bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decreased fertility rates in 9639 women diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease: a United Kingdom population‐based cohort study
Authors: Ban L. , Tata L. J. , Humes D. J. , Fiaschi L. , Card T. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryBackgroundClinical studies have reported reduced fertility in women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).AimTo compare fertility rates in women with IBD to those in women without IBD and assess whether the relative fertility differed following IBD diagnosis, flares and surgery.MethodsWomen aged 15–44 years in 1990–2010 were identified from a UK primary care database. We estimated overall and age‐specific fertility rates by 5‐year age bands for women with and without IBD. We used Poisson regression to calculate adjusted fertility rate ratios (AFRR), adjusted for age, smoking and socioeconomic deprivation.ResultsThere were 46.2 live births per 1000 person‐years [95% confidence interval (95% CI); 44.6–47.9] in 9639 women with IBD and 49.3 (95% CI 49.2–49.5) in 2 131 864 without (AFRR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89–0.96). Excluding periods of contraception use, the AFRR was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.95–1.03). Before diagnosis, the AFRR for women with ulcerative colitis (UC) was 1.07 (95% CI: 0.99–1.16) and was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81–0.97) for women with CD. After diagnosis, AFRRs were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82–0.94) for CD and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86–1.00) for UC. The fertility rate was lower following flares (AFRR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.59–0.82) or surgery (AFRR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77–0.92). Women with pouch and non‐pouch surgery had similar overall fertility though the reduction after surgery was greater for pouches (AFRR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.23–0.99).ConclusionsWomen with Crohn's disease have marginally lower fertility rates. These rates decreased following flares and surgical interventions. Fertility rates returned almost to normal when women were not prescribed contraception but the reduction following surgical intervention remained. As the lifetime effect of pouch vs. nonpouch surgery on fertility is small, the reduction post‐pouch surgery should be interpreted with caution.
Fatigue in chronic hepatitis C infection: Understanding patients' experience from a cognitive‐behavioural perspective
Authors: Zalai Dora , Carney Colleen E. , Sherman Morris , Shapiro Colin M. , McShane Kelly 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesFatigue is a leading concern of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Despite its clinical significance, fatigue in HCV is poorly understood and therefore invariably under‐treated. A cognitive‐behavioural approach offers a framework to understand and treat fatigue, but the characteristics of fatigue in chronic HCV infection have not been documented from a cognitive‐behavioural perspective. This study captured the common and unique aspects of fatigue from a cognitive‐behavioural perspective in individuals with HCV infection and clinically significant fatigue.DesignCross‐sectional, qualitative using a critical realism approach.MethodsFourteen individuals (64% women; age >18 years) participated in semi‐structured interviews. The interviews documented the features, course, and perceived antecedents of fatigue; fatigue‐specific cognitions; fatigue management behaviours; and the functional impact of fatigue.ResultsParticipants' descriptions included the aspects of fatigue that have been targets of cognitive‐behavioural therapy in other medical conditions, including attributing fatigue to the illness; expectation of chronicity; low control; and fatigue‐driven coping. There were also components of fatigue experience that appear to be unique characteristics of fatigue related to HCV, including predominantly physical fatigue; high acceptance of fatigue; and liver‐protective diet as a fatigue management behaviour.ConclusionsThis was the first study to document the experience of fatigue in chronic HCV infection in a cognitive‐behavioural framework. The findings suggest that the cognitive‐behavioural approach can be applied to fatigue in chronic HCV infection. This would open an avenue to alleviate fatigue and thus improve the primary patient‐reported outcome of the disease.
Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Fatigue is a key patient‐reported outcome measure of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Fatigue management is not part of the standard care, because fatigue is poorly characterized in this population.

What does this study add?

A cognitive‐behavioural approach can be applied to understand fatigue in HCV infection.

Identified aspects of fatigue (antecedents, consequences, cognitions, behaviours) that can be treatment targets.

Cognitive‐behavioural therapy would open a new treatment avenue to alleviate fatigue in HCV infection.
