bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recent advances in the pathobiology and management of Kasabach–Merritt phenomenon
Authors: O'Rafferty Ciara , O'Regan Grainne M. , Irvine Alan D. , Smith Owen P. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryKasabach–Merritt Phenomenon (KMP) refers to the clinical constellation of thrombocytopenia, consumptive coagulopathy and purpura associated with Kaposiform haemangioedothelioma or tufted angioma, but not the more common infantile haemangioma. It shows a variable and unpredictable response to traditional pharmacological agents, such as steroids, vincristine or interferon alpha 2a or 2b. More recently, the interaction between platelets and endothelial cells and the proangiogenic phenotype that results has been recognized to underly the pathogenesis of this disorder. Recent efforts have attempted to target the platelet by using antiplatelet agents and by the withholding of platelet transfusions even in those patients who have significant thrombocytopenia and laboratory evidence of coagulopathy. Excellent response rates and prompt results have been achieved by combining antiplatelet therapy with vincristine, without the need for steroid use. This synergistic approach moves away from the conventional wisdom of treating the underlying lesion to control the coagulopathy. Sirolimus, which is directed against the PI3/AKT/mTOR downstream signalling pathway involved in lymphangiogenesis, has also shown promising results, although further study is needed.
Anti-citrullinated-protein-antibody-specific intravenous immunoglobulin attenuates collagen-induced arthritis in mice
Authors: Svetlicky N , Kivity S , Odeh Q , Shovman O , Gertel S , Amital H , Gendelman O , Volkov A , Barshack I , Bar-Meir E , Blank M , Shoenfeld Y 
Published: June 2015

Summary
Administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a recognized safe and efficient immunomodulation therapy for many autoimmune diseases. Anti-idiotypic antibody binding to pathogenic autoantibodies was proposed as one of the mechanisms attributed to the protective activity of IVIg in autoimmunity. The aim of this study was to fractionate the anti-anti-citrullinated protein anti-idiotypic-antibodies (anti-ACPA) from an IVIg preparation and to test it as a treatment for collagen-induced arthritis in mice. IVIg was loaded onto an ACPA column. The eluted fraction was defined as ACPA-specific-IVIg (ACPA-sIVIg). Collagen-induced-arthritis (CIA) was induced in mice. Mice were treated weekly with ACPA-sIVIg, low-dose-IVIg, high-dose-IVIg and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Sera-ACPA titres, anti-collagen anitbodies and cytokine levels were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); antibody-forming-cell activity by enzyme-linked imunospot (ELISPOT) assay; and expansion of regulatory T cell (Treg) population by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). ACPA-sIVIg inhibited ACPA binding to citrullinated-peptides (CCP) in vitro 100 times more efficiently than the IVIg compound. ACPA-sIVIg was significantly more effective than the IVIg-preparation in attenuating the development of collagen-induced arthritis. Splenocytes from CIA mice treated with ACPA-sIVIg reduced the ACPA and anti-collagen-antibody titres, including the number of anti-collagen and ACPA antibody-forming cells. In parallel, splenocytes from ACPA-sIVIg treated mice secreted higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and lower proinflammatory cytokines. The ACPA-sIVIg inhibitory potential was accompanied with expansion of the Treg population. Low-dose IVIg did not affect the humoral and cellular response in the CIA mice in comparison to the PBS-treated mice. Based on our results, IVIg may be considered as a safe compound for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis by neutralizing pathogenic autoantibodies, reducing proinflammatory cytokines and expanding the Treg population.
Participation as a leader in immersion weight loss treatment may benefit, not harm, young adult staff members
Authors: Schaumberg K. , Anderson D. A. , Kirschenbaum D. S. , Earleywine M. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryDespite the success of weight‐management programmes, some researchers caution that participation in an aggressive approach to weight management could promote the development of eating pathology. The current study evaluated the risks and benefits for young adults of serving as staff members in an immersion treatment of adolescent obesity over the course of a summer. Participants included weight loss staff members (n = 108) along with a comparison group of young adults with similar demographic characteristics (n = 136). Participants completed assessments of eating disorder and obesity risk at three time points: the beginning of the summer, the end of the summer and a 6‐week follow‐up. Weight loss leadership participants who were initially overweight lost weight over the course of the summer, but those at healthy weights maintained their weight. Comparison participants also maintained their weight during the summer. Weight loss staff members also increased dietary restraint over the summer, and increases in dietary restraint appeared to facilitate appropriate weight reduction. Participation as a leader in an immersion weight loss programme seemed to benefit, not harm, young adults; this suggests potential advantages for using weight controlling interventions in a wide range of individuals, including as an obesity prevention strategy.
