OS) has not been reached. Age >60 years, elevated lactate dehydrogenase level (LDH), ≥4 lymph node groups involvement, and high follicular lymphoma international prognostic index (FLIPI) were associated with inferiorPFS/OS. In summary, patients withEMZLhave excellent prognosis with medianOSin excess of 10 years. Age, elevatedLDH, advanced disease, and highFLIPIscore are associated with worse outcomes.
The prospects and promise of chimeric antigen receptor immunotherapy in multiple myeloma
Authors: Rotolo Antonia , Caputo Valentina , Karadimitris Anastasios 
Published: March 2016

SummaryDespite encouraging therapeutic advances, multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable malignancy. The exciting results of chimaeric antigen receptor (CAR)‐based immunotherapy in CD19+ B‐cell malignancies have spurred a great interest in extending the use of the CAR technology to other cancers, including MM.Availability of a specific, tumour‐restricted antigen is crucial for the design of successful antibody‐based CAR therapy. However, in MM, as in other malignancies, the relative dearth of such antigens‐targets represents the main obstacle for the wider pre‐clinical development and clinical application of the CAR technology.Here we provide an overview of the current progress and future promises of CAR technology in MM therapy. We highlight that, owing to its complexity, phenotypic and functional heterogeneity and the impact of the microenvironment, MM poses several challenges for CAR‐based therapeutic approaches. Nevertheless, for the same reasons, MM can serve as a paradigm for better understanding, optimization and overall improvement of the CAR technology for the benefit of cancer and myeloma patients.
Immunocytochemical staining for p53 and Ki‐67 helps to characterise urothelial cells in urine cytology
Authors: Courtade‐Saïdi M. , Aziza J. , d'Aure D. , Bérard E. , Evrard S. , Basset C. , Lacoste‐Collin L. 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveThe presence of atypical cells in urine cytology is unsatisfactory for both cytologists and clinicians. The objective of this study was to test whether p53 and Ki‐67 immunostaining could improve urothelial carcinoma (UC) detection on urinary cytology.MethodsA total of 196 urine samples were analysed, 142 from the bladder, 41 from the upper tract and 13 from ileal bladder replacement. Cytology results were expressed as normal (N) (n = 81), atypia cannot exclude low‐grade UC (ALG) (n = 25), suspicious for high‐grade UC (SHG) (n = 39) and high‐grade UC (HG) (n = 51). Actual diagnoses were confirmed by histopathological analysis, cystoscopic examination or follow‐up for at least 1 year. Immunocytochemistry performed on CytoSpin™ slides allowed the determination of the percentage of positive cells with p53 and Ki‐67.ResultsThe median percentage values [first to third quartile] of p53 and Ki‐67 were 0 [0–5] and 0 [0–1] for N cytology, 5 [0–40] and 2 [1–10] for ALG, 10 [0–30] and 6 [3–25] for SHG, and 30 [10–80] and 20 [10–30] for HG, respectively. Statistically higher values were observed for both tests (P < 0.001) in positive cytologies (ALG, SHG and HG). The optimal cut‐offs were 5% for p53 and 3% for Ki‐67. The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of all UC were 86.4% and 76.7% for cytology alone, 81.3% and 93.2% for cytology and p53, 75.7% and 88% for cytology and Ki‐67, and 68.9% and 97.5% for cytology, p53 and Ki‐67, respectively.ConclusionUsing p53 and/or Ki‐67 in addition to cytology increases the specificity without penalising the sensitivity.
Conceptual constraints and mechanisms in children's selective learning
Authors: Sabbagh Mark A. , Koenig Melissa A. , Kuhlmeier Valerie A. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAlthough we can support Heyes’ call for more research on mechanisms, we disagree that the problem has been ignored as Heyes suggests. We also doubt that basic learning mechanisms are alone sufficient to account for the broad range of findings in the selective social learning literature. Although phylogenetically shared learning mechanisms must support selective social learning, we believe that they must also be guided by top‐down conceptual considerations that may be special to humans. Research to date has been focused on establishing the boundary conditions on selective social learning, with the goal of making generalizations that will constrain theorizing about the character of that special knowledge. This is critical to our understanding of both why and how selective social learning manifests in children.
Association of a transcobalamin II genetic variant with falsely low results for the holotranscobalamin immunoassay
Authors: Sobczyńska‐Malefora Agata , Pangilinan Faith , Plant Gordon T. , Velkova Aneliya , Harrington Dominic J. , Molloy Anne M. , Brody Lawrence C. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe clinical use of holotranscobalamin (holoTC) testing to evaluate vitamin B12 status has increased in recent years. We present two patients (African Caribbean and Indian heritage), in which the holoTC assay indicated severe B12 deficiency (< 5 pmol/L). Additional clinical tests revealed that these patients had normal levels of total vitamin B12 in blood and unremarkable levels of two other markers of vitamin B12 status, homocysteine and methylmalonic acid. We hypothesized that these patients carry a variant in the transcobalamin gene (TCN2) that influences the most widely commercially available holoTC test – Active‐B12 (Axis‐Shield Diagnostics Ltd).DesignExon sequencing of the TCN2 gene was carried out. Protein characterization included total transcobalamin (TCN2) detection by Western blot, and holoTC by 57Co‐labelled B12 binding followed by size fractionation.ResultsExon sequencing of TCN2 revealed both patients were homozygous for the minor allele of rs35838082 (p.R215W). Western blot and chromatographic analyses revealed that the serum of these patients contains intact transcobalamin and that this variant‐containing protein binds vitamin B12. The variant is rare in Caucasians (minor allele frequency (MAF) < 0·01) but more common in South Asians (MAF ~ 0·02) and those of African origin (MAF ~ 0·25).ConclusionsThe impeded ability to detect normal levels of holoTC in these two patients may be due to this variant interfering with the detection of holoTC by one or both of the monoclonal antibodies currently employed in the Active‐B12 test. Laboratories should be aware of this variant and use confirmatory tests when applicable.
Limited direct effects of a massive wildfire on its sagebrush steppe bee community
Authors: LOVE BYRON G. , CANE JAMES H. 
Published: March 2016