Airway responsiveness to mannitol in asthma is associated with chymase‐positive mast cells and eosinophilic airway inflammation
Authors: Sverrild A. , Bergqvist A. , Baines K. J. , Porsbjerg C. , Andersson C. K. , Thomsen S. F. , Hoffmann H. J. , Gibson P. , Erjefält J. S. , Backer V. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryBackgroundAirway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to inhaled mannitol is associated with indirect markers of mast cell activation and eosinophilic airway inflammation. It is unknown how AHR to mannitol relates to mast cell phenotype, mast cell function and measures of eosinophilic inflammation in airway tissue. We compared the number and phenotype of mast cells, mRNA expression of mast cell‐associated genes and number of eosinophils in airway tissue of subjects with asthma and healthy controls in relation to AHR to mannitol.MethodsAirway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled mannitol was measured in 23 non‐smoking, corticosteroid‐free asthmatic individuals and 10 healthy controls. Mast cells and eosinophils were identified in mucosal biopsies from all participants. Mast cells were divided into phenotypes based on the presence of chymase. mRNA expression of mast cell‐associated genes was measured by real‐time PCR.ResultsThe proportion of submucosal MCTC was higher in asthmatic individuals with AHR to mannitol compared with asthmatic individuals without AHR (median: 40.3% vs. 18.7%, P = 0.03). Increased submucosal MCTC numbers were associated with increased levels of mRNA for thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and CPA3 in asthmatics. Reactivity to mannitol correlated significantly with eosinophils in submucosa (r(s): 0.56, P = 0.01).ConclusionAirway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled mannitol is associated with an altered submucosal mast cell profile in asthmatic individuals. This mast cell profile is associated with increased levels of TSLP and CPA3. The degree of AHR to mannitol is correlated with the degree of eosinophilic inflammation in the airway submucosa.
Treatment options in the young patient with Graves' disease
Authors: Cheetham Tim , Bliss Richard 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe treatment options in the young patient with Graves' disease are the same as in adults, namely antithyroid drug (ATD), surgery (partial or total thyroidectomy) and radioiodine. However, the emphasis and expectation is different in the young person, reflecting a range of considerations including age, pubertal status, disease natural history, likely impact of ATD on disease course and the implications of radiation exposure. New therapeutic strategies that could increase the likelihood of long‐term remission are being explored.
Adequacy of published screening criteria for retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Taranath Deepa A , Oh Dickson D‐S , Keane Miriam C , Fabel Helen , Marshall Peter 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundCriteria for screening preterm infants for retinopathy of prematurity vary around the world. We aimed to analyse the efficacy of alternative screening criteria.DesignWe collected retrospective data at a tertiary level neonatal nursery.ParticipantsOur participants were 1007 babies, born between 1997 and 2011, at <32 weeks gestational age or <1500 g birth weight (as recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council in 1996), who had completed follow‐up to full retinal vascularization, with defined presence or absence of retinopathy of prematurity.MethodsWe determined whether disease would be detected using an alternative Australian screening model (gestational age <30 weeks or birth weight <1250 g) or screening criteria utilized in developed countries with similar standards of neonatal care.Main Outcome MeasuresDetection of retinopathy of prematurity is our main outcome.ResultsUsing several of the alternative criteria, two neonates with clinically significant retinopathy of prematurity, one of whom required laser treatment to preserve sight, would not have been screened, and their disease may have gone undetected. Use of <30 weeks gestational age or <1500 g birth weight as the criteria would still have screened these infants but would have reduced the number of infants screened by 24.9%.ConclusionsSome commonly utilized international screening criteria for retinopathy of prematurity may risk clinically significant cases being missed and others may screen babies unnecessarily. Alternative criteria should be considered and ‘<30 weeks gestational age and/or <1500 g birth weight’ appears a viable option.