Retracted: Lgr5 positive stem cells sorted from small intestines of diabetic mice differentiate into higher proportion of absorptive cells and Paneth cells in vitro
Authors: Zhong Xian‐Yang , Yu Tao , Zhong Wa , Li Jie‐Yao , Xia Zhong‐Sheng , Yuan Yu‐Hong , Yu Zhong , Chen Qi‐Kui 
Published: June 2015

Intestinal epithelial stem cells (IESCs) can differentiate into all types of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and Leucine‐rich repeat‐containing G protein‐coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) is a marker for IESC. Previous studies reported enhanced proliferation of IECs in diabetic mice. In this study, the in vitro differentiation of Lgr5 positive IESCs sorted from diabetic mice was further investigated. The diabetic mouse model was induced by streptozotocin (STZ), and crypt IECs were isolated from small intestines. Subsequently, Lgr5 positive IESCs were detected by flow cytometry (FCM) and sorted by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). Differentiation of the sorted IESCs was investigated by detecting the IEC markers in the diabetic mice using immunostaining, quantitative real‐time reverse–transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR), and Western blot analysis, which was compared with normal mice. We found that the proportion of Lgr5 positive cells in the crypt IECs of diabetic mice was higher than that of control mice (P < 0.05). Lgr5 positive IESCs could be significantly enriched in Lgr5 positive cell fraction sorted by MACS. Furthermore, the absorptive cell marker sucrase‐isomaltase (SI) and the Paneth cell marker lysozyme 1 (Lyz1) were more highly expressed in the differentiated cells derived from Lgr5 positive IESCs of diabetic mice in vitro (P < 0.05). We demonstrate that the number of Lgr5 positive IESCs is significantly increased in the small intestines of STZ‐induced diabetic mice. Lgr5 positive IESCs sorted from the diabetic mice can differentiate into a higher proportion of absorptive cells and Paneth cells in vitro. We characterized the expression of Lgr5 in the small intestine of diabetic mice, and sorted Lgr5 positive intestinal epithelial stem cells (IESCs) for investigating their differentiation in vitro. We proved that the quantity of Lgr5 positive IESCs was significantly increased in the small intestines of diabetic mice. IESCs sorted from the diabetic mice can differentiate into a higher proportion of absorptive cells and Paneth cells in vitro.
Carotid Ultrasound Maximum Plaque Height–A Sensitive Imaging Biomarker for the Assessment of Significant Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Johri Amer M. , Behl Pearl , Hétu Marie‐France , Haqqi Mohammad , Ewart Paul , Day Andrew G. , Parfrey Brendan , Matangi Murray F. 
Published: June 2015

ObjectivesWe investigated the use of carotid intima–media thickness and carotid plaque in predicting significant angiographic coronary stenosis.MethodsThree hundred eighteen consecutive outpatients underwent angiography and carotid ultrasound on the same day. The extent of coronary stenosis was determined using an established scoring system. Mean far distal carotid intima–media thickness of the common carotid artery, maximum plaque height, and total plaque area in the bulbs were measured by ultrasound. Cutoff values were identified using a receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting and ruling out coronary artery disease.ResultsThe mean ± SD carotid intima–media thickness (≥50% stenosis = 0.91 ± 0.23 mm, <50% stenosis = 0.82 ± 0.18 mm), maximum plaque height (≥50% stenosis = 2.64 ± 0.85 mm, <50% stenosis = 1.72 ± 1.04 mm), and total plaque area (≥50% stenosis = 39.1 ± 27.7 mm2, <50% stenosis = 22.2 ± 23.4 mm2) were significantly higher in patients with coronary artery disease (P ≤ 0.001 for all three comparisons). Increased CIMT, plaque height, and area correlated with increased number of affected vessels. Plaque height had the best negative likelihood ratio for ruling out disease (0.15). The optimal threshold values for predicting coronary disease were 0.82 mm for carotid intima–media thickness, 1.54 mm for plaque height, and 25.6 mm2 for total plaque area.ConclusionIncreased carotid intima–media thickness and plaque measurements are indicative of the presence of epicardial coronary stenosis. Plaque burden is a more sensitive imaging biomarker for ruling out significant coronary artery disease, including in younger individuals.