1. Fire can affect bees directly through exposure to heat and smoke. Direct effects include mortality, injury, and displacement affecting at most two generations – adults and any immature progeny present during the fire. To study the direct effects of fire on bees, two criteria must be met. First, bees must be sampled soon after the fire event, before colonists arrive from outside the burn. Second, sampling locations must be far enough into the burned habitat to ensure that bees observed are survivors, and not foragers nesting outside the burn.2. Bees were systematically sampled far inside (>7 km) and outside the burn perimeter immediately following a massive wildfire that burned primarily at night in sagebrush steppe habitat. Because adult females sleep in their nests, it was hypothesised that females of species with nests >10 cm underground would be safe from lethal heat, whereas females with shallow or above‐ground nests would be vulnerable. It was also hypothesised that fire would kill proportionately more males, as they typically sleep above ground.3. Adult bees were present at all burned sample sites 14 and 21 days after the fire started. Many females were observed transporting pollen, indicative of active nest provisioning. Among the guild of bees surveyed at wild sunflowers (the only surviving flowering plant), fewer species were active within the burn. Guild composition was significantly altered, particularly by loss or depletion of several (but not all) sunflower specialists. Sex ratios did not shift, possibly due to surviving males aggregating in remaining patches of sunflowers.
Performance of real‐time PCR and immunofluorescence for the detection of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus and Ralstonia solanacearum in potato tubers in routine testing
Authors: Vreeburg R. A. M. , Bergsma‐Vlami M. , Bollema R. M. , de Haan E. G. , Kooman‐Gersmann M. , Smits‐Mastebroek L. , Tameling W. I. L. , Tjou‐Tam‐Sin N. N. A. , van de Vossenberg B. T. L. H. , Janse J. D. 
Published: March 2016