Bone Ceramic® at Implants Installed Immediately into Extraction Sockets in the Molar Region: An Experimental Study in Dogs
Authors: Pereira Flávia Priscila , Hochuli‐Vieira Eduardo , Maté Sánchez de Val José E. , De Santis Enzo , Salata Luiz Antonio , Botticelli Daniele 
Published: August 2015

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this paper was to study the healing of 1–1.4 mm wide buccal defects at implants placed immediately into extraction sockets (IPIES) filled with a mixture of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) 60% and beta‐tricalciumphosphate (TCP) 40% or left with the clot alone and both covered with collagen membranes.Material and MethodsEight Labrador dogs were used and implants were placed immediately into the extraction sockets of the first molar bilaterally. A mixture of synthetic HA 60% and beta‐TCP 40% at the test or the clot alone at the control sites were used to fill the defects. All surgical sites were subsequently covered by a resorbable collagen membrane and a non‐submerged healing was allowed. After 4 months, the animals were euthanized, biopsies harvested and processed for histomorphometric analysis.ResultsAt the time of installation, residual buccal defects occurred that were 1.1 mm and 1.4 mm wide and 3 mm and 4 mm deep at the control and test sites, respectively. After 4 months of healing, the top of the bony crest and the coronal level of osseointegration were located respectively at 0.1 ± 1.8 mm and 1.5 ± 1.8 mm at the test, and 0.6 ± 1.6 mm and 1.2 ± 0.7 mm at the control sites apically to the implant shoulder. Bone‐to‐implant contact at the buccal aspect was 34.9 ± 25.9% and 36.4 ± 17.3% at the test and control sites, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between test and control sites for any of the variables analyzed at the buccal aspects.ConclusionsThe use of a mixture of synthetic HA 60% and beta‐TCP 40% to fill residual buccal defects 1–1.4 mm wide at IPIES did not improve significantly the results of healing.
Cardiovascular and heart failure safety profile of vildagliptin: a meta‐analysis of 17 000 patients
Authors: McInnes G. , Evans M. , Del Prato S. , Stumvoll M. , Schweizer A. , Lukashevich V. , Shao Q. , Kothny W. 
Published: August 2015

AimsTo report the cardiovascular (CV) safety profile and heart failure (HF) risk of vildagliptin from a large pool of studies, including trials in high‐risk patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), such as those with congestive HF and/or moderate/severe renal impairment.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective meta‐analysis of prospectively adjudicated CV events. Patient‐level data were pooled from 40 double‐blind, randomized controlled phase III and IV vildagliptin studies. The primary endpoint was occurrence of major adverse CV events (MACEs; myocardial infarction, stroke and CV death). Assessments of the individual MACE components and HF events (requiring hospitalization or new onset) were secondary endpoints. The risk ratio (RR) of vildagliptin (50 mg once‐ and twice‐daily combined) versus comparators (placebo and all non‐vildagliptin treatments) was calculated using the Mantel–Haenszel (M–H) method.ResultsOf the 17 446 patients, 9599 received vildagliptin (9251.4 subject‐years of exposure) and 7847 received comparators (7317.0 subject‐years of exposure). The mean age of the patients was 57 years, body mass index 30.5 kg/m2 (nearly 50% obese), glycated haemoglobin concentration 8.1% and T2DM duration 5.5 years. A MACE occurred in 83 (0.86%) vildagliptin‐treated patients and 85 (1.20%) comparator‐treated patients, with an M‐H RR of 0.82 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61–1.11]. Similar RRs were observed for the individual events. Confirmed HF events were reported in 41 (0.43%) vildagliptin‐treated patients and 32 (0.45%) comparator‐treated patients, with an M–H RR 1.08 (95% CI 0.68–1.70).ConclusionsThis large meta‐analysis indicates that vildagliptin is not associated with an increased risk of adjudicated MACEs relative to comparators. Moreover, this analysis did not find a significant increased risk of HF in vildagliptin‐treated patients.