Mutations in KCNT1 cause a spectrum of focal epilepsies
Authors: Møller Rikke S. , Heron Sarah E. , Larsen Line H. G. , Lim Chiao Xin , Ricos Michael G. , Bayly Marta A. , van Kempen Marjan J. A. , Klinkenberg Sylvia , Andrews Ian , Kelley Kent , Ronen Gabriel M. , Callen David , McMahon Jacinta M. , Yendle Simone C. , Carvill Gemma L. , Mefford Heather C. , Nabbout Rima , Poduri Annapurna , Striano Pasquale , Baglietto Maria G. , Zara Federico , Smith Nicholas J. , Pridmore Clair , Gardella Elena , Nikanorova Marina , Dahl Hans Atli , Gellert Pia , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Gunning Boudewijn , Kragh‐Olsen Bente , Dibbens Leanne M. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryAutosomal dominant mutations in the sodium‐gated potassium channel subunit gene KCNT1 have been associated with two distinct seizure syndromes, nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE) and malignant migrating focal seizures of infancy (MMFSI). To further explore the phenotypic spectrum associated with KCNT1, we examined individuals affected with focal epilepsy or an epileptic encephalopathy for mutations in the gene. We identified KCNT1 mutations in 12 previously unreported patients with focal epilepsy, multifocal epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, and in a family with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), in addition to patients with NFLE and MMFSI. In contrast to the 100% penetrance so far reported for KCNT1 mutations, we observed incomplete penetrance. It is notable that we report that the one KCNT1 mutation, p.Arg398Gln, can lead to either of the two distinct phenotypes, ADNFLE or MMFSI, even within the same family. This indicates that genotype–phenotype relationships for KCNT1 mutations are not straightforward. We demonstrate that KCNT1 mutations are highly pleiotropic and are associated with phenotypes other than ADNFLE and MMFSI. KCNT1 mutations are now associated with Ohtahara syndrome, MMFSI, and nocturnal focal epilepsy. They may also be associated with multifocal epilepsy and cardiac disturbances.
Recognition and quantification of pain in horses: A tutorial review
Authors: Gleerup K. B. , Lindegaard C. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryPain management is dependent on the quality of the pain evaluation. Ideally, pain evaluation is objective, pain‐specific and easily incorporated into a busy equine clinic. This paper reviews the existing knowledge base regarding the identification and quantification of pain in horses. Behavioural indicators of pain in horses in the context of normal equine behaviour, as well as various physiological parameters potentially useful for pain evaluation, are discussed. Areas where knowledge is sparse are identified and a new equine pain scale based on results from all reviewed papers is proposed. Finally, the most important considerations in relation to the implementation of a pain scale in a hospital setting are discussed.