This paper describes a comparison study of test methods and supports the use of real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus and Ralstonia solanacearum in potato tubers in routine testing. These 2 bacteria are quarantine organisms under European Union (EU) regulatory control and testing for (latent) infections of these bacteria in seed potatoes is mandatory. Real‐time PCR tests were performed on 276 routine potato tuber samples, including samples infected with either C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus or R. solanacearum, and the performance of these real‐time PCR tests was compared with that of immunofluorescence (IF). Real‐time PCR tests, using different primer sets and extraction and PCR protocols, proved to be sensitive and specific for the detection of C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus and R. solanacearum in potato tubers in routine testing, and performed at least as well as IF. Real‐time PCR is a good addition to the detection protocols as laid down in EU regulations (EU Council Directives 2006/56/EC and 2006/63/EC).
Analysis of microdamage in a nickel‐base alloy during very high cycle fatigue
Authors: Chai Guocai 
Published: March 2016

AbstractFatigue damage in a metallic material during very high cycle fatigue can strongly be correlated to the microstructure. This paper provides a review and a discussion on the micro damage behaviours in a nickel‐base alloy during very high cycle fatigue using microplasticity and material mechanics. The results show that cyclic plastic deformation in this material can occur very locally even with an applied stress that is much lower than the yield strength. The fatigue damage occurs mainly at grain or twin boundaries because of local impingement and interaction of slip bands and these boundaries. The crystallographic properties, Schmid factors and orientations of grain and boundaries play very important roles to the fatigue damage. Subsurface fatigue crack initiation in the matrix is one of very high cycle fatigue mechanisms. Twinning and detwinning can also occur during the very high cycle fatigue process.
Hindfoot fusion in haemophilic arthropathy: 6‐year mean follow‐up of 41 procedures performed in 28 adult patients
Authors: Brkljac M. , Shah S. , Hay C. , Rodriguez‐Merchan E. C. 
Published: March 2016

IntroductionHaemophilic arthropathy of the ankle is rare disorder caused by recurrent haemarthorses beginning in early adulthood.AimOur aim was to evaluate the fusion rate of various techniques of hindfoot fusion using internal fixation for the treatment of haemophilic arthropathy of the hindfoot.MethodsWe have evaluated the fusion rate of various techniques of hindfoot (tibiotalar and subtalar joints) fusion for the treatment of haemophilic arthropathy of the hindfoot. Twenty‐eight patients underwent a total of 41 procedures. Thirty‐four ankle (tibiotalar) fusions were performed, seven were done arthroscopically, six using a minimal access approach and 21 with an open approach. There were two isolated subtalar fusions, three combined tibiotalar and subtalar fusions, one of which included a talonavicular fusion at the second operation. There was one peritalar ankle fusion (tibiotalar, subtalar and talonavicular). The mean age at operation was 40.3 years (SD, 12.3; range, 18.7–65.7 years). The mean time to last follow‐up was 77 months (SD, 50.4; range, 7–190).ResultsThe overall non‐union rate was 9.7%. All non‐unions occurred in tibiotalar fusions (there were no non‐unions in cases of subtalar or talonavicular fusion). A single deep infection (2.4%) occurred in an arthroscopically fused ankle. The revision rate was 4.8% (2 cases) and was carried out for non‐unions. Both revisions were successful.ConclusionHindfoot arthrodesis in patients with haemophilic ankle arthropathy provides a high fusion rate with few complications. Arthroscopic tibiotalar fusion did not result in shorter hospital stays. Revision surgery for the haemophilic hindfoot is successful, and fusion of the entire hindfoot can be achieved without complications.
Lower incidence of postdural puncture headache using whitacre spinal needles after spinal anesthesia: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Di , Chen LingXiao , Chen XingYu , Wang XiaoBo , Li YuLin , Ning GuangZhi , Feng ShiQing 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveThe aim of this meta‐analysis was to evaluate the postdural puncture headache after spinal anesthesia with Whitacre spinal needles compared with Quincke spine needles.MethodsWe searched several databases, including PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials until October 10th, 2014, for randomized controlled trials that compared spinal anesthesia with Whitacre spinal needles or Quincke spine needles for postdural puncture headache. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, assessed the risk for bias and extracted data. We used RevMan 5.3 software to perform the meta‐analysis. Studies were included for the main end points if they addressed the following: frequency of postdural puncture headache, severity of postdural puncture headache as assessed by limitation of activities, and frequency of epidural blood patch.ResultsNine randomized controlled trials were included for meta‐analysis. The meta‐analysis showed that spinal anesthesia with Whitacre spinal needles achieved lower incidence of postdural puncture headache(RR 0.34; 95% CI [0.22, 0.52]; P < .00001); in addition, the severity of postdural puncture headache was lower in the Whitacre spinal needle group (RR 0.32; 95% CI [0.16, 0.66]; P = .002). Furthermore, the frequency of an epidural blood patch in the Whitacre spinal needle group was lower compared with that in the Quincke spine needle group (RR 0.15; 95% CI [0.04, 0.51]; P = .002).ConclusionWe suggest the Whitacre spinal needles as a superior choice for spinal anesthesia compared with Quincke spine needles.
Mucinous epithelial tumours arising from ovarian mature teratomas: a tissue genotyping study
Authors: Snir Olivia L , Buza Natalia , Hui Pei 
Published: March 2016