Body shape variation in two species of darters (Etheostoma, Percidae) and its relation to the environment
Authors: Hopper Garrett W. , Morehouse Reid L. , Tobler Michael 
Published: August 2015

AbstractEnvironmental variation can shape phenotypic variation in organisms, but most evidence for trait differentiation comes from analyses of dichotomous habitat types that differ in only one or few key environmental factors. In reality, environmental variation is often more subtle, gradual and multifarious. Here, we investigated geographic variation in body shape of two darter species (Etheostoma spectabileandEtheostoma flabellare; Percidae) that occur along river gradients. This study addressed three specific questions: Is there intraspecific geographic variation in the two species across different sites in the Ozark Highlands of Oklahoma (USA)? Is phenotypic variation across sites correlated with abiotic environmental conditions? Do the two species share site‐specific (i.e. convergent) phenotypic variation in areas where they occur together? Our results indicated significant body shape variation in both species. Population differences in body shape were particularly correlated with variation in substrate composition. The combined analysis of both species indicated a small but significant effect of convergence on body shape wherever they are sympatric; shared variation, however, was not related to any environmental variables included in the analysis. While it remains unclear whether phenotypic variation in these species is due to heritable differentiation or environmentally induced plasticity, our results indicate that even subtle and gradual environmental variation can induce substantial variation in phenotypes on a relatively small spatial scale.
White matter alterations in patients with MRI‐negative temporal lobe epilepsy and their asymptomatic siblings
Authors: Whelan Christopher D. , Alhusaini Saud , O'Hanlon Erik , Cheung Maria , Iyer Parames M. , Meaney James F. , Fagan Andrew J. , Boyle Gerard , Delanty Norman , Doherty Colin P. , Cavalleri Gianpiero L. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryObjectiveThe identification of “endophenotypes”—measurable variations along the pathways between genes and distal disease state—may help deconstruct focal epilepsies into more sensitive phenomena and improve future efforts to map the genetic underpinnings of the disorder. In this study, we set out to determine if diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)–inferred white matter (WM) alterations represent a suitable structural endophenotype for focal epilepsy.MethodsWe recruited 25 patients with sporadic mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, 25 of their gender‐matched, asymptomatic siblings, and 60 control subjects. Whole‐brain, voxelwise statistics were conducted to identify regions of microstructural degeneration in patients with MTLE and/or their asymptomatic siblings. WM tracts exhibiting evidence of microstructural disruption were then reconstructed using deterministic tractography. Diffusion metrics including fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were compared across groups using a series of one‐way multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs).ResultsVoxelwise statistics revealed significant FA reductions in the corpus callosum (CC), bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculi (SLF), bilateral inferior longitudinal fasciculi (ILF), and left corticospinal tract (CST) in MTLE patients only. MD increases were observed in MTLE patients and their asymptomatic siblings in the left SLF and left CST. Deterministic tractography supported the voxelwise results, revealing significant FA alterations in the left SLF and CST in patients only and significant MD alterations in MTLE patients and their unaffected siblings. The diffusion scalars of MTLE patients and their asymptomatic siblings were highly correlated in the SLF and CST ipsilateral to patients' sides of seizure onset.SignificanceThese findings confirm the presence of microstructural WM alterations in patients with MRI‐negative MTLE and provide preliminary support for a diffusion‐based endophenotype in the disorder. Further studies of narrow‐sense heritability in larger cohorts of first‐degree relatives of MTLE patients are required to confirm these results.
A spatial assessment of potential biomass for bioenergy in Australia in 2010, and possible expansion by 2030 and 2050
Authors: Crawford Debbie F. , O'Connor Michael H. , Jovanovic Tom , Herr Alexander , Raison Robert John , O'Connell Deborah A. , Baynes Tim 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis paper provides spatial estimates of potentially available biomass for bioenergy in Australia in 2010, 2030 and 2050 (under clearly stated assumptions) for the following biomass sources: crop stubble, native grasses, pulpwood and residues (created either during forest harvesting or wood processing) from plantations and native forests, bagasse, organic municipal solid waste and new short‐rotation tree crops. For each biomass type, we estimated annual potential availability at the finest scale possible with readily accessible data, and then aggregated to make estimates for each of 60 Statistical Divisions (administrative areas) across Australia. The potentially available lignocellulosic biomass is estimated at approximately 80 Mt per year, with the major contributors of crop stubble (27.7 Mt per year), grasses (19.7 Mt per year) and forest plantations (10.9 Mt per year). Over the next 20–40 years, total potentially available biomass could increase to 100–115 Mt per year, with new plantings of short‐rotation trees being the major source of the increase (14.7 Mt per year by 2030 and 29.3 Mt per year by 2050). We exclude oilseeds, algae and ‘regrowth’, that is woody vegetation naturally regenerating on previously cleared land, which may be important in several regions of Australia (Australian Forestry 77, 2014, 1; Global Change Biology Bioenergy 7, 2015, 497). We briefly discuss some of the challenges to providing a reliable and sustainable supply of the large amounts of biomass required to build a bioenergy industry of significant scale. More detailed regional analyses, including of the costs of delivered biomass, logistics and economics of harvest, transport and storage, competing markets for biomass and a full assessment of the sustainability of production are needed to underpin investment in specific conversion facilities (e.g. Opportunities for forest bioenergy: An assessment of the environmental and economic opportunities and constraints associated with bioenergy production from biomass resources in two prospective regions of Australia, 2011a).
