bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do labetalol and methyldopa have different effects on pregnancy outcome? Analysis of data from the Control of Hypertension In Pregnancy Study (CHIPS) trial
Authors: Magee LA ,   the CHIPS Study Group, von Dadelszen P , Singer J , Lee T , Rey E , Ross S , Asztalos E , Murphy KE , Menzies J , Sanchez J , Gafni A , Gruslin A , Helewa M , Hutton E , Koren G , Lee SK , Logan AG , Ganzevoort JW , Welch R , Thornton JG , Moutquin J‐M 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo compare pregnancy outcomes, accounting for allocated group, between methyldopa‐treated and labetalol‐treated women in the CHIPS Trial (ISRCTN 71416914) of ‘less tight’ versus ‘tight’ control of pregnancy hypertension.DesignSecondary analysis of CHIPS Trial cohort.SettingInternational randomised controlled trial (94 sites, 15 countries).Population or sampleOf 987 CHIPS recruits, 481/566 (85.0%) women treated with antihypertensive therapy at randomisation. Of 981 (99.4%) women followed to delivery, 656/745 (88.1%) treated postrandomisation.MethodsLogistic regression to compare outcomes among women who took methyldopa or labetalol, adjusted for the influence of baseline factors.Main outcome measuresCHIPS primary (perinatal loss or high level neonatal care for >48 hours) and secondary (serious maternal complications) outcomes, birthweight <10th centile, severe maternal hypertension, pre‐eclampsia and delivery at <34 or <37 weeks.ResultsMethyldopa and labetalol were used commonly at randomisation (243/987, 24.6% and 238/987, 24.6%, respectively) and post‐randomisation (224/981, 22.8% and 433/981, 44.1%, respectively). Following adjusted analyses, methyldopa (versus labetalol) at randomisation was associated with fewer babies with birthweight <10th centile [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.48; 95% CI 0.20–0.87]. Methyldopa (versus labetalol) postrandomisation was associated with fewer CHIPS primary outcomes (aOR 0.64; 95% CI 0.40–1.00), birthweight <10th centile (aOR 0.54; 95% CI 0.32–0.92), severe hypertension (aOR 0.51; 95% CI 0.31–0.83), pre‐eclampsia (aOR 0.55; 95% CI 0.36–0.85), and delivery at <34 weeks (aOR 0.53; 95% CI 0.29–0.96) or <37 weeks (aOR 0.55; 95% CI 0.35–0.85).ConclusionThese nonrandomised comparisons are subject to residual confounding, but women treated with methyldopa (versus labetalol), particularly those with pre‐existing hypertension, may have had better outcomes.Tweetable abstractThere was no evidence that women treated with methyldopa versus labetalol had worse outcomes.
Sudden Death by Occult Metastatic Carcinoma
Authors: Dean Stephanie A. , Mathis Benjamin , Litzky Leslie A. , Hood Ian C. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractA 33‐year‐old female collapsed and died suddenly after presenting with acute dyspnea and increasing cough over the preceding several months. Autopsy revealed poorly differentiated linitis plastica adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Microscopic examination of the lungs showed features consistent with pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM). PTTM is a well‐described complication in patients with adenocarcinoma. The typical presentation involves acute pulmonary hypertension, right‐sided heart failure, and sudden death, often before the adenocarcinoma is discovered. The pathophysiology of PTTM remains elusive; it has been suggested that carcinoma cells may produce substances that influence pulmonary vasculature. Our patient had classic clinical and histologic features of PTTM in addition to prominent extravascular compression by intralymphatic tumor cells. These features undoubtedly caused her precipitous decline and lethal pulmonary hypertension, induced by underlying adenocarcinoma. This case demonstrates that sudden death can occur from pulmonary hypertension induced by metastatic carcinoma with remarkably little prior symptomatology.
Direct PCR Improves the Recovery of DNA from Various Substrates
Authors: Templeton Jennifer E. L. , Taylor Duncan , Handt Oliva , Skuza Pawel , Linacre Adrian 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study reports on the comparison of a standard extraction process with the direct PCR approach of processing low‐level DNA swabs typical in forensic investigations. Varying concentrations of control DNA were deposited onto three commonly encountered substrates, brass, plastic, and glass, left to dry, and swabbed using premoistened DNA‐free nylon FLOQswabs™. Swabs (n = 90) were either processed using the DNA IQ™ kit or, for direct PCR, swab fibers (~2 mm2) were added directly to the PCR with no prior extraction. A significant increase in the height of the alleles (p < 0.005) was observed when using the direct PCR approach over the extraction methodology when controlling for surface type and mass of DNA deposited. The findings indicate the potential use of direct PCR for increasing the PCR product obtained from low‐template DNA samples in addition to minimizing contamination and saving resources.
