bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel method for the depletion of cariogenic bacteria using dextranomer microspheres
Authors: Mashburn‐Warren L. , Downey J.S. , Goodman S.D. 
Published: May 2017

SummaryStreptococcus mutans is recognized as one of the key contributors to the dysbiotic state that results in dental caries. Existing treatment strategies reduce the incidence of tooth decay, but they also eliminate both the cariogenic and beneficial microbes. Here we introduce a novel treatment alternative using Sephadex, cross‐linked dextranomer microspheres (DMs), typically used for gel filtration chromatography. In addition DM beads can be used for affinity purification of glucosyltransferases (GTFs) from S. mutans. In this study we take advantage of the native pathogenic mechanisms used by S. mutans to adhere, form a biofilm and induce dental caries through the expression of surface‐associated GTFs. We demonstrate that planktonic and biofilm‐grown (adhered to hydroxyapatite‐coated pegs to mimic the tooth surface) S. mutans, specifically and competitively attach to DMs. Further investigation demonstrated that DMs are a specific affinity resin for S. mutans and other cariogenic/pathogenic oral streptococci, whereas other commensal and probiotic strains failed to readily adhere to DMs. Using antimicrobial cargo loaded into the DM lumen, we demonstrate that when in co‐culture with non‐binding to even modestly binding commensal species, S. mutans was selectively killed. This proof of concept study introduces a novel means to safely and effectively reduce the pool of S. mutans and other pathogenic streptococci in the oral cavity with limited disturbance of the necessary commensal (healthy) microbiota when compared with current oral healthcare products.
Assessing Pain Intensity Using Photoplethysmography Signals in Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Authors: Ye Jing‐Jhao , Lee Kuan‐Ting , Chou Ying‐Yu , Sie Hong‐Hai , Huang Ru‐Nan , Chuang Chiung‐Cheng 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundEfficacy of pain assessment is the basis for effective therapy. Clinically, assessing pain is by subjective scale, but these methods have some shortcomings. Therefore, studies have been conducted on assessment of pain using physiological signals. Photoplethysmography (PPG) signals provide much information about the cardiovascular system. PPG‐derived parameters (PPG parameters) reflect nociceptive stimulation, and obtain an approximation of the R–R interval from the PPG period. The aim of this study was to evaluate PPG signals for assessment of pain intensity in chronic myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) patients.MethodsThis study recruited 37 patients with chronic MPS; all of them were treated with electrotherapy and thermotherapy. The difference between pre‐ and post‐therapy PPG parameters, and the correlation between pulse rate variability (PRV) and heart rate variability (HRV) were determined. We also obtained patients' pain intensity scores by visual analog scale, visual rating scale, and Wong‐Banker face pain rating scale.ResultsPhotoplethysmography and PRV/HRV parameters showed significant differences between pre‐ and post‐treatment. The variation trend of PRV was similar with HRV in heart rate, R–R interval, low frequency, high frequency, and LF/HF; in addition, a high correlation between the parameters was observed either in pre‐ or post‐therapy. PPG parameters indicated increased sympathetic tone.ConclusionThe results of the study indicated that PRV substituted for HRV in assessment of pain intensity in chronic MPS reflected parasympathetic nervous tone increase, and PPG parameters might reflect stress stimulation on skin.
Comorbidity and quality of life in childhood cancer survivors treated with proton beam therapy
Authors: Fukushima Hiroko , Fukushima Takashi , Suzuki Ryoko , Iwabuchi Atsushi , Hidaka Kyoko , Shinkai Toko , Masumoto Kouji , Muroi Ai , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Nakao Tomohei , Oshiro Yoshiko , Mizumoto Masashi , Sakurai Hideyuki , Sumazaki Ryo 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe rate of childhood cancer survival has recently reached >80%. Various adverse events among childhood cancer survivors (CCS) have been reported. Proton beams are able to avoid unnecessary irradiation to normal/vital organs. We conducted a quality of life (QOL) study for CCS who were treated with proton beam therapy (PBT).MethodsWe included those patients treated with PBT to the brain, head, or neck and who were ≤15 years old at the University of Tsukuba Hospital between 1983 and 2011. Clinical information was collected from medical records. Questionnaires including the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 Generic Core Scales (which assess health‐related quality of life) were sent to the families/patients.ResultsSixty patients were included. Median age at treatment was 6.2 years. The number of patients with status alive/dead/unknown was 32/24/4. Median follow‐up period was 63.0 months (range, 48–340 months) for survivors. Questionnaires were sent to 25 families/patients and 19 were returned. PedsQL was assessed for 17 patients. Eleven of 32 living patients had at least one comorbidity grade 3/4. Average QOL score was above that for Japanese schoolchildren and adolescents. There was no correlation with comorbidity, and only longer time from treatment was correlated with a higher PedsQL score (P = 0.006).ConclusionCCS who were treated with multimodal treatment using PBT had a higher QOL score. Higher score was related to longer time since treatment, regardless of comorbidity.
Simultaneous modification of three homoeologs of TaEDR1 by genome editing enhances powdery mildew resistance in wheat
Authors: Zhang Yunwei , Bai Yang , Wu Guangheng , Zou Shenghao , Chen Yongfang , Gao Caixia , Tang Dingzhong 
Published: May 2017

SummaryWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) incurs significant yield losses from powdery mildew, a major fungal disease caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt). enhanced disease resistance1 (EDR1) plays a negative role in the defense response against powdery mildew in Arabidopsis thaliana; however, the edr1 mutant does not show constitutively activated defense responses. This makes EDR1 an ideal target for approaches using new genome‐editing tools to improve resistance to powdery mildew. We cloned TaEDR1 from hexaploid wheat and found high similarity among the three homoeologs of EDR1. Knock‐down of TaEDR1 by virus‐induced gene silencing or RNA interference enhanced resistance to powdery mildew, indicating that TaEDR1 negatively regulates powdery mildew resistance in wheat. We used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate Taedr1 wheat plants by simultaneous modification of the three homoeologs of wheat EDR1. No off‐target mutations were detected in the Taedr1 mutant plants. The Taedr1 plants were resistant to powdery mildew and did not show mildew‐induced cell death. Our study represents the successful generation of a potentially valuable trait using genome‐editing technology in wheat and provides germplasm for disease resistance breeding.
The impact of age and frailty on ventricular structure and function in C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Feridooni H. A. , Kane A. E. , Ayaz O. , Boroumandi A. , Polidovitch N. , Tsushima R. G. , Rose R. A. , Howlett S. E. 
Published: May 2017

Key points
Heart size increases with age (called hypertrophy), and its ability to contract declines. However, these reflect average changes that may not be present, or present to the same extent, in all older individuals.
That aging happens at different rates is well accepted clinically. People who are aging rapidly are frail and frailty is measured with a ‘frailty index’.
We quantified frailty with a validated mouse frailty index tool and evaluated the impacts of age and frailty on cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction.
Hypertrophy increased with age, while contractions, calcium currents and calcium transients declined; these changes were graded by frailty scores.
Overall health status, quantified as frailty, may promote maladaptive changes associated with cardiac aging and facilitate the development of diseases such as heart failure.
To understand age‐related changes in heart structure and function, it is essential to know both chronological age and the health status of the animal.
AbstractOn average, cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction increase with age. Still, individuals age at different rates and their health status varies from fit to frail. We investigated the influence of frailty on age‐dependent ventricular remodelling. Frailty was quantified as deficit accumulation in adult (≈7 months) and aged (≈27 months) C57BL/6J mice by adapting a validated frailty index (FI) tool. Hypertrophy and contractile function were evaluated in Langendorff‐perfused hearts; cellular correlates/mechanisms were investigated in ventricular myocytes. FI scores increased with age. Mean cardiac hypertrophy increased with age, but values in the adult and aged groups overlapped. When plotted as a function of frailty, hypertrophy was graded by FI score (r = 0.67–0.55, P < 0.0003). Myocyte area also correlated positively with FI (r = 0.34, P = 0.03). Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) plus rates of pressure development (+dP/dt) and decay (−dP/dt) declined with age and this was graded by frailty (r = −0.51, P = 0.0007; r = −0.48, P = 0.002; r = −0.56, P = 0.0002 for LVDP, +dP/dt and −dP/dt). Smaller, slower contractions graded by FI score were also seen in ventricular myocytes. Contractile dysfunction in cardiomyocytes isolated from frail mice was attributable to parallel changes in underlying Ca2+ transients. These changes were not due to reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum stores, but were graded by smaller Ca2+ currents (r = −0.40, P = 0.008), lower gain (r = −0.37, P = 0.02) and reduced expression of Cav1.2 protein (r = −0.68, P = 0.003). These results show that cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction in naturally aging mice are graded by overall health and suggest that frailty, in addition to chronological age, can help explain heterogeneity in cardiac aging.
Exercise in type 2 diabetes: genetic, metabolic and neuromuscular adaptations. A review of the evidence
Authors: Zanuso Silvano , Sacchetti Massimo , Sundberg Carl Johan , Orlando Giorgio , Benvenuti Paolo , Balducci Stefano 
Published: May 2017