Evidences of Reduced Antioxidant Activity in Patients With Chronic Migraine and Medication‐Overuse Headache
Authors: Lucchesi Cinzia , Baldacci Filippo , Cafalli Martina , Chico Lucia , Lo Gerfo Annalisa , Bonuccelli Ubaldo , Siciliano Gabriele , Gori Sara 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundMigraine is a complex multifactorial, neurobiological disorder, whose pathogenesis is not fully understood, nor are the mechanisms associated with migraine transformation from episodic to chronic pattern. A possible role of impaired oxidative mitochondrial metabolism in migraine pathogenesis has been hypothesized, and increased levels of peripheral markers of oxidative stress have been reported in migraine patients, although the literature data are limited and heterogeneous.ObjectivesThe aim of this cross‐sectional study was to determine plasmatic levels of advanced oxidation protein products, ferric‐reducing antioxidant power and total plasmatic thiol groups, all plasmatic markers related to oxidative stress, in a sample of chronic migraine patients and medication‐overuse headache, compared to a control group of healthy subjects.MethodsThirty‐three patients with a diagnosis of both chronic migraine and medication‐overuse headache (International Classification of Headache Disorders,3rd edition, beta version) and 33 healthy, headache‐free subjects were enrolled. Patients with comorbid/coexisting conditions were excluded, as well as patients in treatment with migraine preventive drugs. Plasmatic levels of advanced oxidation protein products, ferric‐reducing antioxidant power, and total thiol groups were determined in migraine patients and controls; moreover, oxidative stress biomarkers were compared in migraine patients with triptan compared to non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug overuse.ResultsThe statistical analysis showed significantly lower levels of ferric‐reducing antioxidant power and total plasmatic thiol groups, both expression of antioxidant power, in patients with chronic migraine and medication‐overuse headache compared to controls (respectively, ferric antioxidant power median [interquartile range] 0.53 [0.22] vs 0.82 [0.11] mmol/L, P < .001; total thiol groups 0.25 [0.08] vs 0.51 [0.11] μmol/L, P < .001). Moreover, no statistically significant differences in oxidative stress biomarkers were detected between patients with triptan and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug overuse.ConclusionsThe data from the present study suggest that antioxidant capacity is lower in chronic migraine patients and medication‐overuse headache compared to healthy headache‐free subjects, with no differences between patients with triptan or nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug overuse. Further investigation is certainly necessary in order to define the causal or consequential role of an imbalance between pro‐oxidants and antioxidant defenses in migraine pathogenesis and “chronification” and the possible therapeutic implications in clinical practice.
The Course of Headache in Patients With Moderate‐to‐Severe Headache Due to Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Hong Chang‐Ki , Joo Jin‐Yang , Kim Yong Bae , Shim Yu Shik , Lim Yong Cheol , Shin Yong Sam , Chung Joonho 
Published: June 2015

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the course of headache in patients with moderate‐to‐severe headache due to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and to identify its predisposing factors.BackgroundLittle is known about the long‐term course of headache in patients with aSAH.MethodsSince September 2009, patients with aSAH have had their headaches prospectively rated using a numeric rating scale (NRS). From this database containing 838 patients, 217 were included and all included patients met the following criteria: (1) presence of ruptured intracranial aneurysms on computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance angiography; (2) alert consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale 15); (3) newly onset moderate‐to‐severe headache (NRS ≥ 4) due to ruptured intracranial aneurysms; and (4) good clinical outcome at discharge (modified Rankin Scale 0, 1, or 2). We observed the changes in NRS scores from initial to 12‐month follow‐up and identified the predisposing factors of NRS changes.ResultsOf the 217 patients, 182 (83.9%) experienced improvement in NRS score ≤ 3 upon discharge. The NRS scores at discharge were significantly lower than those on admission (P < .001). The independent predisposing factors for headache improvement included previous stroke (odds ratio [OR] = 0.141; 95% CI 0.051‐0.381; P < .001), previous headache treated with medication (OR = 0.079; 95% CI 0.010‐0.518; P = .008), and endovascular treatment (EVT; OR = 2.531; 95% CI 1.141‐5.912; P = .026). The NRS scores tended to decrease continuously until the 12‐month follow‐up. EVT and symptomatic vasospasm were independently associated with a decrease of NRS in the follow‐up periods.ConclusionsThe course of headache in patients with aSAH continuously improved during the 12 months of follow‐up. Headache improvement might be expected in patients who were treated with EVT and in those who did not have previous stroke or headache.
Editorial – Avoiding Unethical Helicobacter pylori Clinical Trials: Susceptibility‐Based Studies and Probiotics as Adjuvants
Authors: Graham David Y. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAs a general rule, any clinical study where the result is already known or when the investigator(s) compares an assigned treatment against another assigned treatment known to be ineffective in the study population (e.g., in a population with known clarithromycin resistance) is unethical. As susceptibility‐based therapy will always be superior to empiric therapy in any population with a prevalence of antimicrobial resistance >0%, any trial that randomizes susceptibility‐based therapy with empiric therapy would be unethical. The journal Helicobacter welcomes susceptibility or culture‐guided studies, studies of new therapies, and studies of adjuvants and probiotics. However, the journal will not accept for review any study we judge to be lacking clinical equipoise or which assign subjects to a treatment known to be ineffective, such as a susceptibility‐based clinical trial with an empiric therapy comparator. To assist authors, we provide examples and suggestions regarding trial design for comparative studies, for susceptibility‐based studies, and for studies testing adjuvants or probiotics.