New insights into the biological role of the osmoregulated periplasmic glucans in pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria
Authors: Bontemps‐Gallo Sébastien , Lacroix Jean‐Marie 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThis review emphasizes the biological roles of the osmoregulated periplasmic glucans (OPGs). Osmoregulated periplasmic glucans occur in almost all α‐, β‐ and γ‐Proteobacteria. This polymer of glucose is required for full virulence. The roles of the OPGs are complex and vary depending on the species. Here, we outline the four major roles of the OPGs through four different pathogenic and one symbiotic bacterial models (Dickeya dadantii, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Brucella abortus and Sinorhizobium meliloti). When periplasmic, the OPGs are a part of the signal transduction pathway and indirectly regulate genes involved in virulence. The OPGs can also be secreted. When outside of the cell, they interact directly with antibiotics to protect the bacterial cell or interact with the host cell to facilitate the invasion process. When OPGs are not found, as in the ε‐Proteobacteria, OPG‐like oligosaccharides are present. Their presence strengthens the evidence that OPGs play an important role in virulence.
Effect of maternal and treatment‐related factors on the prevalence of birth defects after PESA‐ICSI and TESE‐ICSI: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Meijerink Aukje M. , Oomen Reinoud E. , Fleischer Kathrin , IntHout Joanna , Woldringh Gwendolyn H. , Braat Didi D.M. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractIntroductionWe performed a retrospective cohort study with the aim to evaluate the effect of maternal and treatment‐related factors on the prevalence of birth defects after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) and testicular sperm extraction (TESE).Material and methods643 newborns born after PESA‐ICSI (n = 406) and TESE‐ICSI (n = 237) in Radboud University Medical Center, after a gestational age of 12 weeks, 1 January 2002–1 January 2011 and 1 March–1 November 2014, respectively, were included in this study. Three sources of data were used for analysis: questionnaires, national obstetrics registration forms, and a lab‐database of all ICSI treatments. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations and logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of major birth defects in newborns born after PESA‐ICSI was 6.9% and after TESE‐ICSI was 5.9% (odds ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.46–1.75). No significant association was found between maternal or treatment‐related factors and the prevalence of birth defects.ConclusionsWe found a similar overall prevalence of birth defects in newborns born after PESA‐ICSI and TESE‐ICSI. The maternal and treatment‐related factors investigated did not show a significantly increased cumulative risk of birth defects.
Visceral adipose tissue‐derived serine protease inhibitor augments acetylcholine‐induced relaxation via the inhibition of acetylcholine esterase activity in rat isolated mesenteric artery
Authors: Kameshima S. , Yamada K. , Morita T. , Okada M. , Yamawaki H. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAimVisceral adipose tissue‐derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin) is an adipocytokine with insulin‐sensitizing activity originally identified in visceral adipose tissues of obesity‐related type II diabetic rats. We previously showed that vaspin inhibits vascular cell migration and apoptosis as well as inflammatory responses, which are crucial for the development of hypertension. However, little is known about the effects of vaspin on vascular reactivity. The aim of this study was thus to explore the effects of vaspin on contraction and relaxation of isolated blood vessel.MethodsAfter mesenteric arteries were isolated from male Wistar rats, the effects of pretreatment with vaspin (3 ng mL−1, 30 min) on concentration–contraction and concentration–relaxation relationships for each agent were examined. The effects of vaspin on acetylcholine (ACh)‐induced phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) and ACh esterase (AChE) activity were also examined using Western blotting and colorimetric method respectively.ResultsVaspin did not affect noradrenaline‐ or 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐induced contraction. In contrast, vaspin augmented ACh‐ but not histamine‐, A23187‐ or carbachol‐induced NO‐mediated relaxation. Vaspin significantly increased ACh‐induced eNOS phosphorylation and inhibited AChE activity.ConclusionWe for the first time demonstrate that vaspin augments the ACh‐induced NO‐mediated endothelium‐dependent relaxation via the inhibition of AChE activity.
CYP‐mediated drug–drug interactions with evacetrapib, an investigational CETP inhibitor: in vitro prediction and clinical outcome
Authors: Cannady Ellen A. , Suico Jeffrey G. , Wang Ming‐Dauh , Friedrich Stuart , Rehmel Jessica R. F. , Nicholls Stephen J. , Krueger Kathryn A. 
Published: August 2015