The biological responses to exercise training are complex, as almost all organs and systems are involved in interactions that result in a plethora of adaptations at the genetic, metabolic and neuromuscular levels.To provide the general practitioner and the sports medicine professionals with a basic understanding of the genetic, metabolic and neuromuscular adaptations at a cellular level that occur with aerobic and resistance exercise in subjects with type 2 diabetes.For each of the three domains (genetic, metabolic and neuromuscular), the results of the major systematic reviews and original research published in relevant journals, indexed in PubMed, were selected. Owing to limitations of space, we focused primarily on the role of skeletal muscle, given its pivotal role in mediating adaptations at all levels.Generally, training-induced adaptations in skeletal muscle are seen as changes in contractile proteins, mitochondrial function, metabolic regulation, intracellular signalling, transcriptional responses and neuromuscular modifications. The main adaptation with clinical relevance would include an improved oxidative capacity derived from aerobic training, in addition to neuromuscular remodelling derived from resistance training. Both training modalities improve insulin sensitivity and reduce cardiovascular risk.Taken together, the modifications that occur at the genetic, metabolic and neuromuscular levels, work correlatively to optimise substrate delivery, mitochondrial respiratory capacity and contractile function during exercise.
Neurological tests improve after Olympic-style boxing bouts: a pretournament and post-tournament study in the 2016 Women’s World Boxing Championships
Authors: Howell David R , Meehan William P , Loosemore Michael P , Cummiskey Joseph , Grabner von Rosenberg Jean-Paul , McDonagh David 
Published: May 2017

AimTo prospectively examine the neurocognitive, postural, dual-task and visual abilities of female Olympic-style boxers before and after participation in a tournament.MethodsSixty-one females completed the modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS), King-Devick test and 3 m timed-up-and-go test in single-task and dual-task conditions. A subset (n=31) completed the CogState computerised neurocognitive test. Initial testing was completed prior to the 2016 Women’s World Boxing Championships; each participant repeated the testing protocol within a day of elimination. No participant sustained a concussion. Pretournament and post-tournament performance variables were compared using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.ResultsParticipants completed a mean of 7.5±4.5 rounds of Olympic-style boxing over 2–8 days. Post-tournament scores were significantly lower than pretournament scores for total mBESS (2.2±1.9 errors vs 5.5±2.9 errors, p<0.001,d=1.23) and King-Devick time (14.2±3.9 s vs 18.0±8.3 s, p=0.002,d=0.53). Processing speed was significantly faster after the boxing tournament (maze chase task: 1.39±0.34 correct moves/second vs 1.17±0.44 correct moves/second, p=0.001,d=0.58). No significant changes across time were detected for the other obtained outcome variables.ConclusionsFemale boxers demonstrated either improvement or no significant changes in test performance after competing in an Olympic-style boxing tournament, relative to pretournament performance. As many of the test tasks were novel for the boxers, practice effects may have contributed to improved performance. When there is a short time frame between assessments, clinicians should be aware of potential practice effects when using ringside neurological tests.
Haemodynamic analysis for recanalisation of intracranial aneurysms after endovascular treatment: an observational registry study in China
Authors: Liu Jian , Zhang Yisen , Wang Anxin , Zhang Ying , Li Yiying , Yang Xinjian 
Published: May 2017

IntroductionRecanalisation of intracranial aneurysms following endovascular treatment is a major issue. Many factors, including aneurysm morphology, the method of treatment, and haemodynamics, are considered to be associated with recanalisation. However, the underlying haemodynamic mechanisms are not completely understood.Methods and analysisThis is a prospective, observational, registry study for patients with intracranial aneurysms who are treated endovascularly. It will enrol 200 eligible patients. Data on morphological, haemodynamic, and treatment factors will be collected prospectively. The advanced virtual stenting technique and porous media method will be used in haemodynamic simulations. The clinical and angiographic outcomes at 6 months will be measured and analysed. This observational study will determine the haemodynamic factors that affect the recanalisation of aneurysms.Ethics and disseminationBoth the study protocol and written informed consent were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Beijing Tiantan Hospital (KY2016-023-01). The results of study will be disseminated in professional printed media.Trial registration numberNCT02812108; Pre-results.
Integrating culturally informed approaches into the physiotherapy assessment and treatment of chronic pain: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Brady Bernadette , Veljanova Irena , Schabrun Siobhan , Chipchase Lucinda 
Published: May 2017