AimsThe association of ovarian mucinous tumours with teratomas is well documented at tissue level, suggesting that some ovarian mucinous tumours arise from teratomas. Teratomas, being of germ cell origin, are genetically distinct from somatic cells, therefore providing a molecular basis for DNA genotyping to separate teratoma‐derived mucinous tumours from metastatic ones. We assessed the diagnostic utility of DNA genotyping in ovarian mucinous tumours.Methods and resultsNine cases of ovarian mucinous borderline tumours and three mucinous carcinomas associated with teratomas were included, along with three mucinous tumours without associated teratoma for genotyping control. Target tissues (teratoma, mucinous tumour and paired normal tissue) were dissected microscopically, followed by genotyping at 15 short tandem repeat polymorphic loci. Of the 12 mucinous tumours with associated teratoma, tissue genotyping was informative in six cases, including four borderline tumours and two mucinous carcinomas. Homozygosity or partial homozygosity was observed in the teratomatous component in all six cases. Genotypical concordance between the teratoma and mucinous tumour was seen in five cases, including three borderline tumours and two mucinous carcinomas, suggesting clonal evolution. One mucinous borderline tumour showed an unmatched genotype with that of the corresponding teratoma, consistent with disparate tumour origins. All three mucinous tumours without teratoma displayed heterozygosity.ConclusionsWhen associated with a teratoma, ovarian mucinous tumours may arise frequently from the coexisting teratoma. In difficult cases, DNA genotyping may be used as a diagnostic tool in separating teratoma‐derived primary ovarian mucinous tumours from those of somatic origin, particularly metastatic tumours from other sites.
Negative impact of wind energy development on a breeding shorebird assessed with a BACI study design
Authors: Sansom Alex , Pearce‐Higgins James W. , Douglas David J. T. 
Published: March 2016

Previous studies have shown negative associations between wind energy development and breeding birds, including species of conservation concern. However, the magnitude and causes of such associations remain uncertain, pending detailed ‘before‐after‐control‐intervention’ (BACI) studies. We conducted one of the most detailed such studies to date, assessing the impacts of terrestrial wind energy development on the European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, a species with enhanced protection under European environmental law. Disturbance activity during construction had no significant effect on Golden Plover breeding abundance or distribution. In contrast, once turbines were erected, Golden Plover abundance was significantly reduced within the wind farm (−79%) relative to the baseline, with no comparable changes in buffer or control areas. Golden Plovers were significantly displaced by up to 400 m from turbines during operation. Hatching and fledging success were not affected by proximity to turbine locations either during construction or operation. The marked decline in abundance within the wind farm during operation but not construction, together with the lack of evidence for changes in breeding success or habitat, strongly suggests the displacement of breeding adults through behavioural avoidance of turbines, rather than a response to disturbance alone. It is of critical importance that wind farms are appropriately sited to prevent negative wildlife impacts. We demonstrate the importance of detailed BACI designs for quantifying the impacts on birds, and recommend wider application of such studies to improve the evidence base surrounding wind farm impacts on birds.