Effects of ethanol, molasses and Lactobacillus plantarum on fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of total mixed ration silages
Authors: Yuan X. J. , Wang J. , Guo G. , Wen A. Y. , Desta S. T. , Shao T. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum, molasses and/or ethanol on fermentation quality and aerobic stability of total mixed ration (TMR) silage, which is widely used in dairy cow diets at mid‐to‐late lactation in Tibet. TMR was treated with ethanol (E), molasses (M), Lactobacillus plantarum(L), ethanol+molasses (EM), ethanol+Lactobacillus plantarum (EL) plus control. After 45 d of ensiling, inoculant significantly (P < 0·05) increased lactic acid (LA) concentration and decreased pH, ammonia nitrogen (AN) concentration, and aerobic bacterial and yeast counts, compared to control. After the first 3 d of aerobic exposure, LA for silages without ethanol started to decrease, while LA for E silages almost remained unchanged till the end of the aerobic exposure period. The pH in TMR silages without ethanol gradually increased, while that for E and EL remained about 4·60 and 4·00, respectively, and EL showed the lowest pH among six silages over the course of aerobic exposure. Aerobic bacterial counts in control, M and EM silages were significantly higher (P < 0·05) than those in E, L and EL, and yeast counts in E and EL silages were significantly lower (P < 0·05) than those in other silages after 9 d of aerobic exposure. The results suggest that inoculation with L. plantarum was more effective in altering fermentation characteristics than adding molasses, while ethanol showed a potential to protect TMR silages from pH increase and delayed the growth of aerobic bacteria and yeast either alone or in combination with L. plantarum.
Deriving seasonally optimal nitrogen fertilization rates for a ryegrass pasture based on agricultural production systems simulator modelling with a refined AgPasture model
Authors: Vogeler I. , Cichota R. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractProductive pasture systems require a regular supply of mineral nitrogen (N) to replace the N removed through the export of animal products and other loss pathways such as leaching and emissions. High spatial and temporal variability of both N supply by the soil and demand by the plant means that synchronizing these is challenging, and early indicators are lacking. Optimum fertilization rates for an irrigated ryegrass pasture in Canterbury, New Zealand, were determined in a simulation study with twenty fertilization rates using the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator with a refined version of APSIM's pasture module (AgPasture). Improvements in AgPasture included ideal N concentrations for tissues of different ages (growing, mature, senescent and dead) and allowing N remobilization to occur from all tissue stages. The critical N concentration curve (the minimum N concentration required to achieve maximum aerial biomass) was tested as an early indicator for guiding N fertilization, which maximizes plant growth while avoiding unnecessary environmental impacts. Highest pasture yields were achieved with application rates of 20, 30, 140 and 160 kg N ha−1 for winter, autumn, summer and spring. These rates also minimized simulated N losses. Pasture N contents corresponding to the standing dry matter of the pastures were similar to the critical N curve in summer and spring, but lower critical N concentrations were obtained for autumn and winter. Before the critical N reference curve can be used to guide fertilization for pastures, further experimental studies, model testing and parameterization are required. It is also possible that season‐specific critical N curves need to be established for pastures.