IntroductionThere is strong evidence that biopsychosocial approaches are efficacious in the management of chronic pain. However, implementation of these approaches in clinical practice is known not to account for the beliefs and values of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients. This limitation in translation of research contributes to the disparities in outcomes for CALD patients with chronic pain adding to the socioeconomic burden of this prevalent condition. Cultural adaptation of chronic pain assessment and management is urgently required. Thus, the aim of this pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to determine the feasibility, participant acceptance with and clinical effectiveness of a culturally adapted physiotherapy assessment and treatment approach when contrasted with ‘usual evidence based physiotherapy care’ for three CALD communities.Methods and analysisUsing a participant-blinded and assessor-blinded randomised controlled pilot design, patients with chronic pain who self-identify as Assyrian, Mandaean or Vietnamese will be randomised to either 'culturally adapted physiotherapy assessment and treatment' or ‘evidence informed usual physiotherapy care'. We will recruit 16 participants from each ethnocultural community that will give a total of 24 participants in each treatment arm. Both groups will receive physiotherapy treatment for up to 10 sessions over 3 months. Outcomes including feasibility data, acceptance with the culturally adapted intervention, functional and pain-related measures will be collected at baseline and 3 months by a blinded assessor. Analysis will be descriptive for feasibility outcomes, while measures for clinical effectiveness will be explored using independent samples t-tests and repeated measures analysis of variance. This analysis will inform sample size estimates while also allowing for identification of revisions in the protocol or intervention prior to a larger scale RCT.Ethics and disseminationThis trial has full ethical approval (HREC/16/LPOOL/194). The results from this pilot RCT will be presented at scientific meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberACTRN12616000857404
The relationship between job satisfaction, work stress, work–family conflict, and turnover intention among physicians in Guangdong, China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lu Yong , Hu Xiao-Min , Huang Xiao-Liang , Zhuang Xiao-Dong , Guo Pi , Feng Li-Fen , Hu Wei , Chen Long , Zou Huachun , Hao Yuan-Tao 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between job satisfaction, work stress, work–family conflict and turnover intention, and explore factors associated with turnover intention, among physicians in Guangdong Province, China.MethodsFrom August to October 2013, physicians completed questionnaires and scales with regard to their job satisfaction, work stress, work–family conflict, and turnover intention. Binary logistic regression and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used in data analysis.ResultsA total of 3963 physicians were approached, with 3563 completing the questionnaire. The mean score of the overall perception of turnover intention of physicians who worked in Guangdong was 2.71 on a scale ranging from 1 to 6. Hours worked per week, working in an urban/rural area, type of institution, and age significantly impacted on turnover intention. Turnover intention was directly and negatively related to job satisfaction, and it was directly, indirectly and positively related to work stress and work–family conflict.ConclusionJob satisfaction, work stress, work–family conflict, hours worked per week, working in an urban/rural area, types of institution and age are influencing factors of turnover intention. Reducing working hours, raising salary, providing more opportunities for career development and training, supporting and encouraging physicians by senior managers could potentially contribute to the reduction in turnover intention.
A scoping review protocol on social participation of indigenous elders, intergenerational solidarity and their influence on individual and community wellness
Authors: Viscogliosi Chantal , Asselin Hugo , Basile Suzy , Couturier Yves , Drolet Marie-Josée , Gagnon Dominique , Torrie Jill , Levasseur Mélanie 
Published: May 2017

IntroductionIndigenous elders have traditionally played an important role in maintaining social cohesion within their communities. Today, part of this role has been taken over by government social and healthcare services, but they are having limited success in addressing social challenges. Increasing elders’ social participation and intergenerational solidarity might foster community development and benefit young people, families, communities and the elders themselves. However, knowledge of the contribution of elders’ social participation and intergenerational solidarity to wellness is scattered and needs to be synthesised. This protocol presents a scoping review on the social participation of indigenous elders, intergenerational solidarity and their influence on individual and community wellness.Methods and analysisThis scoping review protocol is based on an innovative methodological framework designed to gather information from the scientific and grey literature and from indigenous sources. It was developed by an interdisciplinary team including indigenous scholars/researchers, knowledge users and key informants. In addition to searching information databases in fields such as public health and indigenous studies, an advisory committee will ensure that information is gathered from grey literature and indigenous sources.EthicsThe protocol was approved by the Ethics Review Board of the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission.DiscussionThe comprehensive synthesis of the scientific and grey literature and indigenous sources proposed in this protocol will not only raise awareness within indigenous communities and among healthcare professionals and community organisations, but will also enable decision-makers to better meet the needs of indigenous people.ConclusionThe innovative methodological framework proposed in this scoping review protocol will yield richer information on the contribution of elders to community wellness. This work is an essential preliminary step towards developing research involving indigenous communities, drawing on the social participation of elders and intergenerational solidarity.