AimsEvacetrapib is a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor under development for reducing cardiovascular events in patients with high risk vascular disease. CETP inhibitors are likely to be utilized as ‘add‐on’ therapy to statins in patients receiving concomitant medications, so the potential for evacetrapib to cause clinically important drug–drug interactions (DDIs) with cytochromes P450 (CYP) was evaluated.MethodsThe DDI potential of evacetrapib was investigated in vitro, followed by predictions to determine clinical relevance. Potential DDIs with possible clinical implications were then investigated in the clinic.ResultsIn vitro, evacetrapib inhibited all of the major CYPs, with inhibition constants (Ki) ranging from 0.57 µm (CYP2C9) to 7.6 µm (CYP2C19). Evacetrapib was a time‐dependent inhibitor and inducer of CYP3A. The effects of evacetrapib on CYP3A and CYP2C9 were assessed in a phase 1 study using midazolam and tolbutamide as probe substrates, respectively. After 14 days of daily dosing with evacetrapib (100 or 300 mg), midazolam exposures (AUC) changed by factors (95% CI) of 1.19 (1.06, 1.33) and 1.44 (1.28, 1.62), respectively. Tolbutamide exposures (AUC) changed by factors of 0.85 (0.77, 0.94) and 1.06 (0.95, 1.18), respectively. In a phase 2 study, evacetrapib 100 mg had minimal impact on AUC of co‐administered simvastatin vs. simvastatin alone with a ratio of 1.25 (1.03, 1.53) at steady‐state, with no differences in reported hepatic or muscular adverse events.ConclusionsTaken together, the extent of CYP‐mediated DDI with the potential clinical dose of evacetrapib is weak and clinically important DDIs are not expected to occur in patients taking concomitant medications.
Review of affective computing in education/learning: Trends and challenges
Authors: Wu Chih‐Hung , Huang Yueh‐Min , Hwang Jan‐Pan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAffect can significantly influence education/learning. Thus, understanding a learner's affect throughout the learning process is crucial for understanding motivation. In conventional education/learning research, learner motivation can be known through postevent self‐reported questionnaires. With the advance of affective computing technology, researchers are able to objectively identify and measure a learner's affective status during the entire learning process in a real‐time manner, and then they are able to understand the interrelationship between emotion, motivation and learning performance. There are over 100 papers in the ScienceDirect database with the keywords “affective computing in education” or “affective computing in learning,” which reveals that this emerging technology has been applied to education/learning. This study intends to categorize and summarize those measurements so as to realize their applicability, feasibility and trends. Finally, some challenges and suggestions are then raised for helping educational researchers when applying affective computing technology.
Effects of cloud‐based m‐learning on student creative performance in engineering design
Authors: Chang Yu‐Shan , Chen Si‐Yi , Yu Kuang‐Chao , Chu Yih‐Hsien , Chien Yu‐Hung 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study explored the effects of cloud‐based m‐learning on students' creative processes and products in engineering design. A nonequivalent pretest–posttest design was adopted, and 62 university students from Taipei City, Taiwan, were recruited as research participants in the study. The results showed that cloud‐based m‐learning had a positive effect on creative performance in engineering design. It also improved the creative process in terms of presenting problems and of generating and validating responses. Additionally, cloud‐based m‐learning effectively improved overall performance, novelty, value and elaboration in designing creative products.
Is the intention–behaviour gap greater amongst the more deprived? A meta‐analysis of five studies on physical activity, diet, and medication adherence in smoking cessation
Authors: Vasiljevic Milica , Ng Yin‐Lam , Griffin Simon J. , Sutton Stephen , Marteau Theresa M. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesUnhealthy behaviour is more common amongst the deprived, thereby contributing to health inequalities. The evidence that the gap between intention and behaviour is greater amongst the more deprived is limited and inconsistent. We tested this hypothesis using objective and self‐report measures of three behaviours, both individual‐ and area‐level indices of socio‐economic status, and pooling data from five studies.DesignSecondary data analysis.MethodsMultiple linear regressions and meta‐analyses of data on physical activity, diet, and medication adherence in smoking cessation from 2,511 participants.ResultsAcross five studies, we found no evidence for an interaction between deprivation and intention in predicting objective or self‐report measures of behaviour. Using objectively measured behaviour and area‐level deprivation, meta‐analyses suggested that the gap between self‐efficacy and behaviour was greater amongst the more deprived (B = .17 [95% CI = 0.02, 0.31]).ConclusionsWe find no compelling evidence to support the hypothesis that the intention–behaviour gap is greater amongst the more deprived.
Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Unhealthy behaviour is more common in those who are more deprived.