The Border Thickens: In‐Securing Communities after IRCA
Authors: Rosas Gilberto 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis article analyses a certain ‘thickening of the border,’ a term I coin to underscore a certain blurring of the insides and the outsides of the United States with respect to Latin American, primarily Mexican, immigration. In making this intervention, the article underscores the linkages among a dark legacy of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), the militarization of Border Patrol policing practices in the southwestern United States, and “Secure Communities,” a mammoth immigration policing program across much of the United States.
SOMS: SurrOgate MultiStart algorithm for use with nonlinear programming for global optimization
Authors: Krityakierne Tipaluck , Shoemaker Christine A. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractSOMS is a general surrogate‐based multistart algorithm, which is used in combination with any local optimizer to find global optima for computationally expensive functions with multiple local minima. SOMS differs from previous multistart methods in that a surrogate approximation is used by the multistart algorithm to help reduce the number of function evaluations necessary to identify the most promising points from which to start each nonlinear programming local search. SOMS's numerical results are compared with four well‐known methods, namely, Multi‐Level Single Linkage (MLSL), MATLAB's MultiStart, MATLAB's GlobalSearch, and GLOBAL. In addition, we propose a class of wavy test functions that mimic the wavy nature of objective functions arising in many black‐box simulations. Extensive comparisons of algorithms on the wavy test functions and on earlier standard global‐optimization test functions are done for a total of 19 different test problems. The numerical results indicate that SOMS performs favorably in comparison to alternative methods and does especially well on wavy functions when the number of function evaluations allowed is limited.
Ultra‐Wide Temperature Stable Dielectrics Based on Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–NaNbO3 System
Authors: Xu Qi , Song Zhe , Tang Wenlin , Hao Hua , Zhang Lin , Appiah Millicent , Cao Minghe , Yao Zhonghua , He Zichen , Liu Hanxing 
Published: June 2015

The microstructure, phase structure, ferroelectric, and dielectric properties of (1−x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3‐xNaNbO3 [(1−x)BNT‐xNN] ceramics conventionally sintered in the temperature range of 1080°C–1120°C were investigated as a candidate for capacitor dielectrics with wide temperature stability. Perovskite phase with no secondary impurity was observed by XRD measurement. With increasing NN content, (1−x)BNT‐xNN was found to gradually transform from ferroelectric (x = 0–0.05) to relaxor (x = 0.10–0.20) and then to paraelectric state (x = 0.25–0.35) at room temperature, indicated by P–I–E loops analysis, associated with greatly enhanced dielectric temperature stability. For the samples with x = 0.25–0.35, the temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC) was found <11% in an ultra‐wide temperature range of −60°C–400°C with moderate dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, promising for temperature stable capacitor applications.
Effect of nurses' work environment on patient satisfaction: A cross‐sectional study of four hospitals in Japan
Authors: Tei‐Tominaga Maki , Sato Fusako 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAimThe Magnet Recognition Program is a system in the USA that recognizes a hospital as a magnet hospital for having a high retention rate of nurses and providing high quality patient care. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of nurses' work environment with characteristics that are similar to those of magnet hospitals on patient satisfaction in Japan.MethodsThe authors distributed anonymous self‐administered questionnaires in August 2011 to all nurses via the directors of the nursing departments of four private hospitals. The response rates were 91% (n = 425) for nurses and 51% (n = 379) for patients. In the questionnaire for nurses, the items addressed basic attributes and a scale of work environment characteristics of a magnet hospital (the Japanese version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index [PES‐NWI]). The questionnaire for patients addressed basic attributes, information about their hospitalization, and items to assess patient satisfaction. To examine the effects of the PES‐NWI subscales on patient satisfaction, the authors conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis for groups, which were dichotomized by 75 percentile of the scores of patient satisfaction.ResultsThe result of model 1 in the multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that collegial nurse–physician relations showed significant relationships with low patient satisfaction (odds ratio = 0.144, P < 0.05), while the significance was diminished in model 2, in which dummy variables of hospitals were entered into the equation.ConclusionThese findings suggested that a favorable work environment for nurses, which is similar to that of magnet hospitals, may influence patient satisfaction in hospitals in Japan.