This may reflect a larger gap between intentions and behaviour amongst the more deprived.

The limited evidence to date testing this hypothesis is mixed.

What does this study add?

In the most robust study to date, combining results from five trials, we found no evidence for this explanation.

The gap between intentions and behaviour did not vary with deprivation for the following: diet, physical activity, or medication adherence in smoking cessation.

We did, however, find a larger gap between perceived control over behaviour (self‐efficacy) and behaviour in those more deprived.

These findings add to existing evidence to suggest that higher rates of unhealthier behaviour in more deprived groups may be reduced by the following:

Strengthening behavioural control mechanisms (such as executive function and non‐conscious processes) or
Behaviour change interventions that bypass behavioural control mechanisms.
Paramètres environnementaux conditionnant l'établissement d'une espèce aquatique envahissante (Ciona intestinalis), Île‐du‐Prince‐Édouard, Canada
Authors: McLaughlin Janelle , Fortin Guillaume , Bourque Daniel , Guyondet Thomas 
Published: August 2015

Faits saillants

Une étude des paramètres environnementaux de deux bassins versants de l'Île‐du‐Prince‐Édouard a été réalisée afin d'identifier leur rôle dans l'établissement d'une espèce envahissante, les tuniciers (Ciona intestinalis).
L'étude compare les systèmes des rivières Brudenell et Montague (succès) et de la baie d'Orwell (échec de l'établissement).
Ce dernier se distingue par une perte de sol plus élevée, moins de zones où l'érosion est tolérable, des marées et des courants plus forts, un renouvellement des eaux plus rapide, une faible profondeur, une turbidité plus élevée, une salinité légèrement inférieure, une moindre concentration en chlorophylle et une température un peu plus chaude.
“Overlapping claims” to territory confronting treaty‐making in British Columbia: Causes and implications
Authors: Turner Christopher , Fondahl Gail 
Published: August 2015

Key Messages

Overlapping Aboriginal claims to territory often result from variously constituted indigenous political identities and the diverse spatialities they enact.
Settling treaties in contested areas can privilege Aboriginal groups that settle treaties first, to the detriment of groups with overlapping claims.
Ordinary courts have struggled to find a remedy; an Indigenous Territories Commission is suggested for addressing such disputes.
Developmental changes between childhood and adulthood in passive observational and interactive feedback‐based categorization rule learning
Authors: Hammer Rubi , Kloet Jim , Booth James R. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAs children start attending school they are more likely to face situations where they have to autonomously learn about novel object categories (e.g. by reading a picture book with descriptions of novel animals). Such autonomous observational category learning (OCL) gradually complements interactive feedback‐based category learning (FBCL), where a child hypothesizes about the nature of a novel object, acts based on his prediction, and then receives feedback indicating the correctness of his prediction. Here we tested OCL and FBCL skills of elementary school children and adults. In both conditions, participants performed complex rule‐based categorization tasks that required associating novel objects with novel category‐labels. We expected children to perform better in FBCL tasks than in OCL tasks, whereas adults to be skilled in both tasks. As hypothesized, in early‐phase learning children performed better in FBCL tasks than in OCL tasks. Unexpectedly, adults performed somewhat better in OCL tasks. Early‐phase FBCL performance in the two age groups was matched, but the OCL performance of adults was higher than that of children. In late‐phase learning there was only an age group main effect (adults > children). Moreover, performance in post‐learning categorization tasks, that did not require label recollection, indicated that in FBCL tasks children were likely to directly learn the associations between an object and a category label, whereas in the OCL tasks they were likely to first learn which feature‐dimensions were relevant. These findings shed light on developmental changes in cognitive control and learning mechanisms. Implications for educational settings are discussed.
Inappropriate sexual behaviour in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: what education is recommended and why
Authors: Beddows Nicola , Brooks Rachel 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAimAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder impairing social skills and communication. Adolescents withASDhave sexual needs, but may not understand their physical and emotional development resulting in inappropriate sexual behaviour. The aim of this review is to describe the type of inappropriate behaviour that presents in these adolescents, explain why such behaviours occur, suggest what education is suitable and identify current gaps in research.MethodThe databasesEMBASE,OVID MEDLINEandPSYCINFOwere searched for relevant articles. In total, 5241 articles were found, with an additional 15 sources found via soft searches, of which 42 met inclusion criteria and were subsequently reviewed.ResultsSexual behaviours that occur in these adolescents withASDinclude hypermasturbation, public masturbation, inappropriate romantic gestures, inappropriate arousal and exhibitionism. Such behaviours are thought to be caused via a lack of understanding of normal puberty, the absence of appropriate sex education, the severity of theirASDand other associated problems. It is suggested that individualized, repetitive education should be started from an early age in an accessible form. Social skills development is also important before more technical aspects of sex education are taught.ConclusionDespite being such a common problem for schools, institutions and families to manage, it is surprising how sparse literature is particularly regarding why inappropriate behaviour occurs and what education is effective.
Impact of smoking on neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular disease markers in cognitively normal men
Authors: Cho H. , Kim C. , Kim H. J. , Ye B. S. , Kim Y. J. , Jung N.‐Y. , Son T. O. , Cho E. B. , Jang H. , Lee J. , Kang M. , Shin H.‐Y. , Jeon S. , Lee J.‐M. , Kim S. T. , Choi Y.‐C. , Na D. L. , Seo S. W. 
Published: August 2015

Background and purposeSmoking is a major risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. However, the exact pathobiology of smoking remains unknown. The effects of smoking on cortical thickness as a biomarker of neurodegeneration or white matter hyperintensities and lacunes as biomarkers of cerebrovascular burden were concurrently evaluated.MethodsOur study included 977 cognitively normal men who visited a health promotion centre and underwent medical check‐ups, including 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging. Participants were categorized into never smoker, past smoker or current smoker groups and pack‐years and the years of smoking cessation were used as continuous variables.ResultsThe current smoker group exhibited cortical thinning in frontal and temporo‐parietal regions compared with the never smoker group. These effects were particularly prominent in smokers with a high cumulative exposure to smoking in the current smoker group. However, there was no association between smoking and the severity of white matter hyperintensity or number of lacunes.ConclusionOur findings indicate that smoking might impact on neurodegeneration rather than cerebrovascular burdens in cognitively normal men, suggesting that smoking might be an important modifiable risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease.